Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-11-17

and an understandable wall of agony
broke from his lips. The following day
he was sent to the galleys at Toulouse.
Four years passed away, during which
time he Cthe banker) had resumed his
business, and had reached even a higher
social position than before. His only
child, daughter of more than ordinary
beauty and sweetness of disposition,
had blossomed into womanhood. The
wealthy young Marquis De Beaunois
was smitten by her charms, and ambi-
tious hopes were beginning to dawn
upon his mind that through her he
might enter yet higher social circle,
and become associated with the nobility.
He could now afford to laugh at the
threat of vengeance uttered four years
ago by convict whose riveted chains
were clanking in the galleys at Toulouse.
He did not even know if he were dead
or alive.
Had anyone 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 81, had es-
capped from Toulouse, it would have
passed out of his mind at once. Con-
victs often escape-it was nothing to
him.
Time passed on, and the marriage of
the bankers daughter was fixed to take
place with an elegance that was to sur
pass almost all former bridals of the
season. All Paris knew of it, and one
may Judge the sensation when, on the
night before the wedding, the bankers
house was broken into, and not only all
the valuables taken but the bride her
self carried away. A large reward was
offered, but in vain. And the most ear
nest efforts of the entire detective force
were not sufficient to find the faintest
clue to her whereabouts. The days
went by, and grew into weeks, and yet
no tidings of the missing girl could be
found, and the bankers form grew bent,
and his face hollow and careworn, with
anxiety and grief. The whole affection
of his life had been wrapped up in this
child.
Late one night, after more than two
weeks had passed, he was seated in the
library, in conversation with one of the
detectives, engaged in the fruitless
search, when note was brought to him.
al must see you at once; can give
you tidings of your daughter" was
written in large sprawling hand.
Almost overcome with emotion, the
banker gave orders for the bearer to be
admitted while the detective arose quiet
ly and took his position behind the cur
tain of the window. Scarcely had he
done so when the servant opened the
door and admitted a man who, though
flashily dressed, carried in his face and
manner the unmistakable stamp of the
lowest criminal class. The banker
sprung from his chair, his face flushed
with glad expectation to meet him.
"You bring me news of my daughter ?"
he cried eagerly.
"Yes," the man answered. "That's
what l came for"
"And where is she? Is she well? ?
Tell me quickly and relieve my sus-
pense."
al was here before, the night he did
this little job" the man went on, in
stolid sort of a way, as if he was repeat
| ing set speech, and ignoring the excited
questioning of the other. "There were
six of us in it besides the captain. We
six had all the swag. All the captain
wanted for his share was the girl; and
while we were gathering up the articles
he took her in his arms and walked off,"
"And where is she now? l will give
any amount-my whole fortune-to
have her restored to mel"
"None of us knew where he took her
until tonight. He sent for me to come
and fetch you to him."
"Let us lose not a moment" the
banker exclaimed eagerly 81 am ready
this instant"
The detective came from his hiding
place behind the curtain.
'I will accompany you," he said.
"Ah!" said the man, "you are de-
tective. But it don't matter; the cap
tain said he wasn't particular if the
whole force came.."
s"Lead the way then. We are ready"
the officer answered. ggf4
The man led the way out of the house
and along the streets for distance OF
nearly half mile, until at length they
reached one of the lowest quarters Of
the town down by the river. Knocking
at the door of an old half-ruined house,
whose rear windows overlooked the
water, the guide gave some password to
an old woman, who answered the door,
and then led the way up several flights
of stairs. that creaked and proaned at
every step, as if they would fall beneath
their feet. Arrived at the top OF the
stairs the man knocked three times on
the door at the head of the stairway. A
voice answered, bidding them enter,
and doing 80 they found themselves in a
small, low-ceilinged room, one part Of
which was portioned off with dingy
curtain, and before the fireless CRATE a
man was standing with folded arms.
AS they entered look Of almost fiend-
ish triumph lighted up his face and he
advanced toward the banker.
Monsieur Laurin," he said, in cold {,
measured tones, edo you recognize me ?"
The banker started back, with an ex-
preston OF dismay.
"Paul Fargavep he gasped.
eyes," the other answered, "Paul
Fargave-the clerk who, to further your
own grasping aims, you consigned to a
fate worse than death, and who swore
to be revenged. The time has come.
will restore to you your daughter, but it
is upon one condition and one only. II
YOU refuse, you and she both die.