Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-04-09
"In order to rob her he has perpetrat.

"In order to rob her he has perpetrat.
ed gross imposture."
During the last few minutes Raoul
had managed to approach the door
hoping to escape while no one was
thinking of him. But NJ. Verduret
watching him out Of the corner of one
eye, stopped him just as he was about
to leave.
"Not so fast, my pretty YOUTH" he
said, dragging him into the middle Of
the room. LET us have a little CONVEX
sation before parting. A little explana.
ton will be edifying."
The jeering words and mocking man.
ner of NJ. Verduret made Raoul turn
deadly pale. He started back as If
confronted by phantom.
'The clown| lie gasped.
"The same, friend" said the fat man.
"Ah, now that you recognize me, I con-
fess that the clown and myself are one
and the same. Yes, am the jolly
clown Of the Jandidier ball. Here is
the proof"
And, turning up his sleeve. he show.
ed a deep cut on his arm. "If you are
not sure, examine this scar" he con.
tinued. II imagine you know the vii
lain that gave me this little decoration
that night I was walking along Bour'
daloue street. That being the case,
you know I have slight claim upon
you and shall expect you to relate to
US your little story"
But Raoul was too terrified to utter
q word.
NJ. Fauvel listened without under
standing.
"Into what dark depths Of shame
have we fallenw he groaned.
"Reassure yourself, monsieur" re-
piled M. Verduret. AFTER what have
been constrained to tell you little re-
mains. will finish the story"
He then told how Louis Clameran
had concocted his plot 10 palm of
Raoul as Mime. FauvePs son with a
view to extort money from her.
"Car this be possible?" cried Nine.
Fauvel.
'Tmpossiblew cried the banker. "An
Infamous plot like this could not be eX.
ecuted in our midst"
Gall this is false" said Raoul boldly.
ut is a lie!"
Nj. verduret turned to Raoul and,
bowling with ironical respect, said:
"Monsleur desires proofs. does he!
Monsieur shall certainly have convinc.
ing ones. have just left friend of
mine, NJ. Palot. who brought me valu-
able information from London. Now,
my young gentleman. I will tell you the
little story he told me.
"In 1S47 Lord Murray, wealthy
and generous nobleman. had Jockey
named Spencer, Of whom he was very
fond. At the EPSON races this jockey
was thrown from his horse and killed.
Lord Murray grieved over the loss of
his favorite and. having no children OF
his own. declared his intention OF
adopting Spencer's son. who was then
but four years old.
"Thus James Spencer was brought
up In aff1uence as heir to the immense
wealth of the noble lord. He was a
handsome, intelligent boy and gave sat-
isfaction to his protector until he was
sixteen years Of age. Then he became
intimate with a worthless set Of people
and turned out badly.
"Lord Murray, who was very indul-
gent, pardoned many grave faults. but
one fine morning be discovered that his
adopted son had been initiating his sig-
nature upon some checks. He indig.
nantly dismissed him.
"James Spencer had been living In
London about four years, managing to
support himself by gambling and SWIM
ding, when he met Clameran. who Of
fered him $4,000 francs to play part
In little role which he had arranged"
"You are a detective" interrupted
Raoul.
The fat man smiled grimly.
"At present" he replied. 81 am mere
ly friend of Prosper Bertomy. 1t de-
pends entirely upon your behavior
which character appear in while set
tling up this little affair.""
"What do you expect me to do?"
"Where are the $4,000 francs which
you have stolenF"
The young rascal hesitated a mo-
ment.
"The money is in this room," he said
every good. This frankness is cred
liable and will benefit you. | know
that the money Is in this room and also
exactly where it is to be found. Look
in the back of that cupboard"
Raoul saw that his game was lost
he tremblingly went to the cupboard
and pulled out several bundles of bank
notes and an enormous package Of
pawnbrokers' tickets.
"Very well DONE" said NJ. Verduret
as he carefully examined the money
and papers. "In this you have acted
wisely"
Raoul had counted on this moment,
when everybody's attention would be
absorbed by the money. to make his
escape. Softly he stole toward the
door. opened it, slipped out and locked
1t on the outside. The key was still In
the lock.
"He has escaped" cried NJ. Fauvel.
Naturally" replied NJ. Verduret
without turning his head. 'T thought
he would have sense enough to do
that"
But
"Would you have this affair become
public? Do you wish case to be
brought into the police court in which