Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-05-19

prising that no direction was given
about it,
Neither the title Of the noble man
ufEcturer. nor his explanations, APP
pvared 20 have the slightest effect up
on the clerks.
The cashier has not yet arrived -
they repeated. and we can do moth
ing for YOU
Then conduct me to Monsieur
FauveL"
There was a moments hesitation:
then clerk named Cavaillon. who
was writing near window, said;
The chief Is always out at this
hour"
Then viii call again." replied NJ.
deClamerau.
And ne walked out. az he had en-
tered Without saying Woodworking"
OF even touching his hat.
Not very polite. that customer
said little Cnvaillon; but ne will soon
be settled. for here comes Prosper"
Prosper Eertomy, head cashier OF
| Fauvel's bankinC-house, was tall
handsome man. o.; about thirty. with
fair hair and large dark-blue eyes.
fastidiously neat. and dressed in the
height Of the fashion.
He would have been very prepossess-
| ing but for a cold. reserved English
ike manner. and a certain air Of self
suffieiency which spoiled his naturally
bright, open countenanoe.
'Ah, here You arei" cried Vavaillon.
Some one has just been asking for
YOU"
"who7An iron manufacturers pOsit
not ?"
Exactly"
''weu. he viii come back again.
Knowing that I would get here late
this morning, 7 made all my arrange
ments yesterday"
Prosper had unlocked his Office
door, and. as he finished speaking,
entered. and closed IL behind him
Good" exclaimed one OF the
clerks. there Is a man who never lets
lanything disturb him The chief has
quarreled with him twenty times for
always coming too late, and his re-
monstrances have no more effect upon
him than "a breath OF wind"
And very right. too; he knows ne
can get anything he wants out of the
chief
besides, how could he come any
sooner a man who sits up all night,
and leads a fast life. doesn't feel like
going 20 work early IN the morning
Did you notice how very pale he
looked when ne came in?''
He must have been playing heavily
again Couturier says he lost fifteen
thousand francs at sitting last
week"
His work is none the worse done
for oil that" interrupted CayaIuon.
If you were ia his place"
He stopped short. The oasb-roon
? door Suddenly opened. and the cash
Ter appeared before them with totter-
ing step, and a wild. haggard look on
his ashy face.
Robbed" he gasped outi I have
been robbedi-
PrOzper'a Mortified expression, his
/ hollow voice and trembling limbs be-
trayed such fearful suffering that the
| clerks jumped up from their desks.
and ran toward him He almost
dropped into their arms, he Wa sick
and faint, and fell into a chair.
His companions surrounded him.
and begged him 70 explain himself
Robbed" they said; where, how,
by whom
Gradually. Prosper recovered him
self.
"Al the money had in the safe,
he said, has been stolen
"An?"
yes. all, three packages. each con-
tanning one hundred notes OF thou
sand francs, and one package OF fifty
thousand. The four packages were
wrapped in q sheet Of paper. aud tied
| together"
| With the rapidly Of lightning, the
news Of the robbery spread through
out the clearinghouse, and the room
was soon filed with curious listeners.
Tell us, Prosper" said young
Cavillion, did you find the safe brok-
en- open?~
mo; IL IS just as / left it,
| We'll. then, how, why"
Yesterday put three hundred and
fifty thousand francs in the safe. and
lthis morning they are gone"
All were silent except one old clerk.
who did not seem 70 share the general
| CONSERVATION.
Don't distress yourself, Monster
Bertomy," he said; perhaps the chief
, disposed of the money"
The unhappy cashier started up
with look of relief; he eagerly
caught at the idea.
Yes" he exclaimed, you arc
right; the chief must have taken It,"
But, after thinking a few minutes,
hs said. in a tone Of deep discourage
| nn4nt:
mo. that IS impossible During the
/ i've years that I have had charge of