Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-10-14

everywhere; studied the doors. sounded
the partitions, examined the wicket, and
stirred up the ashes In the fireplace.
Il cannot imagine" said he, "hsw an
outsider could have effected an entry
here" He opened the door Of the pri-
vate staircase. where do these stairs
lead tor he asked.
'"To my private Office" replied M. Fau-
vel, Follow me, gentlemen. And you
come, too, Prosper"
NJ. Fauvers ofice consisted Of tive
rooms; the waiting room, sumptuously
furnished and beautifully decorated, and
the study where he transacted business.
These two rooms had only three doArs:
one opened OH the private stairway, an
other into the bankers bedroom, and the
third into the main vestibuls. 1t was
through this last door that the bankers
clients and visitors were admitted. N.
Fanferlot examined the study at
glance. He seemed puzzled like a man
who had fattered himself with the hope
Of discovering some clsv and had found
nothing.
LET us see the adjoining room" he
said, and passed into the waiting room,
followed by the banker and the commits
sary.
Prosper remained alone in the study.
he was sitting near the fireplace, abb
sorbed in the most gloomy forsbodings,
when the bankers chamber door sudden
ly opened and a beautiful girl appeared
upon 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, ProspeNyouw
These words broke the spell. The CASH
Ter dropped the white hand which he had
caught, 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.
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 II in the ad-
joining room, with the commissary Of
police and a detective. They will soon
return. I entreat you to retire that they
may not hnd you here"
As he spoke he gently pushed her
through the door and closed 1t upon her.
1t was time, for the next moment the
commissary and M. Fauvel entered. They
had visited the main entrance and wait
ing room, and had heard nothing of what
had passed In the study. But Fanfer-
lot had heard for them.
II understand tho case now" said he,
to himself. This young man loves the
young lady, who Is really very pretty;
and, as he Is handsome, I 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 plans 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, 30 calm when he first
came, now looked grave and perple1ed.
"You see, gentlemen" he began, "our
search has only confirmed our first sus-
picion. What do you think, M. Fanfer-
LOTT"
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.
II have merely convinced myself that
this safe has been recently opened OF
shut, l know not which, with great vio-
near the lock-"
The eommissary stopped down. and
carefully examined the safe; he saw q
slight scratch several inches long that
had removed the outer coat Of varnish
II see the scratch" said he; "but what
. does that prove"
"Oh, nothing at all" said Fanferlot
; ut 10 Of no Importance"
Fanferlot said this, but it was not hii
real opinion. This scratch, undeniably
fresh, had for him a signifcation that es
capped the others. He said to himself:
This confirms my suspicious. If the
! cashier had stolen millions there wal
! no occasion for his being in a hurry
whereas, the banker creeping down In tn,
dead Of the night, for fear Of awakening
the porter in the anteroom. in order tc
rob his own safe, had every reason tc
tremble. to hastily withdraw the key
which. slippng 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 Madelin,
and Prosper. He hastened to divert at
tention from the scratch upon the lock
u "To conclude" he said, addressing tn,
commissary, 81 am convinced that no on,
outside of the bank could have obtained
access to this room. Those who opened