Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-02-20


search has only confirmed our first
opinion"
NJ. Fauvel and Prosper assented.
"And what do you think, NJ. Fanfer-
LOTT" continued the commissary.
The detective did not answer. Occu-
pied in studying the safe lock, he man.
ifcsted signs of surprise. Evidently he
had just made an important discovery.
Noticing this. NJ. Fauvel. Prosper and
the commissary rose and surrounded
him.
"Havc you discovered any trace"
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. az 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, ! know not which, with great
violence and haste"
y
becoming attentive.
"Do you see this scratch near the
LOCKE"
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.
a l,. xL.,A 14A
that prove"
ooh. nothing at ALL" said Fanfei1ot,
"as said before"
Fanferot 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
ing the boy in the anteroom in order
to rifle his own money safe, had every
reason to trcmblc, to hurry. to hastily
withdraw the key. which. Slipping
along the lock, scratched the varnish
Resolved to unravel by himself the
tangled thread Of this affair, the de-
tective determined to keep his con.
lectures to himself. For the same roa-
son he was silent IS To the interview
which he had overheard between
Madeleine and Prosper. He FASTENED
to withdraw attention from the
scratch.
$40 conclude" he said. addressing
the commissary, ~ am convinced that
no one outside of the bank could have
obtained access here. The safe is in
tact. No suspicious pressure has beer
used on the movable buttons. l car
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 mar
whom he knew to be skillful ended the
hesitation of the commissary.
THAT being the case" he replied, 90
must request few moments conves
sation with NJ. Fauvel'
II am at your SERVICE" said tn,
banker.
Prosper foresaw the result. II,
quietly placed his hat on the table tt
show that he had no intention of at
tempting to escape and passed into thu
adjoining Office. Fanferlot also wen
out, but not before the commissary
had made him sign and received ;
response. The sign signified, You ar,
responsible for this man." Tho detec
tive needed no sdmouition to max,
him keep an attentive watch. Hi
suspicious We're too vague, his desr
for success was too ardent. for him Il
lose sight OF Prosper an instant. There
fore following the cashier into the Of
flee he seated himself in a dark cornc
of the room. and, pretending TO b
sleepy, he fixed himself in a comforta
bic position for taking nap, cape
until his jawbonc seemed about to b
dslocated and finally closed his eyes
Prosper seated himself at the desk o
an absent clerk. The others Wor
burning to know the result of the ii
puiry Their eyes shOne with curios
ty, but they dared not ask a question
Unable to restrain himself any longer
little Cavaislon, Prospcr's defender
Tcntured:
"NNell, who is the robber:"
Prosper shrugged his shoulders.
Nobody knows" he replied.
Was this conscious innocence {
. hardened recklessness? The clerks oil
, served with surprise that Prosper ha
4 resumed his usual manner that Sol
of icy haughtiness that kept people ;
' a distance and made him enemies
\ the bank. Never would a stranger cI
y tering the room have supposed Ill;
4 this young man, idly lounging in
Il chair and playing with a pencil, W;
n resting under an accusation of rObbel
4 and was about 10 be arrested. j
+ soon stopped playing with his penc
+ and drew toward him a sheet Of pape
@ upon which he hastily wro,e a fe
G lines.
e "Ah, ha" thought Fanferlot IL
a Squirrel, whose hearing and sigl
= We're wonderfully good in spite of Ii
:. little condolences on paper, see. No
a we will discover something positive
q Having written his note, Prosp
II folded it carefully In the smallest pc
10 sible size and, after furtyely glancil
"a toward the detective, motionless in II
Il corner, threw it to little Cayail!on wi
II n simple word: