The Iola register., 1902-05-16

gem TO gain him admission to her hus-
bands house. She began by giving
him all the money she could dispose of.
later her jewels. which he pawned.
Finally, having nothing more to give,
she allowed him to steal the money
from her husbands safe. That is
what thought"
"And in this way everything was ex-
plainedp
"No, this did not explain everything,
as l well knew at the time. How is
Clameran's position to be accounted
for under my first theoryT
"Clameran is Lagors' accomplice."
"Ah there is the mistake! l for a
long time believed Lagors to be the
principal person when, in fact, he is
nothing. Yesterday in a dispute be-
tween them the forgemaster said to
his friend. And, above all things. my
friend, would advise you not to resist
me, for If you do l will crush YOU
That explains ALL The elegant La
gors is not the lover of Nine Fauvel,
but the tool of Clameran. Besides, did
our first suppositions account for the
is Clameran, and not Lagors, whom
Madeleine obeys"
Prosper began to demonstrate.
NJ. Verduret shrugged his shoulders.
To convince Prosper he had only to
utter one word. He had simply to say
that three hours ago Clameran had an
nounced his coming marriage with
| Madeleine But he did not
"Clameran," he continued-"Clame-
ran alone has Nine. Fauvel in his pow
er Now the question is what terrible
secret is the basis of his mysterious
power? ] have positive proof that
they have not met since their early
youth until fifteen months ago, and
Nine. Fauveps reputation has always
been above the reach of slander.
Therefore we shall not know all till
we know Clameran's past. All, to-
night when | mentioned his brother
Gastons name he turned as white as
If he had seen n ghost. And then re-
membered that CASTOR died suddenly
while his brother Louis was making
him a visit"
''Do you think he was murderedp
81 think the men who tried to assas-
sinate me would do anything. The
robbery, my friend, has now become n
secondary detail. 1t is easily explain
ed, and IL that were all to be account
ed for would say to you: My task is
finished. Let us go ask The judge of
instruction for a warrant of arrest
Prosper started up with swelling
breast and sparkling eyes.
"Oh. you KNOWS 1t possiblep
"Yes, l know who gave the key, and
know who told the secret word"
"The key might have been NJ. Fau-
vers. But the word'-
"The word you gave. You have for
gotten. suppose. But Gipsy remem-
bered. You know that two days be-
fore the robbery you took Lagors and
two other friends to sup with Nine.
Gypsy. Nina was sad and reproached
you for not being more devoted 10
her"
Eyes, remember that"
"But do You remember what you re.
piled TO hcrf'
Prosper thought a moment.
mo"
, "Wel you said to Nina. You are
, unjust in reproaching me with not
! thinking constantly Of you, for at this
! very moment your dear name guards
my chiefs safe"
The truth suddenly burst upon Pros
: per.
: "Yes, oh. yes, remember noww he
cried.
"Then you can easily understand the
rest. One of the scoundrels went tc
= Mime. Fauvel and compelled her to
. give UP her husbands key. At ven,
ture he placed the movable buttons on
the name of Gipsy and stole the 350.
J 600 francs. And Nine. Fauvel mus
have yielded to the most terrible
threats. The day after the robbery
the poor woman was near dying and
it was she who, at the risk of being
involved, sent you the 10000 francs"
But which was the thief, Raoul OF
r Clameran? What enables them t
| thus tyranniZe over Nine. Fauvel'
: And how does Madeleine come to bt
. mixed up in the affairY
nese queSuOnS my uear prosper
! l cannot yet answer, therefore l am
| not yet ready to report on the case.
only ask you to wait ten days, and il
l cannot in that time discover the solu
ton of the mystery | will return and
go with you to tell M. Patrigent al
that we know"
- "Are you going awayT
, | SIN an hOnr I choI1 no on fba rno1 4.
Beaucare. 1t was from that neigh
! borhood that Clameran came as wei
, as Nine, Fauvel, who was a Mile. dG
Ia Verberie."
"Yes; knew their families"
II must go there to study them. Mel
! ther Raoul nor Clameran can escape
police surveillance during my absence
! Rnt Won Drnsnnr Inl1st hn Inrulnnt