The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1911-10-05
The Wiles of Madame
Dubois

It was a gloomy afternoon in the lat
ter part of November. A thin, driz-
zling rain WAC falling, and the yellow
lights of TIE street lamps glowed
murkily through the heavy mist. Mi
the Strand, stared through the dirty
window panes of hanson, and in
wardly commented on the depressing
influence of the London atmosphere.
He had come to the British capital in
response to an urgent message dis
patched to st. Petersburg by the Rus
sian ambassador to the court of st.
James, requesting the presence of the
famous investigator at the earliest
possible moment. The detective had
lost no time in answering the sum-
mons, and Immediately on disembark-
ing from the steamer, hailed a han
som, and ordered the Jehu to take
him to the Russian embassy.
The ambassador at this time was
Count Borolosky, gentleman who
was not only distinguished as a diplo-
matist, but as a scholar. He was a
widower, and one of his attaches was
his eldest son, Ferdinand. The count
and his son were very popular
amongst all classes of society, and be-
ing wealthy, they dispensed their hos
pitality in princely fashion. On ar
irving at the embassy Danevitch was
shown to an elegantly furnished re-
ception room. In the course of a few
minutes, tall, handsome young fell
low entered the room, and introduced
himself as Ferdinand, the counts son.
"You haven't seen my father yet"
he remarked. II am sorry you have
to wait a little while, Mr.. Danevitch,
but just before you arrived the count
had to grant an audience to cabinet
minister. l don't think he will be
long, though. Did my father tell you
in his letter why you are wanted?"
"Only that it was an affair Of state
in which my assistance was required"
responded the detective.
well, it's very important, and no
less mysterious" remarked Ferdinand.
But with your wonderful ability, l
have no doubt that the problem will
be solved"
Danevitch glanced at the young fell
low sharply. There seemed to him to
be the least suspicion of a sneer ac-
companying the implied compliment
to his skill. Before he could make a
suitable reply, the door opened and a
liveried footman entered, and an
nounced that the count was ready to
receive his visitor. Danevitch rose
pNI14
ushered into large chamber, where
a tall, distinguished looking man with
iron-gray hair was seated before a
desk strewn with papers. In this
august parsonage Danevitch recog-
nized Count Borolosky, who greeted
him cordially.
Il sent for you, Mr.. Danevitch,"
said the count, 'in the hope that you
may prove of service in recovering
for me some highly important docU'
ments which have mysteriously dis.
appeared. l may at once tell you that
the papers are q secret draft treaty
between Russia and this country, and
from a political point of view are of
great value. They were to have been
transmitted to st. Petersburg by q
special courier two days hence. But
though / saw them safely locked up on
the night of their disappearance they
have vanished as utterly as though
they had been converted into thin air.
I employed the best detective talent
that could be secured here, but up to
the present, not the slightest trace of
Il fc
covered. There is no doubt whatever
as to the papers having been stolen
with sinister object. The treaty is
framed against Austria, and some one
in the pay of the latter country has
carried them off. And the theft may
be the means of causing serious COM
plications between Russia and her
neighbor, even If it does not ultimate
ly lead to war"
"How long is 1t since the papers
disappeared asked Danevitch.
Nearly four weeks ago." replied
the count "They were distracted
from my dispatch-box between the
hours Of midnight and eight o'clock in
the morning. So far, no use has been
made of the information thus OBJ
tanned: that much have been able to
make certain of through my spies.
Austria would have acted at once had
the government of that country be-
come aware of the contents OF the
treaty. This leads me to believe that
the thief Is not in the Austrian en-
ploy, but secured the papers with the
intention of specializing on probable
reward from the parties interested.
Evidently the person possessing them
has not yet received what he or she
considers fair financial offer for the
information they contain"
where was the dispatch-box kept?"
"In my bed room. / carried II there
myself, when retired for the night.
I am absolutely certain that the pa
pers we're in the box. l had occasion
TO open It a few minutes before re-
firing, and glanced over the contents.
I then locked the box and placed the
key. which was one of bunch, In a
secret drawer in my escritoire. Tho