The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1913-01-17

what q become Of the individual.
figure then suddenly emerged from 9
heap Of stones opposite me, and like
lightning disappeared into the house;
had recognized Robert. but unfor-
~tunately he had been too quick for
me.
Having whistled softly. Fabre crepe
up from his hiding place. and we on-
ferred as to the best course TO take.
We remained on guard all night, and
this morning at daybreak knocked az
the door. After q quarter OF an hour
II was opened by the woman. She
looked pale. and trembled from head
to foot.
WHO are your she asked.
When We told her we wanted 70
see Robert. she screamed:
He IL not here! I haven't Q
him for ever 30 long. Go away, the
lot OF you. I have been taken III dur
ing the night. You'd better send Ton
a doctor
And she crept up TO her room.
I'VE then searched the house from
top TO bottom, but the fellow had dis
appeared. We are certain he Is hid
den somewhere. But wheref pabre
thinks there must be a su~bterrxnean
passage leading into the fields be-
yond. and l am inclined 30 think 50
too. That funny-looking well ought
TO be examined. / left the other men
there. We want your help, SIR"
! jumped into a cab with my secre'
tary, and drove straight to SaIly's
house. Inspector Berard was outside.
and Informed me hat the woman was
really I'll. and that some one had gone
to fetch medical help.
made a thorough Investigation Of
the place. my men following my move
ment with curiosity. ! went down the
dried up well, and saw that the old
stones, firmly cemented together. mad
not been moved for q century.
tapped all the floors and walls. but
found no trace OF any secret passage.
Amy clue. sir?" asked Berard.
Yes. Robert has been caught I'm
his trap. and cannot get away.
And now / shall pay q visit TO Sally"
The room | entered was in a terribly
untidy state. The floor, chairs. and
tables we're Uttered with articles Of
the most heterogeneous description,
and a strong smell OF spirits pervadcd
the place. Sally vas sitting up in bed,
her head propped UP with pillows.
When she a me, she shook her fist
at me and said In an angry zone: .
What do you want? Don't bother
me about Robert He Is gone awa&,
thank heaven! and. what's more. I
don't want him back. And now lezve
me alone. I'm ILL.,"
Il am sorry TO disturb YOU" | said,
but bring you news from your BROTH
ed. He Is here. Quite close TO us"
Sally bent forward. clenching an old
handkerchief with which she had wip-
ing her forehead.
Where do you say he isl" she
gasped.
lie is lying in this bed, looking me
straight In the face"
You are mad. Do you think | am
Roberto"
oh, no. | always know . lady
when ] see her. I should be sorry TO
doubt your sex. But. although YOU
are Mile. Hortense PerrichOn. you
also are your ~ brother. or, rather.
you have impersonated him. Is that
clear?"
A knock fell on the door. II was
the doctor, and | withdrew to the gar
den. after having asked him 10 signal
to me the moment he had done with
the woman.
Ny secretary was pacing the gar
den up and down.
You allowed yourself to be nicely
bluffed." ! said TO him. Yes | con-
tinued. this woman blufed you, and
others as well. In the annals OF
crime it certainly is q record case.
Her brother did not return TO this
country, and, ! dare say, died years
ago. Sally performed n stroke OF
genius, coming to my Office claiming
my protection against him. With her
short hair and wonderful likeness 10
him, she put on mans clothes, and
then waited until | was away from
Paris before calling at the off, and
introducing herself TO you as Robert
You never thought that the gentleman
who came to see you was Sally!
"Ouce Roberts existence was es'
tablished, Sally knew she could with
perfect safety carry out netarious
schemes. and change her sex the mo-
ment things became threatening. II
was she who blackmailed that un'
fortunate NJ. F..
When Rerard came TO me this
morning and related that wonderful
story OF Roberts ghostly appearance
| began to have an linking of the
/ truth. I do not believe in secret pas
sages nor in miracles"
The doctor here called me and said
that the woman was seriously Ill, and
ordered her immediate removal tc
the Infrmary OF the Depot X. (iht
Central Police Station).
Before going away she beckoned &c
me and whispered in my ear:
The game Is up. You found me
out. Good-by.'
They were the last words l heard
her speak.
After she had gone I ransacked heI
room, and from the most impossible
~hiding.places brought 20 light securi
ties. money, jewelry, mems clothes OF
every description. Among her CORE