The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-10-01
.@@ g q q 4 6. q e q q 8 4 a e & q 81 s. @a.s q 3 s B

soft, her complexion had the creamy
pallor Of a white camellia, and her
beautiful dark hair, carelessly held to-
gether by q tortoise shell comb, fell In
n p%rofusion of soft curls upon her ex-
Quisite neck. She was NJ. Fauvel's
niece, Madeleine, OF whom he had spo-
ken not long before. Seeing Prosper
Bertomy In the study, where probably
she expected to find her uncle alone,
she could not refrain from an exclama-
tion of surprise.
"Ahi"
ceived an electric shock. His eyes, O
moment before so dull and heavy, all
at once sparkled with Joy as IL he had
caught a glimpse of n messenger Of
hope.
Madeleine" he cried; "Madeleine!"
The young girl blushed crimson. She
seemed about to hastily retreat and
stepped back; but, Prosper having ad-
Vanced toward her, she was overcome
by something stronger than her will
and extended her hand. which he eeiz-
ed and pressed eagerly. They stood
thus face to face, but with bowed
heads.
Finally Madeleine said In q scarcely
audible voice:
you, Prosper-youP'
These words broke the spell. Prosper
dropped the white hand which he held
and answered bitterly:
eyes, this is Prosper, the companion
of your childhood-suspected, accused
Of the most d%isgraceful theft-Prosper,
whom ynrtr 11np1n hco tnct 1oIivoro1 II,
to Justice and who, before tho day Is
over, Will be arrested and thrown into
prison."
Madeleine, with a terrified gesture,
cried in a tone of profound sympathy:
Good heavensl Prosper, what are
you saying3"
"What! Do you not know? Have
not your aunt and cousins told your"
"They have told me nothing. / have
scarcely seen my cousins this morn
ing, and my aunt is so i'll that l felt
uneasy and came to tell uncle. But for
heavens sake speak. Tell me what
has happened"
Prosper hesitated. Perhaps 1t occur
red to him to open his heart to Made
leine, Of revealing to her his most Sc.
cret thoughts. A remembrance Of tho
past coming UP chilled his confidence.
He sadly shook his head and replied:
"Thanks, ~mademoiselle, for this proof
Of interest, the last, doubtless, that ]
shall ever receive from you. But allow
me, by being silent, to spare you dis.
tress and myself the modification OF
blushing before you."
Madeleine interrupted him with an
imperious gesture:
"I insist upon knowing" she said.
ALIAS, mademoiselle!" answered
Prosper. "You will only too soon, learn
my misfortune and my disgrace. Then,
yes. then you will applaud yourself for
what you have DONE"
But she became more urgent, In
stead Of commanding she e%ntreated,
but Prosper was infexible.
"Your uncle Is in the adjoining room,
mademoiselle, with the commissary Of
police and n detective. They will soon
return. / entreat you to retire that
they may not find you here"
AS he spoke he gently pushed her
through the door, she resisting, and
closed 1t upon her. 1t was time, for
the next moment the commissary and
Nj. Fauvcl entered. They had visited
the main entrance and waiting room
and had heard nothing of what had
passed In the study. But Fanferlot
had heard for them. This excellent
bloodhound had not lost sight Of the
cashier. He said to himself: "Tf he
believes himself to be alone, his face
will betrny him. I shall detect a
smile or a wink that will mean some
thing"
Leaving M. Fauvel and the commits
sary to pursue their investigations, he
posted himself to watch. He saw the
door open and Madeleine appear upon
the threshold. He lost not q single
word or gesture of the rapid scene
which had passed between Prosper and
the young girl. 1t mattered little that
every word Of his scene was an cnig-
ma. nj. Fanferlot was skillful enough
to complete the sentences he did not
understand. As yet he only had a
suspicion, but n suspicion Is a point to
start from. He was prompt In build
ing II plan upon the slightest incident,
thinking he saw in the past Of these
people whom he did not know gllmpses
Of n domestic drama. If the commits
sary of police Is n skeptic, tho detec-
tive has faith. He believes In evil.
"Thls is the situation" said he to
himself. "This man loves the young
lady, who is really very pretty, and as
he Is quite handsome 1 suppose his
love Is returned. This love affair vexes
the banker, who, not knowing how to
get rid Of the importunate lover by fair
means, has to resort to foul and plans
this pretended robbery, which Is very
ingenious"
Thus to NJ. Fanferlot's mind the
banker had simply robbed himself, and
the innocent cashier was the victim of
an odious machination.
Meanwhile, the search up stairs com.
pleted, the searchers returned to Pros
per's office. The commissary, who had
seemed SO calm when he first came,
nov looked serious. The moment for
taking a decisive part having come, he
hesltated.
"You see, gentlemen" he began, "our
search has only confirmed our first
opinion"
NJ. Fauvel n Prosper assented.
"And what do you think, NJ. Fanfer-
LOTT" continued the commissary.
Thedetective did not answer. Occu.
pied I'm studying the safe lock, he man
Tested signs of surprise. Evidently he
had Just made an important discovery.
L NofinipU fhtc NT EoruoI p,.popo. onI