The Iola register., 1902-05-23

used the power he possessed over Nine.
FauyeL Madeleine discovered her
aunts situation and in order to avert
catastrophe consented to give up
Prosper, whom she loved. and marry
Clameran, whom she detested. Break
ing her engagement with Prosper, she
secured his promise to take upon him
self the sole responsibility of the rup-
ture
Meanwhile CASTOR had made for
tune In South America and returned to
France. To still the memory of his
youthful misfortunes he resolved to
engage in business and bought an iron
mill at Oloron. Louis, hearing of his
arrival, went to Oloron and greeted
him with every pretense of affection.
Louis took up his quarters with his
brother, who soon sickened and died
under very suspicious circumstances,
leaving his fortune to Louis.
Louis now turned his attention to
forcing Madeleine to marry him. He
agreed to settle a large income upon
Raoul If he would extort money from
Nine. Fauvel in sufficient quantity to
embarrass her. Raoul consented and
lived recklessly on the means furnished
by the woman who supposed she was
his mother. Finally. having no more
to give him, she was persuaded to sur
render her diamonds present from
her husband on the day he became
worth million. When Nine. Fauvel's
jewels were gone, Madeleine's were
given up. All were pawned by Raoul.
Louis de Clameran was not satisfied
to marry Madeleine while her heart
was given to another. He determined
to ruin Prosper. that she might lose her
respect and her love for him. One
night at supper at which Raoul and
Prosper were present Raoul heard
Prosper, under the influence of wine,
name the word (Gipsy) that would un-
lock the safe in Nj. Fauvels bank.
This he communicated to Clameran,
also telling him that when NJ. Fauvel
went out he always left the key to the
safe in the drawer of his secretary in
his chamber.
"Clameran then arranged that 30O,-
900 francs should be kept in the bank
over night ready for him to draw in
the morning That night Raoul, hav-
ing been coached for the part by Cla-
meran, went to Nine. Fauvel, told her
that he was ruined and must have a
large sum of money at once, threaten
ing that II he did not get it he would
blow out his brains. He told her that
she must give him the key to the safe,
which he would open, take what he
needed and restore 1t on the morrow.
Nine. Fauvel, in terror lest he should
commit suicide and thinking that he
did not know the word which, with the
key, was necessary to open the safe,
in order to gain time gave him the key.
Raoul went down the stairway, Nine.
Fauvel following him in agony. Raoul
opened the safe and took the money in
tended to be paid Clameran in the
morning. Mime. Fauvel, astonished
that he had succeeded, begged him to
shut the safe, clinging to his arm and
endeavoring to pull him away. The
key was dragged from the lock and,
slipping along the glossy varnish, made
long, deep scratch.
THE next day, after the robbery was
/ discovered and Clameran had been paid
the amount due him, he went to Nine
| Fauvel and to Madeleine and told them
that RaOul had secured the word nee
essary to open the safe from Prosper,
who was to share in the plunder. Cla-
meran, affecting to make a noble sacri-
| flee for the two women, offered to re-
store the stolen money through them to
| Nj. Fauvel, but Madeleine. suspecting
some hidden motive. declined the offer.
Madeleine, believing that she and
Nine. FauVel would eventually get rid
of the eXtortionlsts and vindicate Pros
! per, asked her uncle for 10000 francs,
to be used for n charitable purpose,
and sent the amount to Prosper, with
a letter made up of words cut out of n
prayer book.
"Mme. Fauvel and Madeleine. owing
TO the eXtOrtions to which they had
been subjected, became urgently press
ed by tradesmen and others to whom
| they owed money and had nothing on
which to keep up their position in soci-
ETY.. They remained secluded for n
time, but were at last obliged to appear
in public at the Jaudidier ball. Made
! lclne went to Vesinet to ask RaOul to
return some of the money and jewels
| they had given him. On this occasion
she was followed by NJ. Verduret and
| Prosper Nadeleine's effort was fruit
less, though she finally forced Raoul
| by threats of exposure to surrender
some Of the pawn tickets.
AT last Clameran and Raoul found
in the clown at the Jandidier ball an
enemy who possessed the secret of
their yillainies and tried to murder
him."
CHAPTER XIII.