The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-07

Then I laid the copy before him, ask
ing if that was not his office seal, his
signature.
The first has been stolen, | know by
whom; the second forged-undoubted
forged, by the same coqu;n. voleur.
escroc. sacripant, faineant." The staid
old notary grew purple with rage as he
rolled out abusive epithets, then paled
suddenly with another emotion. alarm
and misgiving "He will ruin me yet,
disgrace me utterly, for who shall say
where his abstra ctiOns. his misuse of
my confidence will cease?'
WAS he one of your clerksT asked
the colonel.
MY first clerk, Picpus, whom | drove
out of my etude some two months back
for fragrant misconduct. Liar, rogue,
thief, gambler, Greek, he wasted his
substance and mine in every low hell, at
the roulette tables in the market place,
in the dancing dens of the Ouled Nail"
"What became of him?'
81 heard that he had gone down to
the coast. to Algiers or to Constantine,
and again that he was lurking some
where near. He was seen at Sidi Okba.
flies. Another said he had gone on to
Touggourt, and meant to go over to
the"
81 do not believe myself that he has
left Biskra-neither he nor his fast
friend and boon companion, the crou-
pier of the Cercle Ell Salah;n."
'Della Grocer quickly asked Baron
de Hautrive, and l also pricked up my
OF aF 4hn nj,
had struck another clew.
'4hen Della Croce," my friend the
colonel told me as we walked away from
the notary's, sis probably at the bottom
of this business. He was once in good
position, had money and, believe, rank
Della Croce is not his real name-bu
he lost it all at play. When he was
bankrupt in cash, and almost in char
. acter, he was brought out here this last
season to act as crouper at the Casino
. just to keep him from starvation.
, heard of him, never saw him, for, as
you will understand, / do not frequent
those places; heard of him as mar
, with history, a man who had been In
good, in the best, society, knew men anG
cities, but had sunk into a mere adven
|. turer, a vaurien and chavalier de-indus
trie. 1t is possible that he knew the
, prince by sight, had met him or heart
. Of him in Europe, and when he came III
J here-if he ever came"
(Which is as good as proceed" I put
t in.
/ mot to my satisfaction. You stick
to your point, however, it is like yot
English. But will you explain why nc
: one, none of us at any, rate, has me-
him or heard of him? Biskra is a small
place. Why are there no traces OF
: him?
mat is the darkest part Of the bust.
ness, to my mind"
"You shall not say, monsieur, that We
have not tried our best to clear up that
There shall be no imputation OF foul
play undetected where I command. I'm
mediate search shall he made through
the district-a complete battue. You
Prince Charmant must be very securely
hidden if he escapes our people. He
shall be found, nevertheless. But a
shall be found, whether alive or dead
He was not found. nevertheless. But q
day or two later the baron sent for me,
and said they had laid hands upon the
.. two rogues, Picpus and Della Croce.
"They are both in Algiers. known to
and identified by the police. No doubt
they await your arrival with the magot
the great prize for which they have an
. gled so cleverly. Now we shall arrest
them. I am writing to beg that this be
done at once, for by Interrogation they
may be got to confess what they have