The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-12-12

m TO II c. arrived at the Rue dam
s,erdan and we're handed to ne Meth
er Of them bore q signature
In the arst letter the writer simply
announced bis safe arrival Ia Syurna:
but the second told !ts own tale !
was a fool" II said. ito have come 10
this hole should have stayed IN
Paris and CHANGED Il. 10 watch that
scoundrel Twice be got the better
OF me: but this time I have him Ny
only regret Is that you may possibly
be moIes;ed- II 50. It's your own
fault You ought 10 have left me
alone. Please send me all cuttings
relative 10 you know what"
At once sent for CharbonneL He
looked haggard-
Il have good news for you" cried:
your friend writes from Smyrna that
he has safely arrived. and regrets ex-
ceedingly that you got yourself under
suspicion. He Is very sorry that he
left Paris because he no longer can
watch a certain scoundrel. Your friend
has the kindness TO give his address In
Smyrna: that simpllhes matters.
shall very likely start for Smyrna to-
night, but | frst wanted 10 see you.
as perhaps you may have something to
say TO me"
Charbonnel looked At me. dunn
founded.
M. Goron, IL IL useless fighting
against you vowed TO do the right
thing by my friend. but you have
beaten me. Yes, II Is he. Georges
Ravel, who committed the burglary. ]
knew Georges fifteen years ago In Vera
Cruz I had fallen Ill. I was penniless
and, but for him, would have died like
q dog. But he nursed me, advanced
me money, and afterward got me sit
uation as hotel clerk.
Since that moment things have
gone we'll with me, and. thanks to Q
small legacy, | am now independent
But poor Georges later fell into bad
ways. He gambled. drank and for FIVE
years I heard nothing Of him. When
met him again / hardly recognized
him. fancy he was in prison some
where in Venezuela, but he never
spoke to me about his own affairs. All
he told was that he had been cheated
by fellow called Dominguez, and that
he meant to be even with him. He
soon again disappeared, and had tc
return to France to take possession OF
my legacy
"A few months ago, to my conster.
nation, he came to my hotel with the
news that Dominguez was living In
Paris, in the Rue de Prony, and that
would soon hear some surprising
things. On the night before the
soiree he came again, and, under the
influence Of drink, departed from his
usual reticence. He said he intend.
ed to steal into the house and extract
from the safe money, valuables, and
the documents he hoped to find there
All attempts to hold him back
proving fruitless, resolved to go &c
the soiree. and, IL possible, prevent
mischief. He had grown long beard
and 1t was not likely Dominguez would
recognize him IL he saw him. Idont
know what possessed me to play, but
just as rose from the piano l caught
sight OF Georges in the hall. I saw
him go upstairs, and rushed after him.
l clutched his arm, but he knocked
me down. and bowl and some other
articles on the safe fell OF. In q
twinkling he had wrenched open the
lock, and, but for the terrific noise
downstairs, they must have heard II
1 followed him like one In a dream
saw him put on his overcoat-for nc
servant was by-And disappear In the
night. And now you know all. No
you know more than / do, for I am
still trying to solve the mystery O,
now you tracked me to the dressins
room when no one saw US"
Never mind that" I hurriedly re-
piled. I have other mysteries &c
solve now. Can you tell me anything
more about Dominguez? Did the bur.
giary really take place, and were val.
tables carried away"
I know nothing of Dominguez. ex.
cept that Georges said he was a dan.
gerous bandit. AS to the burglary I
am sorry to say was the unwillina
witness OF 1t. And now. M. Goron
you behave kindly to me. Allow m.
10 give you some advice. Don't an
proach Dominguez until you have seer
clear into the whole business"
mat same night l was on nv vav
70 smyrna / arrived there late on a
sunday night and went straight to tbs
small hotel on the Mariana vhere
Georges bad given his address Tn.
laxative waiter, a Belgian. inform.d
me- that there was a French xent,e.
man staying there. q DR.. Picard. from
that's him coming in now" he said
pointing to stout man. with S..n
set bhe-shot eyes and an unst.sd,
snt l Immediately recognized him
ifom Cnarbonners description.
me Following morning called On
ene french consul and told him as
hA