The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-02-14

ing ON documents and al decfpner,1i
manuscripts. The son of dairyman
brought up in a Lancastrial school
reading with avidity all the daily pa
pers, attracted by everything mysteri
GUS which happened in Paris, having
accomplished his military duty, he ap
piled for admission to the police bureau
ms he woald have embarked for the new
world, for Mexico or for Tonquin, in
order to travel in new country. Then
he married, so that he might have in
his checkered existence, which was dan,
gerous and wearying, haven of rest, q
fireside of peaceful joy.
So he lived a double life, tracking
malefactors like bloodhound and cul.
tivating his little garden. There he de,
voured old books, for which he had paid
few sous at some book stall. He read
and pasted in old odd leaves, rebound
them himself and cut clippings from
papers He filled his round, bald head
with mass of facts which he investi-
gated, classified, put into their proper
place, to be brought forth as occasion
demanded.
He was an inquisitive persona very
inquisitive person indeed. Curiosity
filled his life. He performed with pleas
ure the most fatiguing and repulsive
tasks that fall to police officers lot.
They satisfied the original need of his
nature and permitted him to see every
thing, TO hear everything, to penetrate
into the most curious mysteries-today,
in a dress suit with white tie, carelessly
glancing over the crowds at the opera to
discover the thieves who took opera
glasses, which they sent to accomplices
in Germany to be sold; tomorrow GO
ing in ragged clothes to arrest a MUIR
derer in some cutthroat den in the Gla-
ciere.
M. Bernardet had taken possession Of
the Office Of the most powerful bankers,
seized their books and made them 90
away with him in cab. He had fol-
lowed, by order, the intrigues Of more
than one fine lady, who owed to him
her salvation. What if M. Bernardet
had thought fit to speak? But he never
spoke, and reporters came out worsted
from any attempt at an interview with
him. IAN interview is silver, but ST.
lence is gold," he was wont to say, for
he was not q fool.
He had assisted at spiritual seances
and attended secret meetings of an
He had occupied himself with
occult matters, consulting the magi-
clans OF chance, and he had at his
tongues end the list of conspirators.
He knew the true names of the famous
Greeks who shuffled cards as one scouts
about under an assumed name. The
gambling bells were all familiar to him.
He knew the churches in whose dark
corners associates assembled to talk of
affairs, who did not wish to be seen in
beer shops or spied upon in cabarets.
OF the millions in Paris he knew the
secrets of this whirlpool of humanity.
oh, If he had ever become project Of
police, he would have studied his Paris,
not at distance, looking up statistics
In books, or from the windows of po-
lice bureau, but in the streets. in wretch |
ed lodgings, in novels, in the asylums |
Of misery and of crime. But Bernardet !
was not ambitious. Life suited him |
very we'll as he found it. His good wife
had brought to him small dover, and |
Bernardet, content with this poor little |
fortune, found that he had all the power !
ne wanted-the power, when occasion |
demanded, of putting his hand on the |
shoulder OF former minister and Of |
aking a murderer by the throat.
One day financier, threatened with |
Imprisonment in Mazas, pleased him
very much. Bernardet entered his office
o arrest him. He did not wish to have
row in the bank. The police officer
md banker found themselves alone,
ace to face, in very small room,
,rivate office, with heavy curtains and (
thick carpet, which stified all noise.
Fifty thousand francs if you will
ct me escape" said the banker.
I'M. lie Comte jests. -
"a hundred thousand''
"The pleasantly is very great, but it
s pleasantly
Then the count, very pale, said,
And what If l crack your head?'
My brother officers are waiting for
nc" Bernardet simply replied. "They
now that our interview does not prom
Sc to be long one, and this last propo-
ition, which wish to forget like the
theirs, would only aggravate, I believe,
it became known, M. lie Comte's case"
Two minutes afterward the banker
vent out, preceding Bernardet, who
ollowed him with barred head. The
anker said to his employees, in an easy
one: "Goodby for the moment, mes
ieurs. will return soon.''
1t was also Bernardet who, visiting
he Bank Hauts-P lateaux, said to his
hief, IN. Morel, something very seri.
us is taking place there"
what is it, Bernardet?'
II do not know, but there is meet
ng of the bank directors, and today
aw two servants carry man in there
a an invalid's chair It was the Baron
a Cbav1ard -