The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-04


 safe the hysterical woman seized his arm and dragged his hand away, just as the key began to enter the lock. That had made the scratch upon the surface of the door. It was the bankers key which he had used of course-the ohe kept in tho secretary in his library. the one Madame had often seen him place there.
 These facts Lecoq learned by patching together little threads Of conversation which Nina, as maid to Nine. Fauvel, and Fanferlot as valet to De Clameran, had heard. So now, having unraveed the plot, he returned to Paris and told his story to Prosper. only to find that Prosper had written his nasty letter to M Fauvel. Now he worked quickly but De Clameran was on the alert, and finding that he wab being watched, finding through the indis- cretion of Fanferlot that his whole con- spiracy was known to Lecoq, prepared to fly, leaving Raoul to face the music. How to arrest him without making the scandal public instantly was the problem of Lecoa.
 In visit which he had paid to Oloron. Lecoq had become convinced that there was reason to believe that Louis de Clameran had poisoned his brother Gaston. He determined to arr rest him for this and to get sufficient evidence to convict him of 1t later. Do | Clameran got wind of this intention and committed suicide-a confession of guilt. Lecoq went to M. Fauvel and re- vealed to him the whole story. The banker naturally was astonished-could at first not believe it. He brought the banker Raoul and Mime. Fauvel to- gether Mine Fauvel was accompanied by Nina and Madeleine Prosper was with Lecoq. My dear wife" said the | banker after he had heard the story, T love you still. Let the past bury it. self. You and I will forget. These | things have never been." "All this is false," cried Raoul. "Ah," said Lecoq, T will tell you . story" And then he told how his in- vestigations in England had proved that Raoul was not the son of Gaston de Clameran and Mime. Fauvel. but the son of English jockey named Spen- cer who had been engaged by Louis to play the role of Gaston's son. The real son had died in infancy.
 Now" said Lecoq, will you restore the money you stole from the safer" Raoul pale and trembling, went to a | little strong box-for this interview took place in a house which the youth had hired in the suburbs-and taking therefrom a bundle of bank notes. hand ed 1t to the detective. Then. watching his opportunity, he glided out of th' door and was off. He has escapedt' cried the banker. Ut Is better so; in tended that he should" replied Lecoc
 My object was to get rid of him. w D could not arrest him without makin . trouble"
 r And now that Mme. Fauvel an i yourself are reconciled. now that tn past is forgdtton. will you grant me q favor? I am the friend of Prosper Ber- tony. I have promised him that he shall Try Madeleine; have I your consentc'
 "Joy4ully, willingly, do give It.; re- piled the banker.
 Somehow Prosper and Madeleine got close together and held each other $ hands after that
 And you promised me that you would find Ca1das for me-" cried Nina 1: the only man who ever really loved me-" With a quick. dexterous movement Lecoq drew off his wig and false whis- kers and stood before the woman.
 'Caldasr' she cried.
 No, not Caldas, but Lecoq, the de- tective."
 'Caldas," cried Gipsy, have pity on mel am so miserable" He and the others turned. to leave the room, but Nina stopped the detective and the two were left alone there. Of course Lecoq took his errant wife back again and on the fifteenth of the r next month there was celebrated at the , Church of the Notre Dame de Lorrette r the marriage of Prosper Bertomy and Madeleine Fauvel The great banking I house is still in the Rue de Provence. , But as M. Fauvel has retired from bus p mess the name of the firm is now Pros- l per Bertomy & Go.
 Next weeks one page classic will be ''Hassan the Wag," from The Arabiau | Tf.rl,t