Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-02-07

to complete the sentences he did not
understand. AS yet he only had
suspicion, but suspicion is a point to
start from. He was prompt in build
Ing plan upon the slightest incident,
thinking he saw in the past of these
people whom he did not know glimpses
OF domestic drama. If the commits
sarJ of police is a skeptic, the detec-
tive has faith. He believes in evil.
This is the situation" said he to
himself. "This man loves the young
lady, who is really very pretty, and as
ne Is quite handsome I suppose his
love Is returned. This love affair vexes
tne 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 odfous 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.
now looked serious. The moment for
taking decisive part having come. he
hesitated.
you see, gentlemen" he began, "our
search has only confirmed our first
opinion"
M. FaUvel and Prosper assented.
"And what do you think, NJ. Fanfer-
lot?' continued the commissary.
The detective did not answer. Occu-
pied in studying the safe lock, he man.
ifested signs Of surprise. Evidently he
had just made an important discovery.
Noticing this, NJ. Fauvel, Prosper and
the commissary rose and surrounded
him.
''Have you discovered any tracer"
asked the banker eagerly.
Fanferlot turned around with a dis
satisfied air. He reproached himself
for not having concealed his impress
sions
"Oh," said he carelessly. 81 have dis
covered nothing Of Importance
"But we should like to know" said
Prosper.
81 have merely convinced myself
that this safe has been recently opened
Or shut, I know not which, with great
violence and haste.'
''Why 500" asked the commissary,
becoming attentive.
''Do you see this scratch near the
lock?"
The commissary took a magnifying
glass that the detective had used,
stopped down and carefully examined
the safe. He saw a light scratch on
the outer coat of varnish.
II see it, said he. 'But what does
that proven
''Oh, nothing at ALL" said Fanferlot,
''as said before"
Fanferlot said this, but he did not
think it. This scratch recently made
had for him Specification that escap-
ed the others. He had discovered a
confirmation Of his suspicious. II the
cashier had stolen millions, there was
no occasion for his being in a hurry
The banker, creeping down in the dead
of the night softly for fear of awaken
II
to rifle his own money safe. had every
reason to tremble, to hurry, to hastily
withdraw the key. which. slipping
along the lock, scratched the varn:sh.
Resolved to unravel Ivy himself the
tangled thread Of this affair, the de-
tective determined to keep his con-
lectures to himself. For the same rea-
CO },n Gil fN fl,o i-o%o
which he had overheard between
Madeleine end Prosper. He FASTENED
to withdraw attention from the
scratch.
ITO conclude" he said, addressing
the commissary, II am convinced that
no one outside Of the bank could have
obtained access here. The safe is in
used on the movable buttons can
affirm that the lock has not been tam
pered 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 lie knew to be skillful ended the
hesitation of the commissary.
'"That being the case" he replied. II
must request few moments CONVEX
satiOn with NJ. Fauvel.'
II am at your service" said the
banker.
Prosper foresaw the result. He
quietly placed his hat on the table to
show that he had no intention of at
tempting to escape and passed into the
adjoining Office. Fanferlot also went:
out, but not before the commissary
had made him sign and received a
response. The sign signified, ''You are
responsible for this man." The detec-
tive needed no admonition to make
him keep an attentive watch. His
suspicious were too vague, his desire
tor success was too ardent, for him to
lose sight of Prosper an instant. There
fore following the cashier into the o.
Ace he seated himself in dark corner
Of the room, and. pretending to be
sleepy, he fixed himself in comforta-
hle position for taking q nap. gaped
x,1 t,,o iowhono seemed about to be