Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-20


whole attention to it. Now, make a
note Of this: When a man Of ordinary
intelligence concentrates his thoughts
and energies upon the attainment Of
IN object, he Is certain to attain that
object Besides that, have my own
method Of working up case. TO be
sure, one needs some light to guide one
in dark affair like this. but the fire
In Clameran's eye when I pronounced
the name Of CASTOR ignited my lantern.
From that moment walked straight
to the solution Of the mystery as to a
beacon light"
Prosper's look showed that he would
like to know the secret of his protect.
or's penetration and at the same tine
be more thoroughly convinced that
what be heard was all true--that his
innocence would be more clearly prov
ed.
"Now, confess" cried NJ. verduret,
'you would give anything in the world
to find out how arrived at the truth"
II admit it, for it is marvellous"
NJ. Verduret enjoyed Prosper's bewil-
derment. To be sure, he was neither n
good judge nor distinguished ANA
teur; but admiration is always hatter-
ing, no matter whence 1t comes.
"Well," he replied, Il will explain my
system. There Is nothing marvellous
about it. We worked together to find
the solution Of the problem. You know
my reasons for suspecting Clameran
had hand in the robbery. AS soon as
! had acquired this certainty my task
was easy. What did do? l placed
trustworthy people to watch the par
ties in whom ! was most interested.
Tanferlot as Joseph Dubois took
charge Of Clameran, and Nina Gypsy
never lost sight of Nine. Fauvel and
her niece.
81 understand it oil now" said Pros.
per.
"And what have you been doing dur.
Ing my absence, my young friend?"
asked NJ. Verduret after pause.
at this question Prosper blushed.
ALAS" he stammered, II read in a
newspaper that Clameran was about to
marry Madeleine. and l acted like a
fool!'
what did you do?" inquired verdu.
ret uneasily.
II wrote an anonymous letter to NJ,
Fauvel informing him that his Wife
was In love with Raoul"-
NJ. verduret brought his clinched fist
down upon the table.
ia ~ l,;v h,r
ruined everything"
He arose from his seat and strobe up
and down the room, oblivious of the
dodgers below, whose windows shook
with every angry stamp of his foot.
Prosper remained silent as long as
be could and then uneasily said:
81 am afraid have embarrassed
you very much. monsieur"
YES. you have dreadfully embar.
rassed me. What am to do? Shall I
hasten matters or wait? And am
bound by sacred promise. We had
better go and advise with the judge OF
instruction. he can assist me. Come
with me-"
AS NJ. verduret had anticipated, Pros
per's letter had terrible effect. When
NJ. Fauvel opened his mail the morning
after it was posted, the fatal missiye
fell into his hands.
Something about the writing struck
him as peculiar. 1t was evidently a
disguised hand, and, although owing
TO the fact of his being a millionaire,
be was in the habit OF receiving anony-
nous COMMUNICATIONS, this particular
letter filled him with an indefinite pre-.
sentiment Of evil.
With trembling hand and absolute
certainty that he was about to learn
and. opening the coarse cafe paper, was
shocked by the following words:
Dear sir-Yeu consigned your cashier to prison.
You did we'll. since you were convinced u his
dishonesty and faithleaness But il he stole
$50 600 francs from your SAFE does ii follow that
he also stole Nine Fauvels diamonds9
This was a stroke of lightning to q
man whose life hitherto had been On
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! Hts wife deceive him! And,
among all men. to choose one vile
enough to rob her Of her Jewels and
force her to be his accomplish 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 1t be true" he mutter-
ed to himself. Suppose 7 have been
miserabIy duped! BY confiding in my
wife shall put her on her guard and
lose all chance Of discovering the
truth"
There was one simple means Of veri-
fcation. The letter said the diamonds
had been pawned
II It lied in this instance. he would
treat It with the scorn 1t deserved. If,
Oh the other hand. it should prove to
be true
Breakfast was announced. At table
M. Fauvel talked necessarily, so as to
escape any questions from his wife.
who. be 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-
roSvtou hin, 10 ~ ha acL "a NINA