Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-06-24

sorbed in the most gloomy forebodings,
when the bankers chamber doo8 sudden
" opened and a beautiful girl appeared
npon the threshold. Seeing Prosper in
the study, where probably she expected
to find her uncle alone, she could not re-
frain from an exclamation OF surprise
'You, Prosper-you!"
These words broke the spell. The cash
Ter dropped the white hand which he had
caught, and answered bitterly:
Eyes, 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"
Good heaven! Prosper, what are you
saying?"
"Alas mademoiselle" answered Pros
per. you will only too soon learn my
misfortune and my disgrace; then, yes,
then you will applaud yourself for what
YOU have done. Your uncle Is in the adj
Joining room, with the commissary OF
police and a 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 and closed it upon her.
1t was time, for the next moment the
commssary and NJ. Fauvel entered Ihey
had visited the main entrance and walt
ing room, and had heard nothing of what
had passed in the study. But Fanter-
lot had heard for them.
81 understand the case now," said he,
to himself. This young man loves the
young lady, who is really very pretty;
and, as he is handsome, | suppose his
love is reciprocated. This love affair
vexes the banker, who not knowing how
to get rid of the importunate lover by
fair means, has to resort to foul ones
and pla. this imaginary robbery, which
is very ingenious"
Meanwhile, the search upstairs COM
pleted, M. Fauvel and the commissary
returned to where Prosper was waiting.
The commissary, so calm when he hrst
came, now looked grave and perplexed.
"You see, gentlemen" he began, our
search has only confirmed our first sus-
picion. What do you think, M. Fanfer-
lot?"
Fanferlot did not answer. Occupied
in studying the safe lock, he manifested
signs of surprise. Evidently he had just
made an important discovery. NJ. Eau
vel, Prosper and the commissary arose,
and surrounded him.
"Have you discovered any clew?" said
| the banker eagerly.
81 have merely convinced myself that
| this safe has been recently opened or
shut know not which, with great vio-
| lence and haste Look at this scratch
near the lock-"
The commissary stopped down, and
| carefully examined the safe; he saw a
slight scratch several inches long that
had removed the outer coat Of varnish.
81 see the scratch" said he; but what
does that prove?"
ooh, nothing at all!'' said Fanferlot.
at is Of no Importance"
Fanferlot said this, but it was not his
| real opinion. This scratch, undeniably
| fresh, had for him a Specification that es-
| capped the others. He said to himself:
"This confirms my suspicious. II the
cashier had stolen millions there was
no occasion for his being in a hurry
whereas, the banker creeping down i'll the
| dead Of the night, for fear of awakening
the porter in the anteroom, in order to
rob his own safe, had every reason to
trembe. to hastily withdraw the key,
which, slipping along the lock, scratched
off the varnish."
Resolved alone to unravel the tangled
| thread of this mystery, the detective de-
| termined to keep his conjectures to him
self, for the same reason he was silent
as to the interview between Madeline
| and Prosper. He FASTENED to divert at
! tention from the scratch upon the lock.
''To conclude" he said, addressing the
commissary, Il am convinced that no one
J outside of the bank could have obtained
access to this room. Those who opened
the safe knew the word and possessed
the key"
"That being the case" said the COM
missary, II must request a few moments
conversation with M. Fauvel."
TO be continued.)