The Iola register., 1902-03-14

Besides, how could he come any soon
er? He sits up all night and leads a
fast life. Have you noticed how pale
he looks this morningp
The cashroom door opened, and the
cashier appeared before them with tot
tering step.
"Robbedw he gasped out. "I have
been robbedw
Prosper's expression, his hollow voice
and trembling limbs betrayed such
fearful suffering that the clerks got
up from their desks and ran toward
him. He almost dropped into their
arms. He was sick and faint and fell
into n chair.
His companions surrounded him and
begged him to explain himself.
"Robbed?" they said. "Where? How?
BY whomp
Gradually Prosper recovered himself.
"All 1 had in the safe"
"All?"
"Yes, all-three packages, each con-
tanning 100 notes of thousand francs,
and one package of $4,000. The four
packages were wrapped in 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 open7"
said young Cavaillon.
mo; it is untouched"
yesterday 1 put 100000 francs in
the safe, and this morning it is gone"
A messenger had already informed
NJ. Fauvel of the disaster, and Mt this
moment he entered the room. NJ. An
Dire Fauvel appeared to be man of
fifty, inclined to corpulency, Of medi-
um height, with iron gray hair, and,
like all hard workers, he had n slight
stoop. Never did he by n single action
belle the kindly expression of his face.
He had an open countenance and a
lively, frank eye.
whats this l hear" he said to the
clerks, who stood before him respect
fully. whats happened"
The sound of NJ. Fauvers voice in
spired the cashier with the energy of a
great crisis. The dreaded and decisive
moment had come. He arose and ad-
vanced toward his chief.
Monsieur" he began, "having, as
you know, payment to make this
morning, yesterday drew from the
Bank of France 100000 francs"
"Why yesterday, monsieurY inter
rupted the banker. "It seems to me
that l have n hundred times ordered
you to wait until the day of the pay
ment"
81 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. Eau
vel, 'or you are dreamingw
81 am not crazy, neither, unfortu-
nately, am l dreaming. / am simply
saying what is true
This calmness at such n moment ap-
peared to eXasperate NJ. Fauvel. He
seized Prosper by the arm and shook
him roughly.
'SpeakT he cried out. Speak! Who
do you say opened the safe? Answer
mef'
II cannot say"
mo one but you and knew the Sc.
cret word. No one but you and bad
keys"
This was n formal accusation. At
least, all the auditors present so under
stood It. Yet the cashiers strange
calmness did not leave him. He gen
tly released himself from the chiefs
grasp and said:
I'm fact, monsieur, am the only
one who could have taken this money!
Unhappy man."
Prosper drew himself up and, look
ing NJ. Fauvel full in the face, added:
''Or your
The banker made n 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 protesta-
tions of the employees and succeeded
In forcing his way in. 1t was NJ. de
Clameran. The clerks stood looking on,
bewildered, motionless, in profound ST.
lence. 1t was easy to see that some
terrible questiOn-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 impertlnent tone:
1T is after 10 o'clock, gentlemen"
No one answered, and NJ. de Clame-
ran was about to continue when he
for the first time saw the banker. He
went straight to him.
"Well, monsieur" he said, "I 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; 1 was
l..