The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1909-10-15

m1nuLoneSS Oh CHo eAdmludtlou, III st
of the concierge, then of the house it
self. The professor of music and the
maitre d'armes we're out, so M. Claude
contented himself for the present by
asking some leading questions about
them.
Then he and his attendant commits
saire ascended to Lambert's apart
ment, and questioned Madame Weber
and the bonne as to the smallest de-
tails concerning the missing girl; her
character, her habits of life, her
friends, her pursuits and finally asked
for her last photograph. 1t sent a
seemed endless; Lambert sat immov-
able and speechless. Arrived, the
chef de la surete proceeded to ex-
anime the house carefully, and to
question the concierge as to the ten
ants. In the rez-de-chaussee was the
magasin of a Patent Polish Stove
Company; on the first etage an old
lady with her son and daughter-in-
law resided. Persons of high con-
sideration," said the fearful con-
sierge. The second etage was vacant;
M. Lambert occupied the third. Then
came a professor of music, Monsieur
lie Captain Galliard, Maitre d'Armes
and others.
Both Lambert and Glynn watched
sharp dart of angry pain through
G1ynn's heart to see the chef de la
surete and his aide-de-camp coolly
examining the portrait which to him
had certain sanctity, to observe the
unmoved composure of the practiced
detectives in face of the fathers de-
spairing anxiety, the professional in
stinct which subordinated human in.
terest to the keen perception of possi-
BILE crime, the sleuth-hound scent for
a legitimate prey.
From Lambert's abode they pro-
ceeded to the vacant etage, which the
concierge, in all the fearful yet de-
lightful excitement of such an extra.
ordinary occurrence, threw open with
eager zeal.
1t was almost the same as the
dwelling above, and after looking
carefully through the empty rooms
they reached the kitchen. The door
was fastened.
"Tiens!" cried the concierge, look
ing rapidly through the keys she car
ried, this is strange, 1 do not re-,
member locking the door, and have.
not been in here more than twice
since the day you looked at the
apartment, Monsieur Lambert, for
some friends who thought of coming
to Paris
While she spoke the commissaire
had thrust the blade of his penknife
into the keyhole. "The key is in
side" he said.
'tIt is impossible" cried the con-
cierge.
go round by l'escalaire de service
(back stair) with madame" said NJ.
Claude to his subordinate. ''There is
a door leading thence to the kitchen,
is there not?"
But, yes; certainly that will also
be locked; l have passkey, how1
ever, for these outer DOORS" A few
minutes of silence waiting, and voices
were heard within; then the door was
opeIed by the concierge, whose u.s.
ually rosy face looked a yellowish
white Bon Dieu!" she whispered,
''the outside door was unlocked, and
here is the key which opens both, in
this lock. I swear that the day be-
fore yesterday I locked the outside
door carefully; nor have l ascended
this stair since"
Let us examine this room careful
ly,'' said the chef, with shade of ad-
ditional gravity.
The search was most thorough.
every little cupboard, every nook,
the stove, the oven, an old box, every
inch of the dingy empty kitchen was
minutely scrutinized-all present as
sisting. Suddenly a speck of white
in dark corner attracted Glynn's
eye. He picked it up. 1t was a NOR
of the narrowest black velvet ribbon,
from which dangled a broken end.
With a sickening sensation Of horror
and dread Glynn picked up this in
fnitesimal yet eloquent suggestion of
struggle and silently handed it to
NJ. Claude.
Hal" exclaimed that functionary,
gazing at it with some earnestness;
then he added: 'Mademoiselle
changed her toilet too hastily"
Good God!" cried Lambert, "she
wore just such velvet string as this
through the lace Of her dress; 1 no.
ticed it!"-and SO had Glynn. With
what bitterness he recalled his ad-
miration of the creamy whiteness of
her neck contrasted with the black
line surrounding it. "Do you-do
you think she is murdered?" con-
tinued Lambert in an agonized whis-
per. staring wildly at the lace.
mo, do not" said NJ. Claude, a.
parently somewhat moved by t..
fathers intense misery. II do 10
suppose her life could be aLten4st'ei
by any one, unless indeed there are
some circumstances in her or your
history with which l am unacquaint-
ed. But 1 believe what may be as
bitter as her death to you-that she
has gone with her own free consent" J."
And that 1 can never believe"
cried Lambert. "She-the sweetest,
most loving, obedient child man ever
had"
Even So" said the detective, with
a tinge of sadness.
THE affair might have occurred
under chloroform," said the commits
saire in a-low, submissive tone. "A
resclrte. pTacticoaI~illain meets her
ascending the stairs; a handkerchief
saturated with chloroform suddenly
wrapped round her face renders her
helpless. She is carried through this
apartment, her dress changed
while she IS still insensible." An If
rcHressible Groan from Glynn made
the chef de II sureto look at him.
They carry her G0wnstairs," D." con-
tinued tho commi@~atre.
And them" Interrupted the con-
cierga shrillr, they a2e caught! low
can any one get cut without calling