The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-05-02

some new calamity, he broke the seal
and, opening the coarse cafe paper, was
shocked by the following words:
Dear sir-You consigned your cashier to prison.
You did we'll, since you were convinced of his
dishonesty and faithessness But even if he stole
900 francs from your safe, does it follow that
he also stole Mime. FaulsPs diamonds?
This was a stroke of lightning to a
man whose life hitherto had been an
unbroken chain of prosperity, who
could recall the past without one bitter
regret, without remembering any sor-
row deep enough to bring forth tear.
What! His wife deceive him! And,
among all men, to choose one vile
enough to rob her of her jewels and
force her to be his accomplice in the
ruin of an innocent young man! For
did not the anonymous letter assert
this to be the fact and tell him how to
convince himself of it's truth?
NJ. Fauvel determined to show the
letter to his wife.
"But suppose it be truew he mutter-
ed to himself Suppose I have been
miserably duped! By confding in my
wife | shall put her on her guard and
lose all chance Of discovering the
truth"
There was one simple means of veri-
fication. The letter said the diamonds
had been pawned.
If it lied in this instance, he would
treat it with the scorn it deserved. If,
on the other hand, it should prove to
be true
Breakfast was announced. At table
M. Fauyel talked necessarily, so as to
escape any questions from his wife,
who. he saw, was uneasy at the sight
of his pale face. But all the time he
was talking he was casting over in his
mind expedients for getting his wife
out of the house long enough for him
to search her bureau without her per-
ceiving him. At last he asked Nine.
Fauvel If she were going out before
dinner.
YES" said she. "The weather is
dreadful, but Madeleine and must do
some shopping"
"At what hour shall you goT"
''Immediately after breakfast"
He drew long breath. as if relieved
of a great weight. In short time he
would know the truth.
After awhile he beard the carriage
roll away with his wife and niece.
Hurrying into Nine. Fauvels room, he
opened the drawer Of the chiffonier
where she kept her jewels. The boxes
containing superb sets of jewelry
which he had presented to her were
gone! The anonymous letter had told
the truth!
Perhaps Valentine had put her dia-
monds in Madeleine's room,
Without stopping to consider the in
delicacy of what he was about to do he
hurried into the young girls room and
pulled open one drawer after another.
He did not find Nine. Fauvel's dia-
monds. but Madeleine's seven or eight
boxes. also empty.
Was she, too. an accomplice? This
blew broke down his courage.
M. Fauvel well knew that the fact Of
the diamonds being stolen was not suf-
fcient ground upon which to bring an
accusation against the accomplices.
Happily he could procure other proof.
He began by calling his valet and Oh
dering him to bring him every letter
that should come to the house. He
then wrote to a notary at st. Remy
to send him telegram containing au-
thentic information about the Lagors
family and especially about Raoul.
The reply was as follows:
The Lagors very poor and no one knows
any member of the family named Raoul. Nine.
Lagors had no son, only two daughters.
The next day, among the letters
which his valet brought him, was one
bearing the postmark of Vesinet. He
opened the envelope with great care
and read:
Dear Aunt-It is indispensable that 1 see you
today. Come to me. l will explain why l give
you this trouble instead of calling on you.
RAoUL.
II have them now" cried NJ. Fauvel,
trembling with satisfaction at the near
prospect of vengeance.
Eager to lose no time, he opened a
drawer, took out a revolver and EXAM
ined the hammer to see if it was in Or
der. He imagined himself alone, but q
Yigilant eye was watching his move
ments. Gypsy, under strict instructions
from NJ. Verduret, stationed herself at
the keyhole of the study door and saw
all that occurred. NJ. Fauvel laid the
pistol on the mantelpiece and resealed
the letter, which he then placed where
the letters were usually left, not wish
ing his wife to know that it had passed
through his hands. He was only alb
sent but two minutes; but, inspired by
the imminence of the danger, Gipsy
darted into the study, rushed to the
mantel and rapidly extracted the balls
from the revolver.
.Therew she murmured. ''This peril
is, for the present, ayerted, and NJ.
Verduret, whom | shall warn through
Cavaillon, will now perhaps have time
to prevent murder"
She descended to the bank and sent
the clerk with message, telling him
to leave it with Nine. Alexandra for
Nj. Verduret. An hour later Nine. Fau-
vel ordered her carriage and went out.
M. Fauyel took hackney coach and
followed her.
"Great heavensw cried Nina to her.
self. "If NJ. Verduret does not reach
there in time, Nine. Fauvel and Raoul
are lostgsts gsts....1-.4=-44a2=1-.,--es