The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-12-27

"Poofv' muttered Reber, moving
about slowly to obey. at is time we
got that thing out of there. Poof! And
it is not so very hot either"
"Yes, it is high time," said Robello.
Reber having found lamp and
lighted it, Vandal took his key from
his pocket and opened the door. He
stepped in with the lamp. The others
followed him.
Vandal stood with the lamp raised
above his head. The other three stood
grouped around him gazing stupidity at
him and at each other. Casparin was
the first to recover his speech.
"There is something wrong here" he
said. "Some one has removed the
body"
"Impossibler' blurted out vandal
"None but Reber and myself have the
keys"
"You are surely mistaken The door
was locked. Look! Has it been tam
pered with?"
Vandal handed the lamp to Reber
and examined the door and lock-
''It is in ORDER" he said. 81 do moi
understand this--I swear do not"
'Some one certainly has access to
this room.' said Casparin. "You told
me you two held the keys"
"And sO--that is the truth. l myself
had this partition placed here. l put
on that lock with my own hands
There were two keys with the lock-
and l gave one to Reber. AS l live
these are the only keys that will un
lock this door,"
'"Then account for this mystery. We
left dead man locked in here. He is
gone, and yet you alone could open the
door,"
"And we thought he was getting
no, the window is open" said Reber
ut was not so this morning.
''That is still greater mystery!"
said Vandal 1.-The window was lock.
ed on the inside. Some one has man,
aged to come up and get it open and
take out the American"
Casparin laughed-a long, low hiss
ing laugh of anger and derision.
"I am beside myself with delight "
he said. 81 came from Deneslia to find
men who were quick and shrewd in
planning. l thought the French could
excel in that. Why, we have plow
men in Deneslia who are better"
What do you think, then?" asked
Vandal.
"What do I think? My God! Are
you still in the dark! What do think
| know. The man you left in here was
not dead. He recovered consciousness
climbed out of that window and made
his escape. We now have him against
us and at liberty We might better
have left him in the Palais dc Justice
There was no certainty he would be
believed"
"He must have escaped" said Van
dal, having a thought only for the dis
aster.
"He must have escaped. Yes, he
must surely have gone out of the win
dow" said Reber and Robello.
"And Of course, since you are sc
wise, you gentlemen" said Casparin
you can associate his escape and the
disappearance of your Nine. du Barry
| with each other"
mo, no! Surely not!" said vandal
"Surely yes! Was her room not un
der ths?'
"Her room is there"
"Her room no longer, my friend.
fear you will find the lady dead in hel
room. 1t was not Nine. du Barry the
cook saw leaving but the American
dressed in madame's clothes"
AT this Mortified cry came from
Vandal, and he rushed for the door
He led the way and the others follow
ed him to the floor below. The door OF
madame's room was not locked. Van
dal entered, expecting to see a mos
CHASTITY sight.
He saw nothing but q bed, slightly
rumpled. and articles of female cloth
ing lying about,
Il own my mistake" said Casparir
with laugh. 1.-The American has no
killed madame. He has eloped will
| her."
Vandal cursed roundly and well. Re
Der and RObello shivered.
Nine. du Barry knew their secrets
Not crime had been committed by
either of them in years that Nine. di
Barry did not know. And now shs
had gone with their foe-the American
"We will follow them! ] will xii
them bOth!" cried Vandal
"Take my advice and go to bed,
said Casparin. 1--WE can do nothins
before daylight. There is nothing t.
fear at once, for the American viii
not give himself up to the police be
| fore he ascertains what fate they have
in store for him.. A reward of 5,0O(
francs is offered for his apprehension.
Reber slapped his leg. ''''
"Good! 1t was worth 5000 franc:
to US for him to escape. We win rur
him down and earn the rewardw
my friend, you are quick to think
but you invariably think the wrong
thing. We shall do nothing of thC
kind. We will run him down, but the
police shall never see him."
"Oh, as to that, you are able to pay
the 5000 francs"
"And will. Now get some rest We
must be early astir." -'
They pbeyed him, and early in the
morning they were ready and eager
for the chase.