Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-07-22
Secret Of the PIuDdered Safe
By e MILE G ABoRIAu


which I have suffered?'
You have not, but / have" replied
NJ. Verduret. Il could find no way Of
gaining access to M. Fauvel, save
through you; and now l have found out
what [ wanted to know. l am convinced
that NJ. Fauvel had nothing to do with
the robbery
Prosper and his companion had stop
ped to talk more at their ease near the
corner of the Rue Laftte. NJ. Verduret
seemed to be anxious, and was constant
ly looking around as If he expected some
one. He soon uttered an exclamation Of
satisfaction. At the other end Of the
vacant space he saw Cavaillon, who was
bareheaded and running. He was SO ex-
cited that he did not even stop to shake
hands with Prosper, but darted up to NJ.
Eerduret and said:
'"They have gone, monsieur. They
went about quarter Of an hour ago."
"Then we have not an instant to lose"
and he handed Cavaillon a note he had
written some hours before at Prosper's
house.
Here, send him this and then return
at once to your desk; you might be miss
ed. 1t was very rash in you to come out
without your hat"
Cavaillon ran off as quickly as he had
come. Prosper was stupefed.
What" he exclaimed. "You know
Cavaillon?'
80 it seems" answered M. Verduret,
with a smile; 'but we have no time to
talk; come on, hurry" And he set the
example by striding rapidly toward the
Rue Lafayette. He suddenly stopped
before door bearing the number 81.
1--WE are going in here" he said to
Prosper; come"
They went up the steps, and stopped
on the second floor, before door over
which was large sign, Fashionable
Dressmaker." A handsome bellrope hung
on the wall but M. Verduret did not
touch it. He tapped with the knuckles
in a peculiar way, and the door instantly
opened as if some one had been watching
for his signal ON the other side. The
door was opened by neatly dressed
woman of about forty. She quietly ush-
cred NJ. Eerduret and Prosper into a
neat dining room with several doors
opening into it. M. Verdurot asked, in
low tone, pointing to one OF the doors:
sin there"'
mo" said the woman, in the same
tone lover there, in the little parlor."
NJ. Verduret opened the door pointed
out and pushed Prosper into the little
parlor, whispering as he did SO:
600 in, and keep your presence of
mind"
But this injunction was useless. The
instant he cast his eyes around the room
into which he had so unceremoniously
been pushed without any warning, Pros
per exclaimed, in startled voice:
"Madeleine!'
It was indeed NJ. Fauvel's niece, look
ing more beautiful than ever. Standing
in the middle Of the room, near table
covered with silks and satins, she was
arranging a skirt Of red velvet emhroid-
cred in gold At sight of Prosper all
the blood rushed to her face, and her
beautiful eyes half closed, as If she were
about to faint She recovered from her
momentary weakness, and the soft ex-
preston of her eyes changed to one Of
naughty resentment. In an offended tone
she said:
& "You promised me upon your honor,
monsieur, that you would never again
seek my presence. Is this the way you
keep your word?"
l.
many things have happened since that
terrible day Mat l think I am excusa-
BILE in forgetting, for one hour, an oath
torn from me in a moment Of blind weak
ness. It is to chance, at least to another
will than my own, that I am indebted
for the happiness Of once more fUding
myself near you. Alas! the instant |
saw you my heart bounded with Joy. I
did not think-no, 1 could not think
that you would prove more pitiless than
strangers have been, and cast me off
when / am so miserable and heart
broken"
"You know me we'll enough, Prosper,
to be sure that no blow can strike~you
without reaching me at. the same time.
You suffer, suffer with you; pity you
as a sister would pity beloved brother"
"a sisterw said Prosper, bitterly.
Eyes, that was the word you used the
day you banished me from your pres
ence. A sister! Then why during three
years did you Aelude me with vain
hopes? Was I brother to you the day
when, at the foot of the altar, we swore
to love each other forever. and you
fastened around my neck holy relic,
and said, Wear this always for my sake,
never part from 1t. and it will bring you
good fortune!"
Madeleine attempted to interrupt him
by a supplicating gesture; he would not
heed It, but continued, with increased bit
terness:
Zone month after that happy day-a
wear ago-you gave me back my prom
Use. told me to consider myself free from
my engagement, and never to come near
you again. If could have discovered
in what way I have offended you! But
no. you refused to explain. You told me
that an sinvincible obstacle had arisen
between us >andeI believed you, fool that
I was! The obstacle was your own
heart, Madeleine. I have always worn
the medal, but it has not brought me
happiness OF good fortune"
CHAPTER XII.