Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-03-16
THE STRANGE STORY
OF A BOX - ~ - ~
By Constance G. Halkett

T WAS sitting by my library fire one
4 evening, smoking. when my man
Servant informed me that large box
had arrived. l suddenly remembered
. that it was my birthday, and that
had casually mentioned the fact TO my
friend BrindIe.
Now Brindle was much addicted to
the playing of practical jokes (this to
me was a flaw in an otherwise delight
full character), and perhaps on this
occasion might be lie victim, so l told
the man to help me carry it into the Ii
brary and then he might 60.
The box, which was long and
rather narrow one, was, noticed, per-
forated in every direction. It was fas-
tened with paddock, in which found
the key.
I opened il and started back in
amaze ment, for inside-it lay one Of the
most beautiful women it has ever been
my lot TO see, and she was either
asleep or dead.
She was dressed in long, trailing
robe Of violet velyet-what woman
/
the train of it made sort of cushion for
her head, and over it strayed long
strands of golden hair.
fetched a mirror and held it TO her
lips; a faint cloud spread over it at
once.
She was not dead then, but sleeping.
Yet-who sent her here? And why in
such plight?
l had no women folk to apply to in
folk are apt to look askance at
strangers" of their own sex, especially
if these are very beautiful.
l decided hurriedly TO call my man
Burns, a very excellent servant, who
had been with me for years. And he ap-
peared with such celerity that n sus-
picion crossed my nind-but, no! sure
ly he was above spying through key
holes!
pointed to the girl, and asked him
helplessly what I should do.
do, sir? Why, send for the nearest
doctor, and for detective from Scot
land Yard"
"Of course!" I cried. "Why didn't I
think of that rnrEAIf2 -TaLA a aaI. and
DO both errands-I will stay here IN case
she awakes."
He went off at once. He had hardly
been gone ten minutes when the door
bell rang. ! opened it myself and ad
mitted tall, thin man, who announced
that a policemCl had asked him to call
at my house, and that his name was DR..
Smith, of M street.
"a policeman-you meant my serv-
ant"
mo, don't. l mean policeman"
he said testify. where is the patient?
1 am busy man, sir, and can't afford
to waste time"
Rather bewildered, led the way to
the library-and in a few words told
him my story, and showed him the
white figure lying SO still and beautiful
in those regal velvet robes.
He crossed the room to look closer.
Good heavens!" he said. 1T is Mile.
Sophie Seslagin, Russian lady and
patient Of my own. What can this
mean" He proceeded to investigate
what would be the cause of her strange
trance-like sleep.
"She has been drugged," he said. II
once studied In Russia, and there they
use curiously smelling herb for such
purposes, difficult TO detect unless one
is used to dealing with It,"
"AlI that is very interesting-to you,"
! said impatiently. "Butwhat am to
do?"
Il will send you nurse at once" he
said. "Have you spare room? Good!
The nurse is q sensible woman, and win
put the lady to bed and ask no ques-
tions except of q professional descrip-
tion.
Now, you must excuse me; l am
watching q very interesting case. l
will call again in the morning; mean
while l can do no thing. No drug known
acts on patient under the influence Of
the one l mentioned; she will wake
naturally In about 12 hours time"
And with that the doctor hurried away.
The next person to arrive was the de-
tective (lis name was Holmes), to
whom repeated my story.
Helistened dattentively, looked at Mile.
Seslagin, but made no remark worth
relating, and presently went away,
after giving me strict iujunctions to
allow no ono access to my strange guest
but the nurse and the doctor. prom
ised to attend to his warning and
showed him out myself to find on the
doorstep u comfortable, motherly-look
ing nurse, who produced DIR. Smiths
card, and into whose capable hands l
put tho management Of affairs general
ly with u sigh Of relief, which sigh l
repeated as the door of the spare
room" was shut between me and the
still sleeping stranger.
Only the long, cofiin-like box was stih
in my study.
Suddenly caught sight of piece of
paper which had been pinned TO the
lid inside.
On it was roughly sketched ship.
some waves, and a woman apparently
drowning. What this could mean !
could not guess.
l was still puzzling over it when the
door bell rang again.
This time a man stood there-hc had
evidently just stepped out of close
carriage which waited near the curb
and he wore an ulster with high ool-
lar which almost concealed his face
II have come" he said, ito retrieve a
large box which was left here by mis-
take"
Then you have come to the wrong
man, l said, boldly. THAT box and its
contents are in my care"
AS I spoke, TO my surprise two po-
Hcemen sprang out of the shadow of
neighboring archway, and seized the
man before he had time to turn round