River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-01-02

that stain you draw your differences? :"
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 l then
gave a sigh of relief, for had solved
my problem. l sent a message to
Auguste, and he soon put in an ap-
pearance, dressed in another new suit
of clothes. M. r, anxious to hear
the mystery cleared up. had asked to
be present at the interview.
IN. Auguste," l began, ''can you
give me any tidings of your aunt?'
mo, sir"
Does this not distress you?"
'It 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," l continued, that, although OF
late l had no misgivings regarding
your aunt's fate, l nevertheless was
delighted, when, searching your apart
ment, came upon the truth"
''The collar," cried M. F.; 'wd
have at last come to it."
Eyes; we have come to it. The
crumpled collar was in drawer hid
den behind lot of handkerchiefs and
ribbons. 1t seemed so out of place
that it 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.
Eyes, sir
"Since when?'
"'Only within the last three
months
Did your mistress take bag with
her the day she went to Nogent-sur
Marne?'
Eyes, sir. The little yellow leather
bag she generally takes when she
goes there, to carry books and other
things
81 explored every nook and corner
and did not discover a single bottle
of hair-dye. And the truth flashed
upon me. When a woman-especlally
one of mature age-starts on a jour
ney, she may forget or leave behind
many indispensable things-but her
hair dye never. l had not the slight
est doubt that Nine. Servois had left
Paris for some mysterious reason, ana
that there was a man in the case. MY
next step was to discover her where
abouts: and, armed with list of all
the hairdressers in the metropolis,
called every day at certain number
of places, until l came to the shop OF
M. H, in the Rue CroiX-des-Petlts-
Champs In reply to my question
whether Nine. Servois was one OF his
clients he shook his head. But
guessed he did not speak the truth
and soon frightened him into confess
ing that he supplied her regularly
with hair dye.
"'Have you sent her any of later
l asked.
"He hesitated a second, and burst
out:
"T can't help it! l don't see why
I should get into trouble over &n1s
business. Look here, M. Goror,
young gentleman called and asked Tor
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. Servnis
at the address he gave. And he made
me swear not to divulge anything In
case inquiries were made
"'You heard, or course | remarked
to him, of Nine. Servois' disappear
ance and the outcry it made?
eyes, sir he sighed; but the
young gentleman said it would be all
right. and that the police. being on
wrong scent. would soon tire of their
search.
Auguste turned crimson.
Eyes, M. Auguste," 1 said to that
youth. sit was you who tried to bluff
me. And you also behaved badly TO
your aunt by not carrying out her In
structions; especially if, as | am sure,
she paid you handsomely for your
services. Poor M. Augusta, am
afraid she will now strike you out OF
her will! With Nine. Servois' London
address in my possession, the rest
was easy. l 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
STAYING. This Mr. Briggs, they wrote
to me. was a trainers assistant who
had come to London in connection
with business. / next discovered tnat
he was one of your friends; and 1t was
quite evident that Nine. Servois had
lost her heart to that youth, had taken
Won into her confidence, and, with
your assistance, run away with him.
Why? That is the only point about
which I am not quite certain. You
might enlighten me?"
Auguste looked so sheepish that M.
F. and burst out laughing.
81 have nothing to add" groaned
Auguste-"you ferreted it all out your.
self. AS to the reason why my aunt
was in such a hurry to go away with
Jimmy. that is a question you had
better put to her When a woman oil
her age loses her heart she usually
loses her head as we'll"
And he stalked out Of the room.
Mime. Servois married Mr.. Briggs;
hut loft him six months later, after