Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-02-13
sos #&3: 8 90 50 Sc @@3@SS


and trembling limbs betrayed such
fearful suffering that the clerks got
up from their desks and ran toward
him. He almost dropped into their
arns. lie was sick and faint and fell
into chair.
His companions surrounded him and
begged him to explain himself.
"RobbcdT' they said. where? How?
BY whom"
Gradually Prosper recovered himself
"All had in the safe"
"All?'
"Yes, all-three packages, each con-
tanning 100 notes Of thousand francs,
and one package Of 10000. The four
packages were wrapped in a sheet Of
paper and tied together"
With the rapidity OF lightning the
news of the robbery spread through
out the bank. The curious clerks rush.
ed in.
Did you find the safe broken openI"
said young Cavallon.
"No; it is untouched"
"Wcll?"
yesterday I put 100000 francs IN
the safe and this morning it is gone"
A messenger had already informed
NJ. Fauvel of the disaster, and at this
moment he entered the room. NJ. An
DIRE Fauvel appeared to he a man of
fifty, inclined to corpulency. of medi-
um height. with iron gray hair, and.
like all hard workers. he had a slight
stoop. Never did he by single action
belle the kindly expression of his face.
He had an open countenancc and
lively. frank eye.
"Whats this hear?" he said to the
clerks. who stood before him respect
fully. whats happened"
The sound of VI. Fauvcl's voice in
spired the cashier with the energy of n
great crisis. The dreaded and decisive
moment had come. He arose and adj
vanccd toward his chief.
"Monsieur." he began. "having, as
you know, n payment to make this
morning. l yesterday drew from tho
Bank of France $4,000 francs"
why yesterday. monsieur inter-
rupted the banker at seems to me
that have n hundred times ordered
you to wait unit! the day Of the pay
ment."
II know. monsieur. and I did wrong
to disobey you. But the evil is done.
Yesterday evening locked up the
funds. They have disappeared. and
yet the safe has not been forced"
you are crazy" exclaimed NJ. Fau-
vel. 'or you are dreaming!'
II am not crazy. neither. unfortu-
natcly, am I dreaming. I am simply
saying what is true
This calmness at such moment ap-
peared TO eXasperatc NJ. Fauvel. He
seized Prosper by the arm and shook
Lin roughly.
Speak" ne cried out "Speak, Who
do you sag opened the safe? Answer
mew
Il cannot say
"No one but YOU and l knew the So
crct word, 40 one but you and had
keys"
This was formal accusation. At
least. all the auditors present 50 under
stood il. Yet the cashiers strange
calmncss did not leave him. He gem
tly released himself from the chiefs
grasp and said:
'In fact monsieur. | am the only
one who could have taken this money"
unhappy man.
Prosper drew himself up and. look
ing. NJ. f'auyel full in the face, added:
"Or you.'
The banker made a threatening ges-
ture, and there is no knowing what
would have happened If they had not
been interrupted by loud and angry
voices in the entry. A man insisted
upon entering in spite of the protcsta-
tons of the employees and succeeded
I'm forcing his way in. 1t was NJ de
Clameran. The clerks stood looking OH,
bewlldered. motionlcss. in profound ST.
lence. 1t was easy to see that some
terrible qucstion-a question OF life or
death-was being weighed by all these
men. The iron founder did not ap-
pear to observe anything unusual. He
advanced. his hat on his head, and
said in the same impertinent tone:
at is after 10 o'clock. gentlemen"
! No one answered. aud NJ. de Clame-
ran was about TO continue when he
for the first time saw the banker. He
went straight to him.
We'll monsieur" he said, 81 con,
graduate myself upon finding you in
at last l have been here once before
this morning and found the cashroom
not opened the cashier not arrived
you were absent"
You are mistaken, monsieur; l was
in my Office"
81 return. and this time not only the
cashroom is closed, but l am refused
Admittance to the office. | am com
PEELED TO force my way in. VIII you
tell me, yes or no, can | have my mon
ey;"
NJ. Fauvel listened, trembling will
anger, yet he controlled himself.
II would be obliged to you, monsieur
for a short delay"
II thought you said
Eyes, yesterday, but this morning
this very instant, I find ! have beef
robbed of 100000 francs
NJ. de Clameran bowed ironically ant
said:
"Shall have TO wait long,"
Long enough for me to send TO thu
| bank"