Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-02-22

to complete the sentences he did not
understand. As yet he only had q
suspicion. but Il suspicion Is Il point tc
start from. He waS prompt in build
ing plan upon the slightest incident
thinking he saw i'm the past Of these
people whom he did not know glimpses
Of q domestic drama. If the commits
sary of police is skcptic, the dctec
tive has faith. He believes in evil.
"This is the situation" said lie tc
himself. "ThiS man loves ilr voting
lady. who is really very pretty. and rs
he is quite l:andSnmr suppose his
love is returned. This love affair vcycs
the banker. who not knowing low &c
get rid of the imp"rtunatr lover hy fail
mtanS. has to resort to foul and plans
this pretended robbery. which Is very
ingenious"
Thus tn VI. Fanfcrlot's mind tho
banker had simply robbed himself. and
the innocent cashier was the victim OF
all odiouS macliIatinn.
Meanwhile. the search up stairs com
plctrd, the S":rcherS returned tn Pros
pcr's office. The commiSSary. who had
seemed So calm when Er first came
now looked serious. The moment fot
taking Il decisive part having come. ht
heSitat"i.
"Yuu SEQ. gentlemen" he hcgan. "oul
search has only confirmed our first
opinion"
NJ. Fauvrl and Prosper aSScntrd.
"And what do YOU think. VI. Fanfcr.
lot?" continued the cnmmisSary.
The drtrrtive did not answer. Occu
pied In studying the safe lock. he man.
ifcStcd signs of surprise. Evidently lie
had just made IN Important discovery
Noticing ,hi$. NJ. Fauvrl. PrUSprr and
the commiSSary rose and surrounded
him.
"IIave you discovered any tracer
asked the banker eagerly.
FanfcrlOt turned around with n dis
satisfied air. He rcprOachrd himself
for not having concealed his impress
Sions.
"Ol." said he carclcssly. 81 have dis.
covered nothing of Importance.
"But we should like to know" said
Prosper.
al have merely convinced myself
that this safe has been recently opened
or shut. know not which. with great
violence and haste"
"Why 50" asked tie comn.ssary
becoming attentive.
"Do you see this scratch near the
lock-
The commiSSary took magnifyinG
glass that the detective had used
stopped down and carefully examined
the safe. He saw light scratch on
the outer coat of varniSh.
81 see it." said lie. But what does
that prove?"
"Oh. nothing at ALL" said Fanferlot,
"as l said before"
Fanfcrlot said this. but he did not
think it. This scratch recently made
had for him n signification that escap-
ed the others. lie had discovered 4
confirmation Of his suspicious. If the
cashier had stolen millions, there was
no occasion for his being in hurry.
The banker. creeping down in the dead
of the night softly for fear Of awaken
ing the boy in the anteroom in order
to rifle his own money safe, had every
reason to trrmblc. to hurry, to hastily
withdraw the key. which. slipping
along the lock, scratched the varnish
Resolved to unravcl by himself the
tangled thread Of this affair. the de-
tcctivc determined to keep his con-
lectures to himself For the same rea.
son lie was silent rs to the interview
which he had overheard between
Madeleine and Prosper. He FASTENED
to withdraw attention from the
scratch.
$50 conclude" he said addressing
the cnmmiSsary. 81 am convinced that
no one outside Of the bank could have
obtained access here. The safe is in
tact No suspicious pressure has been
used on the movable buttons. | can
affirm that the lock has not been tam
pcrcd with by burglars tools or false
keys. Those who opened the safe
knew the word and had the key"
This formal affirmation Of man
whom he knew to he skillful ended the
hesitation of the commisSary.
"That being the case" he replied. 81
must request Il few moments conver-
sation with NJ. Fauvcl."
Il am ut your service" said the
banker.
Prosper forrSaw the result He
quietly placed his hat on the table 10
show that ne had no intention Of at
tempting to escape and PASSED into the
adjoining office. Fanfcrlot also went
cut. but not before the commisSary
had made him Il sign and received Il
response The sign Siguiticd. You are
responsible for this man" The drtrc-
tive needed no admonition to make
him keep an attentive watch. His
suspicious were too vague, his desire
for success was too ardent. for him to
lose sight Of Prosper IN instant. There
fore following the cashier into the Of
flee he seated himself in dark corner
Of the room. and. pretending" to he
sleepy, hr fixed himSrl! in Il rulnf0rta-
bic position for takin" \ nap. capped
until his iawl"nr seemed about TO he
diSluralcd AMI finally closed his eyes.
Prosper seated himself ut the desk of
an absent clerk. The others were
burmin" to know the result Of HE in.
Qliry. Their eyes Shunr with curioSi.
ty. hut they dared not ask Il question.
Unable to restrain himself any longer.
little tavaillun, I'ruSprr'S defender