The Russellville Democrat., 1880-08-12
TRUE TO HIS OATH.


 One morning about ten years ago the Parisian public were made aware of the fact that the confidential clerk of Mon- seur Laurin, well-known banker had absconded with the sum of nearly ,000,- GOO francs. Large payments were due that day by the banker, to meet which he had been relying upon this sum. A run upon the bank followed, and that evening his name was among the list of bankrupts Detectives had. of course, instantly been put upon the track of the absconding clerk, and just as he was stepping on the boat at Calais to cross the channel, he was arrested and con veyed back to Paris.
 When arrested he seemed mortified at the charge against him, and earnestly protested his innocence. This was mt natural under the circumstances, c.nd did not have the least impression .pon the officers; but one thing that. did puzzle them was the fact that 70 trace of the money he had stolen G.ould be found. At hls trlal the evlder .ce against him was too strong to ad -nit Of any doubt of his guilt. The b%nker swore that on the previous Jay he had given the clerk several orders upon the treasury, amor .nting in all to between 100000 and l,CJ0,O00 francs with instructions, after getting them cashed, to return to the bank, and deposit the money in the vault. of which he alone, beside the banker himself, knew the combination,
 Evidence was forthcoming from the Treasury Department that he had re- ceived the money, but the evidence of the other employees was definite that he had not returned to the bank during business hours, while the janitor was con fident he had not done so afterward. This, taken altogether, and added to the fact of his sudden flight, seemed con- elusive to the Judges that he was guilty. The prisoners defense took the form of an accusation against his employer. He acknowledged having received the orders, and also getting them cashed, but denied that he had been told to de- posit the amount in the bank vault. h. stead he averred the banker had told him to retain the money in his posses sion until evening, when he was to ad- init himself by a key the banker gave him to his house, and deliver the money into his own hands. This the prisoner declared he had done, when the banker, unlocking drawer in the desk at which he sat, took out large envelope, and NOih Atlc Citlh lD dtlufccS IL UD d MClI- known banking firm in Leadenhall street, London.
 Having done as he was desired, his employer took folded paper from the drawer, and placed it in the envelope, sealed it securely and gave it into his hands, telling him that he wished him to start for London at once to deliver it to the firm to which 1t was addressed and receive in return some securities of value laying in their hands. As he had on more than one former occasion been thus sent on similar secret missions by ms employer, he thought there was noth- Ing strange in the request, and, setting out Tn less than an hour, had travelled all night to Calais, arriving there just in tune to catch the boat was stepping on board, when he was arrested and brought back to Paris to be charged with crime of which he had never even dreamed.
 The officers testified to having found the envelope upon him, directed as he had stated; but, on opening it, the in- closure was found to be nothing more than several sheets of blank paper. His story, though told with earnestness Of truth and conscious innocence, seemed 20 widely far-fetceed and improbable that it only influenced the Judges still more strongely Tn the belief of his guilt. To be sure, the main proof against him was the bankers word, but the whole cham of circumstances also favored his assertions. Where or how the clerk had hidden the money was certainly an un- explained mystery, but the supposition was natural that he had laid his plans well beforehand, and made arrange ments so that it would still be secure Tn ease he was arrested before he could make good his escape. Weighing the evidence carefully, though not perhaps without taking into account high social standing the banker hadalways occupied the Judges pronounced the clerk us guilty, and sentenced him to the galleys Tor term of twenty years.
 When the prisoner heard this doom, to which even death would have been preferable, his head fell upon his breast, and an unrestrainable wall of agony broke from his lips. The following day he was sent to the galleys at Toulouse. four years passed away, during which tune the banker had resumed his busi- ness, and had reached an even higher so3lal position than he had occupied be- lore. His only child, a daughter of more than ordinary beauty and sweet ness of disposition, had blossomed into womanhood. The wealthy young Mar qms de Bcaunois was smitten by her charms, and ambitious hopes were en- terlng the bankers mind that through her he might even enter a higher grade ot society and become associated with the nobility. He could now afford to laugh at the threat of vengeance uttered four years ago by convict whose rivet- ed chains were clanking in the galleys at Toulouse. He did not even know if he were dead or alive.
 Had any one told him, or had he hap pened to read, that one of those galley slaves, who was not even allowed a name but was known as No. All, had escaped, 1t would have passed out of his 'mnl at once. Convicts often escape-it Was olhing 10 him.
 :. l'me slrl passed on. and the date o the wedding of the bankers daught 2