CHAPTER XXXI. HOW THE DEED WAS DONE.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 189, 29 January 1887, Page 7

CHAPTER XXXI. HOW THE DEED WAS DONE.

Louis looked at his watch again. There was a little more than ten minutes before her hour would expire— time enough for a brief outline of the occurrences of that eventful night, he thought. "When I left y&u," he began, "It hastened toward my office aa I told you I intended to do, but I had not a thought of being followed, nor that anyone could suspect whither I was bound. I reached it, unlocked the out3r door and passed into the building. I did not relock the door on the ineide, Decause I did not intend to remain more thm a moment or two, just long enough to assure myself that everything was all right. That was a mistake, and fatal to me. I should have locked it at once upon entering. "The building was of course very dark. I could Eec nothing, but I knew every step, and passed across the vestibule to my own office door. As I was inserting the key in its lock I thought I heard a slight uoi^e behind me. 1 paueed to listen, and was sure I heard some one trying to repress laboured breathing. The nexb instant I felt a stunning blow on the back of my head, and fell to the floor senseless. " When I came to myself again, I was bound hand and foot, a gag in my mouth, and a handkerchief tied tightly over it. My office door was open, and I saw Aepinsvall down on his knees bofore the cafe. He had robbed me of my keys, entered the office, opened the safe, and was in the act of taking the money from it by the light of a a tpper match, which went out while 1 looked. Presently he came out, shutting and locking the office door after him. "He" bont over me and listened. I thought it best to feign unconsciousness still, thinking perhaps he might not be so much on his 'guard if he believed I had not recovered my senses, and I could thus learn more about hie movements. So I held my breath and did not stir. After a moment he passed me and went out at the street door, locking that also after him. "I do not know how long I lay there, but it seemed an age, and I was nearly wild about the money. I could not move, being so securely bound, and I believed that I must lay there until some one discovered me in the morning. However, I thought that would not be the worst that could happen to me, for as long as I was not seriously injured, I should be able to set the officers at once on the track of the audacious robber. But these plans were defeated by the return of my assailant. Ho entered the second time, securely locking the door after him. Then I heard him strike a match, a candle was lighted, and an old man with white hair and beard bent over me and scanned my countenance. " ' Ohio ! so you've corao to 1' he said, in a low, assumed voice " He stooped and removed the cord from my feet, carefully winding it into a ball and storing it away in a capacious pocket of his long great-coat, so as to leave no traces behind him. " ' Get up !' he then commanded. "I struggled to my feet and looked him over. I knew well enough that it was Aspinwell in disguise ; but I could not I speak, for that gag and bandage tad. been i very thoroughly arranged. Just then, away in the distance, I heard one of the city clocks strike three. My heart sank I within me, for I knew there would be 1 little hope of my obtaining assistance at that hour. The pseudo old man took me by the arm and led me to the door, where he extinguished his candle. Then he cautiously looked forth into tho street. " Everything was quiet. He led me out, and, still keeping firm hold upon me, carefully locked the door after us. He then cocked a pistol, and placed it against my breast. " If vau make any resistance or disturbance, / will make short work of you !' he said, in a low, determined voice. " Our office, aB perhaps you know, is on the corner of this alley, which leads through from Rue do Castiglione to Rue de Blanc. He turned immediately into it and brought me straight to this building, which was unlocked and evidently ready for my reception, " Entering, he lighted his candle again, and, pointing to tho Btairs, bade me mount them. I could only obey, for I was helpless to do otherwise, and he followed me, forcing me into this room, which was dimly lighted and arranged as you see it now. The gate of this cage was op6n. He commanded me to enter. I stopped and faced him, while I struggled frantically to free my hands, which were bound behind my back. I could not resign myself to such a fate without an effort to escape. But, of course, it was useless, and, taking me rudely by the shoulder, he pushed me inside, when he closed and locked the gate upon me. "♦Now,' he said, 'turn your back to me and I will give you the use of your hands.' "I obeyed, backing close up to the bare, and he cut the cord that bound them." "Had 1 been outside and close beside him, with weapons of defence within my reach, I could not have used them, for my hands were so numb and weak that they were absolutely powerless. I could not e/en raise them to untie the bandages from my mouth, and had to motion to him to do it for me, which he did. "Then I faced him. " ' What does this mean, and what do you expect to gain by thiß Dight's work V I demanded. "'Softly, my friend, if you please; it affects my nerves unpleasantly to have any one speak in such a tone,' he said, in a mocking though still disguised voice. "'Arthur Asplnwall," I retorted, 'you may as well drop your maak, for I know you, and no amount of pretension can conceal your identity from me.' " He started, and looked at mo keenly. '"My name, young man, is Pierre Dupont ; I know not your Arthur Aspmwall,' ho said, in French, and in the same voice as before. " 'That is a very useless and senseless story,' I replied, 'for I saw you when you took that money from the safe in my office a few hours ago. 1 " 'Very weH,' he then answered, in his natural tone, though his face had grown ghastly white upon learning that he was discovered. 11 'What do yon expect to gain by this night's work V I repeated,

" ' That rßmaine to be ssen,' he replied. ' But you can doubtless understand that it will be necessary for me to detain you for a time, until rhe excitement which must prevail after the discovery of " to-night's event subsides somewhat. I shall endeavour, however, to make you as comfortable as circumstacces will permit. You wijl see that I have provided you with a lounge upon which to sleep, while on that table there is food, which will bo renewed every day or two. Your quarters, I acknowledge, are rather cramped, but they have the advantage of being secure ; and, let me assure you, it will be utterly useless for you to attempt to escape. If you cry out to the top of your lungs no one will hear you, as this room is the same as a room within a room } for beyond those windows there is a corridor leading into tbe Btroet below, and all these buildings for some way down the alley are empty. This was originally tho shop of a dhmond-worker, which accounts for the very secure way in which that safe is guarded ; and you need not fear the intrusion of anyone upon your privacy. Now, as the night ha 9 been rathe' a busy one for me, I must leave, I will, however, look in upon you to-morrow, and shal )hope to find you in a tranquil frame of mind ' " Stay !' I said, as he was about to leave mo. .' How far do you intend to carry this state of affairs ? Do you imagine you cm ! hide me for any length of time from my friends f 11 He gave me a wicked look. " • I do not imagine anything, Loui* Dunbar— l know that I have covered my tracks so effectually that no one will ever suspect that I had anything whatever to do with your sudden disappearance. The only possible explanation of the mystery will be that you yourself aD3Conded with the gold committed to your trust.' " With those terrible words he left me, and you can perhaps imagine the frame of mind I was in. You cay that I have grown * thin ;' truly I have, Margaret, and for those next three days I endured the tor ments of the Inquisition. I could see how well Aspinall had managed to conceal his identity, and that no one would suspect him of having had any hand in the robbery of my office, but how he had ever gained a knowledge of the money was the most tantalising mystery oT all. You have, however, made that plain to me. Of course he must have concealed himself behind those draperies, and, leaving the house almost immediately after I had done so, followed me oil the way to the office. " There, dear, your time is very nearly up," Louis said, holding his watch so that ehe could see for herself, " and I must tell you no more now.'' " Must Igo and leave you ? Oh, Louis ! it eeeniß as if I could not," Margaret eaid, with a regretful sigh. "It is tho best plan, for the reasons already stated. You will bring me those tools to-morrow, and then, in a few hours, I shall have my fate in my own hands. Now you must not stay another minute. Give me your candle, and let me light it \ from mine. Margaret stooped to get it for him, and, as she did &o, removed some drops of wax that had adhered to the carpet when it fell She would not leave the slightest trace of her movements that night. Arthur Aspinwall must not be allowed te suspect, at i present, that his prisoner had been diecovered. Louis lighted the candle, but bent and kissed the hand that she put out to receive it before giving it to her. •• Heaven bless my brave and faithful ' love, and grant that no harm may befall her!" he said tenderly, adding: "I shall count the hours until we»meet again." ; Margaret smiled a fond response, and, with a last good-night, passed out of the room She carefully locked the door after her, and then passed down that loi!g flight of stairs, taking the precaution to hold her clothing away from them, so that they would leave no trace behind to betray that a woman had been there. Reaching the lower room, she extinguished her candle, put it into her pocket, opened the outer door, and listened. There waa not a sound anywhere near. She passed out, turning the key quietly, quickly sped down the steps and out into the street. Annette stood there at the corner waiting for her,