The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-05-05
/ STRANGE Disappearance,

A short time ago, about 4 o'clock on .
Sunday afternoon, the whole district Of
the Marais was thrown into state Of
conmotion. It was said that one Of the
most honorable negotiants Of the Rue
Koi-de-Sicille had disappeared and that
all efforts to find him had proved fruit
less. 1t was the subject of conversation
in all the shops; the excitement was uni
versal.
The grocer at the corner possessed
the best, latest and most exact news.
This is how it happened" said he.
"On Saturday evening, after dinner,
our neighbor, Monsieur Jandidier, went
down to his cellar to get bottle Of wine,
and he has never been seen since"
When these disappearances occur,
which is not infrequent, the public take
alarm, but the police shrug their shoul-
ders, because they have found out,
through experience, that often behind
these romantic stories lie hid many sad
realities. However, up to Q certain
point the grocer of the Rue st. Louis
spoke the truth. In fact, for the last
twcnty-four hours Monsieur Jandidier,
lubricant Of false jewelry. had not reap
peared.
Monsieur Theodore Jandidier was q
man Of about So years Of age, very tall,
very bald, possessing rather good man.
ncrs, and it was said had made . con-
siderable amount of money at his trade.
1t was estimated that his income was
about 10000 francs yearly, independent
of the profits of his business, which
amounted to about so, 900 francs more.
He was liked and respected in the
neighborhood, his probity never doubted
and his manner was severe.
He married portionless relation late
in life, whom he had rendered perfectly
happy. She possessed one daughter, q
pretty, graceful girl, whom he idolized.
Mademoiselle Therese had been affianced
to the son of banker named Schmidt.
But the engagement had been broken
oil because the old banker, whose ava
rice was well known, had exacted much
larger portion for the bride than her IA
ther could afford. It was said that Papa
Schmidt would have "shaved an egg, |"
had that operation been possible
Warned by the public rumor, which
increased hour by hour, the Commissary
Of Police was obliged to 60 to the house
of the victim in order to obtain certain
information. He found the wife and
daughter plunged in such deep grief that
it was with the greatest difficulty he as
certained the truth, and this is what he
heard:
TIE previous evening Mr.. Jandidier
dlned as usual with his family, but with
out much appetite, as he was suffering
from bad headache. After dinner he
went down to his shop. gave few or
ders, and then retired to his bureau. At
half-past 6 o'clock he went mp stairs
again and told his wife that he was going
for q walk.
And he had never reappeared!
Excuse my question, madam" said
the Commissary, politely; "but was
your husband, ahem dissipated
Madame Jandidier drew herself up to
her full height, and, quickly drying her
tears, answered.:
II have been married twenty-three
years, and my husband, in all that time,
has never returned home later than 10
o'clock p
"Was Mr.. Jandidier in the habit Of
freQuenting any club or cafe ?"
Never! / would not have permit
ted it,"
did he carry any valuables about
him ?"
II don't know; I occupy myself with
the housekeeping and not with the bust
ness"
It was impossible to obtain any fur
ther information from the grief-stricken
wife, and, after having inspected the
premises, the Commissary became very
uneasy and began to suspect crime.
The same evening one of the cleverest
detectives. named Ritiveau, but COM
monty called Maitre Magloire, was upon
the track Of Mr.. Jandidier, armed SIM
ply with photograph Of the missing
man.
The following day Magloire presented
hims If at the police station, to render
an account Of the steps he had taken to
the magistrate who was charged with the
affair.
There you are, Magloire !" said the
worthy gentleman. "Have you learned
anything?"
~ am on the right track, your Hon
or"
"Speak. then! |"
ITO begin with, it was not at half-past
6 that Mr.. Jandidier left his house, but
at precisely"
Precisely"
Perfectly 10, for I have been in
formed Of this fact by clock maker Of
the Rue st. Denis. who says that Mr..
Jandidier compared his watch with the
clock above the door. He had an un-
lighted cigar between his teeth. rea-
soned that he must light it somewhere,
and I was right, for he entered tobac-
conist's in the boulevard du Temple,
where he is well known"
"How did he appear?
He seemed preoccupied, the woman
in the shop said, and she also told me
that he often went to the Cafe Turc.
next went there and was informed that
Mr.. Jandidier was there on Saturday
evening and that he had drunk two
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