, 1886-08-29
ACCUSED OF ROBBERY.

opened, passenger alighted and went
their various ways and Monsieur Cato
alone remained. He stood at the win
dow Of his carriage, looking at the pas
sengers, but paying no attention to the
guards who offered him their services;
his cravat hung united. his coat and vest
were unbuttoned and his mouth was
open as though he had been unable to
close it since a cry of astonishment had
escaped him. Gradually Monsieur Cato
recovered himself sufficiently to call the
station master, who, when he arrived,
did not regard with a favorable eye the
stout, dusty figure at the window.
BE good enough to get out, sir, said
he, authoritatively. The train goes no
further" 10
mo, l shall not" said the traveller,
until you bear witness to-" ur 1
"What?r cried the station master, i'm
patiently.
THAT I have been robbed"
impossible cried the other.
ALAS. only too possible" said M. Cato,
placing his hand at his back. at is no
longer there" g r.ns
"What is no longer there?"
"The leather case, " said NJ. Cato with
a sigh. ut has disappeared with TO-
900 forms it contained
where? When?" ta 1I16
"Ah, If only knew. The money did
not belong to me; I was taking it to my
employer and / W. it to my reputation,
on which up to the present time there
has been no stain, to refuse to leave this
carriage until the robbery of which I
am the victim has been officially re-
corded. l beg that you shall summon a
commissary of police and two wit
nesses.r
very well, sir, if you insist upon it, y
said the station master, whose interest
was increasing. Il shall be pleased to act
MS witness and my assistant, whom you
see standing there, will be the second, and
luckily enough here comes the commits
sary. Tell him the facts in your case,
SIR"
Cato, in his excitement, leaned SO
far out Of the carriage window that a
somersault to the ground seemed a not
remote possibility.
-Your name, sir?- was the commits
sary's first question, when he under
stood what was required of him.
Il am called Bernard Cato and / am
steward upon the estate of his honor,
Monsieur Dionys ~Saraglqui. Yesterday
evening"
Your agef" interrupted the police Off
GER. nm nanM
II was So last st. Georges day. Yes
ter evening"
Religion cried the officer.
"Roman Catholic" said Cato, with a
sigh, thinking it very hard that he was
not allowed to tell his own story, his
own way.
Married or singlefr
Last year we had our silver wedding.
As was saying, yesterday evening"
Have you any children"
Heaven has not bestowed her gifts
upon US
What has been stolen from your
Yesterday evening" said Cato, his
voice trembling, "as we were at dinner
land a fine dinner it was, with no scarcity
of the best wine, for we were celebrating
with some friends my wife's birthday
itttiNtd ititkiiiu iAOih hiS Oihobf
telling me he needed 10000 florins i'm
mediately. l read the telegram, and
passing it to my wife said: i shall take
the money myself to his lordship, for ]
have some business matters to commune
cate to him." I
: Very well, said my wife; but take
good care of yourself and do not lose the
money
DO not fear. my love- answered.
We will put the money in my leather
case, and | will fasten it on my back
"'Do not bind it too tight them said
my wife, for you have eaten too much
and drank too much good wine, and the
pressure might do you harm
We arose from the table and 1 went
into my Office with the cashier, who was
one of our party. We wont into the
strong-room. into which even the cashier
only enters when he has need of a large
sum. We took ten bank-notes of 1,00t
forins each and put them one by one into
the case. Then l undressed, tied the
leather case upon my back, and dressed
again. / shook hands with the cashier,
kis ed my wife, and drove to the rail
way station with two servants, who sang
songs on the road to brighten robbers
away. At the ntation l engaged a pri-
vate compartment, so as to escape the
risk of falling into bad company. One
of my servants carried my ~valise, and
they both assisted me into the railway
carriage, wishing me a good journey as
the train moved away"
AT last you IRE off, said the officer,
who had been mentally writhing under
the tortures of Monsieur Czato's details
$50 | said to myself at the time SAID
the traveller, calmly. II lay down On the
cushion and fell asleep, and only WOKE
up as we entered the station here.
felt for my leather ease and it was M
longer on my back. l had been robbed.
when did you go to Sleep asked thu
station master.
AS soon as the train started, l be
lievc.r
"what makes you think sol"
Il heard the name of no station
called"
E"Did you awaken Curing the ~journey?'
u don't remember having done So
mo one touched or came lear your
no one; but now | think Of II, | re
call a sensation as though a strong
draught had blown upon me-"
"Where did the draught come FROM
From the window, probably
"Why didn't you close the window Il
you do not like draughts ?"
Il remember, and my servants car
testify, that / did eose both window
and lowered the curtains as the trair
started. Upon arriving here. both cur
tains and windows Were still closed.'
-How then could the drnught hav,
been causedf"
by the robber when ne opened tn,
door"
Then noor Monsieur Cxrto- with tn,