Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-17


prisoner the charge of stealing seven and half
million francs worth of United States bonds from
YOU He was arrested on complaint of M. lie M arquis
d'Aubigny who gave me to understand that he was
acting in your behalf M. lie Marquis said you had
these bonds in denominations of ten thousand dol
lars each; that you told him they must have been
stolen. He said further that you and he had agreed
that M Smith must have stolen the bonds with the
assistance of trained nurse who was here this as
sumption being based principally upon the fact that
only three persons in Paris knew the bonds
here M lie Marquis d'Aubigny yourself, and M.
Smith. Frankly, we have been unable to connect
M. Smith directly with the disappearance of any
bonds, although there many myst1fy1ng things
connected with his presence here. Certain it is that
M. Smith did not have the bonds on him at the time
of his arrest Immediately following the report of the
theft and certain it is they not hidden in his
room. Where they are, do not know. You are
i'll, Monsieur; am stating it briefly.
Clarke's tense gaze shifted to dAubigny., You
reported a theft, he said. BY whose authority!
Did ask you to report theft"
The bonds were gone, Monsieur. You said
yourself. We even agreed that NJ. Smith took them.
l reported it on my own authority.
The bonds were gone, you say!' Clarke ques-
toned sharply How do you know they were gone!
How did you know there any bonds? Did you
them?'
Il didn't see them; but
In view of all the circumstances in the and
the unwarranted arrest of Smith here, suppose I'll
have to go into the details Clarke was talking to
NJ. Baudet. The Marquis in the United States
six months ago and came to me IN Passalc about
business matter. We had had previous financial
relations, and this he suggested seemed attrac
tive. l told him 1 would consider it. and did
slider it. This is what brought me to Paris three
months ago. Immediately after l arrived | was
stricken with fever and lay here for weeks practically
unconscious, and because of the name had assumed
my friends and relatives in the United States lost
track of me and grew uneasy. 1t had been my pur
pose to investigate quietly this matter the Marquis
suggested and even he wasn't to know that was in
Paris. This illness threw all my plans out of gear.
When l became convaescent [ had friend look
into the situation for me- and on the strength OF his
report was willing to go alb ID.
Now comes the thing TINT complicated affairs
and indirectly resulted in Mr. Smiths arrest. 1t was
my original purpose to raise -unds in the United
States to 60 into this enterprise lost SO much time
however that when the Marquis came to with
statement that the deal must be consummated
within day it impossible to get funds
however, that l could get the funds from London.
l was confident that 1 told the Marquis had the
bonds, and even told him their denomination. and
There are tricks in your profession, NJ Baudet,
just there in mine. | didn't get the funds
from London as expected; but permitted the deal
million and half dollars my part. Then opened
the bag to produce the bonds and it empty 1t
trick by which calculated to hold up the deal
for couple of weeks,-in other words, to gain time
enabling me to come in later So you see had
bonds; no bonds stolen l didn't even
port the bonds were stolen I'm sorry have to put
myself in this position; but it's only fair good
friend Smith. He is official in my bank at home,
and the last man earth that one could associate
with theft"
Mr.. SMITHS eyes were bullying with admiration.
A~A He had never known the old to fail in
crisis, and he hadn't failed now Edna smiling
softly as she stroked the emaciated hand she held.
M. Baudet's face corrugated with wrinkles of
perplexity.
1T a trick, them" demanded the Marquis
CURLY.
That's pretty good guess and Clarke smiled
benignly.
"A contemplate, disreputable- the Marquis be-
gan.
Never mind Details son. interrupted Mr.. Smith
Mr. Clarke is not well. Any time you want to dis