Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-02-07

chairs and on either side Of the fire.
place a secretary and bookshelf.
These two rooms had three doors.
One opened on the private stairway.
another into the bankers bedroom. and
the third into the main vestibule It
was through this last door that the
bankers clients and visitors were adj
m1tted. NJ. Fanferlot examined the
study. He seemed puzzled like a man
who had fattered himself with the
hope of discovering something and had
found nothing
! LET us see the adjoining room," he
, said.
He passed into the waiting room, fol-
lowed by the banker and the commits
sary Of police.
prosper remained alone in the study.
Notwithstanding the disordered state
OF his mind, he could not but perceive
that his situation was every minute
becoming more serious. Seating him
self on a sofa near the fireplace, he was
absorbed In the most gloomy forebod-
1ngs when the bankers chamber door
suddenly opened and beautiful girl
appeared upon the threshold. She was
tall and slender. A loose morning
gown, confined at the waist by a sim
pie black ribbon, betrayed to advan-
tage the graceful elegance of her fig
ure. Her black eyes were large and
soft. her complexion had the creamy
pallor Of white camellia, and her
beautiful dark hair, carelessly held to-
yether by tortoise shell comb, fell in
a profusion of soft curls upon her ex-
quisite neck. She was NJ. Fauvel's
niece, Madeleine, of whom he had spo-
ken not long before Seeing Prosper
Bertomy in the study, where probably
she expected to find her uncle alone,
she could not refrain from an exclama-
ton Of surprise.
"Ahw
Prosper started up as If he had re-
cetved an electric shock. His eyes, a
moment before so dull and heavy, all
at once sparkled with joy as if he had
caught a. glimpse Of messenger Of
hope.
Madeleine" he cried; "Madeleine!"
The young girl blushed crimson. She
seemed about to hastily retreat and
stepped back: but, Prosper having ad-
vanced toward her, she was overcome
by something stronger than her will
and extended her hand, which he seiz-
ed and pressed eagerly. They stood
thus face to face, but with bowed
heads.
Finally Madeleine said in a scarcely
audible voice:
'You, Prosper-youv'
These words broke the spell. Prosper
dropped the white hand which he held
and answered bitterly:
"Yes, this Is Prosper, the companion
of your childhood suspected, accused
Of the most disgraceful theft-Prosper,
whom your uncle has just delivered up
to Justice and who, before the day is
over, will be arrested and thrown into
prison."
Madeleine, with terrified gesture,
cried in tone of profound sympathy:
"Good heavens! Prosper, what are
you sayingY
what! Do you not know? Have
not your aunt and cousins told you?"
'"They have told me nothing. have
scarcely seen my cousins this morn
ing, and my aunt is so ill that felt
uneasy and came to tell uncle. But for
heavens sake speak. Tell me what
has happened"
Prosper hesitated. Perhaps it occur
red to him to open his heart to Made
leine, of revealing to her his most Sc
cret thoughts. A remembrance Of the
past coming up chilled his confidence
He sadly shook his head and replied:
Thanks, 1nademoiselle, for this proof
Of interest, the last, doubtless, that I
shall ever receive from you. But allow
me, by being silent, to spare you dis
tress and myself the modification of
blushing before you"
Madeleine interrupted him. with an
imperious gesture:
II insist upon knowing" she said.
"Alas, mademoiseller answered
Prosper. ''You will only too soon learn
my misfortune and my disgrace. Then,
yes, then you will applaud yourself for
what you have DONE"
| But she became more urgent. In
stead Of commanding she entreated,
but Prosper was infexible.
'Your uncle is in the adjoining room,
mademoiselle, with the commissary OF
police and detective. They will soon
return. entreat you to retire that
they may not find you here"
As he spoke he gently pushed her
through the door. she resisting, and
closed it upon her, 1t was time, for
the next moment the commissary and
N. Fauvel entered. They had visited
the main entrance and waiting room
and had heard nothing Of what had
passed In the study. But Fanferlot
had heard for them. This excellent
bloodhound had not lost sight Of the
cashier. He said to himself: III he
believes himself to be alone, his face
will betray him. l., shall detect q
smile or wink that will mean some
thing" ia"
Leaving NJ. Fauvel and the commits
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