Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-11-24
THE JANDlDiER MYSTERY
A FRENCH STORY.

A very short time ago, that is yester-
day, about four o'clock in the afternoon,
all the QUARTER du Marais was in an up
roar. 1t was said that one of the re.
spectacle merchants in the Roi de-Sicile
has disappeared, and all the efforts to
discover him had proved fruit
less: The strange event was discussed
In all the shops in the neighborhood /;
there We're groups around the doors of
all the green-grocers, and every moment
some terrified housewife arrived, bring
ing new details. The grocer at the
corner bad the best, freshest and most
correct intelligence, having received it
from the lips of the cook who lived in
the house.
so, said he, yesterday, after din
ner, our neighbor, Monsieur Jandidier,
went to his cellar and was never seen
ag I'M disappeared, vanished, evapo-
rated |"
1t occasionally happens that mysteri-
GUS dlsappearances are heard of, the
puollc get excl ed, and prudent people
buy sword canes. Policemen hear these
a6surdrumors and shrug their shoulders.
Ibey are familiar with the other side of
these closely embroidered canvasses.
They search into the matter and find,
instead of artless falsehoods, the truth
instead OF romances, sad stories. Yet,
up to certain point, the grocer in the
Rue Saint Louis told the truth.
Monsieur Jandidier, manufacturer Of
imitation lewelry, had really not been
n)me for twenty-four hours. Monsieur
theodore Jaudidier was a very tall, very
bald, man, about ffty-eight years old,
with sufficiently good manners, who had
amassed considerable fortune in trade.
he had an income from stocks of twenty
thousand livres, and his business brought
MIN IN about fifty thousand francs. He
was beloved and esteemed by his neigh
oors, and justly 80, for his honesty was
ABOVE suspicion, his morality austere.
Married late in life to poor relative. he
mad made her perfectly happy. He had
an only daughter, pretty graceful girl,
named Terese, whom he adored. She
mad been engaged to the oldest son OF
the banker Schmidt-of the firm of
Schmidt, Gubenheim & Worb-Monsieur
Gustave but the match had been
broken off, no one knew why, for the
young people were desperately in love
with each other. 1t was said i'll the
Jandidier. circle that Schmidt, senior,
who, as was we'll known, would
skin flint, had required dowry far
beyond the merchants means.
y Warned by public rumor, which con-
stantly increased, the commissary of
police went to the home of the man who
was already called the victim. though no
exact information had been received.
He found Madame and Mademoiselle
Jandidier in such transports of grief that
1T was with the utmost difficulty that he
could gather the truth. At last he learned
the following particulars
The evening before, Saturday, Moa-
sleur Jandidier had dined with his fam
lyfas usual, but did not eat with much
appetite, having, he said, violent head.
ache. After dinner he went to his ware.
houses, gave some orders, and then en-.
tered his office. Returning home at
half-past six, he told his wife he was
going to walk. And he never appeared
again. Having carefully noted these
particulars, the commissary of police
requested permission to see Madame
Jandidier few minutes alone. She
made sign Of assent, and Mademoiselle
Therese left the room
" Pardon, madame" said the commits
sary OF police, the question am about
to address to you. Do you know whether
your husband had-I again ask your
pardon-any connection outside OF the
house ?"
Madame Jandidier started up anger
dried her tears.
81 have been married twenty-three
years, monsieur my husband has never
returned home later than ten O'clock"
g Was your husband in the habit OF
going to any club or cafe ?" he con-
tinued.
Never; wouldn't have allowed il. "
"Did he usually carry valuable papers
about with him ?"
~ don't know; attend ts roy house.
keeping, and don't trouble myself about
business matters.