Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-10-23
CALCATRONTS REVENGE,

VI course you remember that affair
which caused SO much gossip four or five
years ago at the wedding of Antonin Lee
roux the bankers son, and Mile Connie
aux Fontaiues.
Leroux had formerly been associated
with an Italian count named Calcatroui,
who was often numbered among the bank
er's guests. He is seen there no more
however.
There were rumors afloat casting doubt
On the solvency of the bank, and many
persons predicted that the marriage would
uever take place. yet it did, and the pres
ents were magnificent.
Among the guests was an old friend OF
the brides family, the learned Desrochcs.
librarian of the Garde Meuble, a mau
whose position Obliged him 10 cultivate two
very different qualities. 1t was necessary
Tor him to be mt the same time the most
courteous and the most suspicious of men
to treat every reader in the library As =
brother in science, an esteemed friend, but
friend who must be closely watched and
whose pockets must be probed with a
glance.
81 know many good women and honest
men,, he often said; "but there is no hui
man being on earth who is not at some
time of life tempted to walk off with val.
able book"
To return to the wedding. On leaving
the church the bridal party and guests
went to Nine. LerouX's house, where a col.
lation was served. In one of the parlors
the presents were on exhibition, according
to IA despicable custom which forces every
guest to contribute with generosity often
Involuntary. Among the jewelry was a
diamond necklace, the gift of the bride
grOom's father, which attracted every eye
and put to flight all doubts as to the state
of the bankers finances. 1t cost 10000
crowns at the lowest estimation.
While every one was busily engaged in
the dining room "A sudden clamor arose.
and a whisper passed from one guest to
another
"The diamond necklace is stolen"
Mr.. LerouX behaved like true aristo-
GRAFT When the catastrophe was reported
10 him he turned red in the face for an in
slant, but recovered himself Immediately
and said in IA tone of calmness:
'Do not excite yourself my friends
mere money loss is not a mortal wound. |
do not want trifling disappointment to
cast gloom over day like this. My dear
children, may this slight and Unforeseen
shadow be the only one to fall across your
LIES pathway"
He is plucky dog" muttered a phil
osophical guest, but all felt the situation
painful one, and most of the guests
breathed more freely on finding themselves
outside the house
In ten minutes the rooms were empty,
and then "A servant informed Mr.. Leroux
that gentleman wished to speak to him
in the library. Hurrying in he found Drs
roches, who WIS evidently much excited.
Mr. LerouX,' said the old librarian,
"the duties of my profession have caused
me TO acquire the habit Of watching the
people around me. saw the diamond
necklace stolen The thief is a man Of
about fifty, tall, slim and very dark. lie
must be "A friend of yours, for noticed
him shaking hands with you repeatedly in
the sacrsty after the marriage. ] have
been following him. and was about TO
speak to him when were separated by the
crowd in the street, and he got into "A cab
and escaped me. | took the number how
ever, and you will have no difficulty in
tracing the fellow OF course, shall he
delighted to testify. Shall we 90 to the
police at Once?"
AT the last words LerouN sprang up and
stood barring the door, as if he thought
Desroches himself the thief.
'Wait a minute, please" he exclaimed
81 think | know the person you suspect''-
Suspect? The deucer interrupted Des
roches. Il tell you saw it, Thanks to a
mirror, distinctly saw him put the dia-
monds into his pocket. He will sleep in
Jail tonght-that is, if he is sleepy, Only
we must not lose any time"
81 beg your pardon, Mr.. Desroches: the
unfortunate wretch will sleep in his own
bed. | am not very intimate with him. but
we once had business relations with each
- 7 10, g.l...
Therefore, monsieur, you saw nothing, dc
you understaudi Accept my thanks for
your trouble
Desroches left the house in a state of
amazemeut. Such magnanimity seemed to
him to SAVIOR of completely, and, after
thinking the matter over carefully, he re
paired to the Office of the project of police
and reported the theft, giving all the de
tails possible, and then went home with "A
heightened conscience. The next day lie
rouX wa, visited by an officer, and, on see
ing the librarians signature he cliuchcd
his fist and wished his oiiicious friend with
the Fures. lie declared his intention Of
making no complaint in the matter, and
dismissed the officer. Five minutes later
he was in secret council with Coindart,
manager of the best detective agency in
Paris He stated the case in a few words,
and his listener added:
and you wish us to keep watch on the
count"
yes" replied LerouX "you are to
watch, but not to arrest him; ON the con
trary, you are to prevent his being ar
rested. An idiot of man has gone and
put the police on his track" Coindart
took notes in shorthand, and LerouX added
uneasily:
at probably seems strange to you"-
Nothing seems strange to me-" inter
rupted the detective, land this is not the
first time have had such charge. If ne
public knew all our secrets they would be
less astonshed at the failures of the police
TO make arrests. understand You wish
our gentleman to be put to no incon-
Yenience whatever"
That evening Calcatroni, on leaving tho