The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-01-10

SIOuQu.
do you refer to that little stain:"
"Yes."~ = .>-..>.G-
"And you mean to say it is from
that stain you draw your inferences?"
Il will explain it all to you after !
have found my deductions are true.
You might find them now, perhaps, a
little too subtle"
Thirteen days elapsed, and I then
gave sigh Of relief, for had solved
my problem. I sent message to
Auguste, and he soon put in an ap-
pearance, dressed in another new suit
OF clothes. NJ. p, anxious to hear
the mystery cleared up, had asked to
be present at the interview.
IN. Augusta" 1 began, "can you
give me any tidings of your aunt?"
mo, sir
Does this not distress you?"
1T does.''
Then put your mind at rest. Nine
Servois is in the best of health, and
went to London with a young English
man. called James Briggs. They
have taken a furnished apartment in
Baker street. Would you like to know
the number:?''
Auguste gave a slight start.
Il don't mind telling you, M. Au-
guste.' I continued, that, although Of
late I had no misgivings regarding
your aunt's fate, I nevertheless was
delighted, when, searching your apart.
ment, I came upon the truth
"The collar" cried NJ. F.; I'VE
have at last come to it,"
yes; we have come to it. The
crumpled collar was in a drawer hid.
den behind lot of handkerchiefs and
ribbons. 1t seemed so out of place
that 1t attracted my attention. took
it up, and at the back discovered a
slight stain, which on careful exami.
nation proved to have been caused by
hair-dye.
does your mistress dye her hair
l asked Josephine.
Yes. sir
"'Since vhen?'
"'Only within the last three
MONTHS
Did your mistress take a bag with
her the day she went to Nogent-sur.
Marneo'
Yes. sir. The little yellow leather
bag she generally takes when she
goes there, to carry books and other
things
Il explored every nook and corner.
and did not discover a single bottle
Of hair-dye And the truth flashed
upon me. When a woman-especially
one Of mature age-starts on jour
ney. she may forget or leave behind
many indispensable things-but her
hair dye never. I hat not the slight.
est doubt that Nine Servois had left
Paris for some mysterious reason, and
that there was a man in the case. My
next step was to discover her where.
abOuts: and, armed with a list Of all
the hairdresscrs in the metropolis,
called every day at certain number
Of places. until came to the shop OF
NJ. H. in the Rue CroiX-des-Petits.
Champs. In reply to my question
whether Nine. Sevois was one Of his
clients he shook his head. But
guessed he did not speak the trutl:
and soon frightened him into confess.
ing that he supplied her regularly
with hair dye.
"'Have YOU sent her any of late?
I asked.
He hesitated a second and burst
out:
II can't help it! l don't see why
I should get into trouble over this
business. Look here, NJ Goron, a
young gentleman called and asked for
a bottle of my dye. He paid for it.
he returned and said that, as he was
no hand at making parcels. he begged
me to send the stuff to Nine. Servois
at the address he gave. And he made
me swear not to divulge anything in
case inquiries were made
You heard, or course l remarked
to him, of Nine. Servois' disappear
ance and the outcry it made?'
Yes, sir he sighed; but the
young gentleman said it would be all
right, and that the police, being or a
wrong scent, would soon tire of their
search"
Augus1e turned crimson.
Yes, NJ. August:,' | said to that
youth. 1T was you who tried to bluff
me. And you also behaved badly to
your aunt by not carrying out her inr
structions: especially it. as I am sure
she paid YOU handsomely for your
services Poor NJ Auguste, l am
afraid she will now strike you out OF
her will, With Nine Servois' London
address in my possession. the rest
was easy. I wrote to one OF my Scot
land Yard colleagues. and received
prompt reply that at that address a
Mr.. BRIGGS and a French lady were
to nc. vas a trainers assistant who
had come to London in connection
with business. | next discovered thai
he was one Of your friends: and it was
quite evident that Nine. Servois hao
lost her heart to that youth. had taken
you into her confidence, and, with
your assistance run away with him
N7hvo That is the only point about
which l am not quite certain. YOU
might eniighten me?'
4Auguste looked so sheepish that M
r and | burst out laughing.
Il have nothing to add" groane6
Auguste-"you ferreted it all out your
| self. AS to the reason why my aunt