Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-10

The reader must know that the |
ghost had calmly been paid his first |
twenty thousand francs. Oh, there !
had been wailing and gnashing OF
teeth, indeed! And yet the thing had
happened as simple as could be.
One morning, the managers found
on their table an envelope addressed
to Monsieur o. G. (private)" and &C
companied by a note from o. G. him.
self:
The time has come to carry out the
clauEe in the memorandum-book. Please
put twenty notes of a thousand francs
each into this envelope. seal 1t with your
own seal and hand It to Nine. CRY, who
will do what is necessary.
The managers did not hesitate;
without wasting time in asking how
these COMPOUNDED communications
came to be delivered in an office
which they were careful to keep
locked, they seized this opportunity
of laying hands on the mysterious
blackmailer. And, after telling the
whole story, under the promise OF Sc
crecy, to Gabriel and MERCER, they
put the twenty thousand francs into
the envelope and without asking for
explanations, handed 1t to Nine. CRY,
who had been reinstated In her func-
tions. The box-keeper displayed no
establishment. / need hardly say that
she was well watched. She went
straight to the ghcFt's box and placed
the precious envelope on the little
shelf attached to the ledge. The two
nah
cier, were hidden in such q way that
they did not lose sight of the en-
velope for a second during the per-
Torrance and even afterward, for, as
the envelope had not moved, those
who watched ii did not move either;
and Nine. CRY went away while the
managers, Gabriel and Mercier were
still there. At last, they became tired
| OF waiting and opened the envelope,
after ascertaining that the seals had
not been broken.
At first sight, Richard and Mon
charmin thought that the notes were
still there; but soon they perceived
| that they were not the same. The
twenty real notes were gone and had
been replaced by twenty notes of the
Bank OF st. Farce,"
The managers rage and fright were
unmistakable. Moncharmin wanted to
send for the commissary of police,
but Richard objected. He no doubt
had plan, for he said:
Don't let us make ourselves ridic-
ulousl All Paris would laugh at US
o. G. has won the first game; we will
win the second"
He was thinking of the next month
allowance.
Nevertheless, they had been so alb
solutely tricked that they were bound
to suffer a certain detection. And
upon my word, 1t was not difficult tc
understand. We must not forget that
the managers had an idea at the back
of their minds, all the time, that this
strange incident might be al unpleas
ant practical joke on the part of theil
predecessors, and that it would not
do to divulge it prematurely. On the
other hand, Moncharmin was some
times troubled with a suspicion Of
Richard himself, who occasionally
took fanciful whims into his head
And so they we're content to await
events. while keeping an eye or
Mother CRY. Richard would not have
her spoken to.
IF she is a confederate" he said
''the notes are gone long ago. But
in my opinion she is merely an idiot
She's not the only idiot in this
business" said Moncharmin pensiveIy
We'll, who could have thought it p
moaned Richard. But don't be afraid
next time, l shall have taker
my precautions"
The next time fell on the same day
that beheld the disappearance OF
Christine Daae. In the morning G
note from the ghost reminded then
that the money was due. 1t read:
Do just as you did last time. 1t went
very well. put the twenty thousand in
the envelope and hand it to our excellent
Mime. CRY.
And the note was accompanied b.
the usual envelope. They had only Il
insert the notes.
This was done about half an houl
before the curtain rose on the frs
act of Faust. Richard showed the en-
velope to Moncharmin. Then he count
ed the twenty thousand-franc notes IL
front of him and put the notes int
, the envelope, but without closing 1t.
And now" he said, lets hav,
Mother CRY In"
The old woman was sent for. Sh,
entered with a sweeping courtesy
She still wore her black taffeta dress
the color of which was rapidly turn