The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-05-30
by a note from 0. G. him

self:
The time has come to carry out the
clause in the nemora :sdum- book. Please
put twenty notes OF 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 confounded' communications
came to be delivered in an office
which they We're 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 it TO Nine. CRY.
who had been reinstated in her func-
tons. The boX-keeper displayed no
astonishment. l need hardly say that
she was Well watched. She went
straight to the ghosts box and placed
the precious envelope on the little
shelf attached to the ledge. The two
managers, as well as Gabriel and Mer-
cier, were hidden in such way that
they did not lose sight of the en-
veiope for second during the per
Torrance and even afterward, for, as
the envelope had not moved, those
who watched it did not move either;
and Nine. CRY went away while the
managers, Gabriel and MERCER 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been replaced by twenty notes OF the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. Parcel"
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 ride
ulous. All Paris would laugh at us.
o. G. has won the first game; We will
win the second"
He was thinking of the next months
allowance.
Nevertheless, they had been so alb
solutely tricked that they were bound
to suffer certain detection. And,
upon my word, 1t was not difficult to
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 an unpleas-
ant practical joke on the part OF their
predecessors, and that it would not
do to divulge it prematurely. On the
other hand, Moncharmin was some
times troubled with suspicion OF
Richard himself, who occasionally
took fanciful whims into his head.
And so they were content to await
events, while keeping an eye on
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 pensiyely.
'Well, who could have thought it?"
moaned Richard. But don't be afraid
next time, l shall have taken
my precautions"
The next time fell on the same day
that beheld the disappearance OF
Christine Daae. In the morning a
note from the ghost reminded them
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
Nine. CRY.
And the note was accompanied by
the usual envelope. They had only to
insert the notes.
This was done about half an hour
before the curtain rose on the first
act of Faust Richard showed the en-
velope to Moncharmin. Then he count
ed the twenty thousand-franc notes in
front of him and put the notes into
the envelope, but without closing it.
And now" he said, lets have
Mother Giry in"
The old woman was sent for. She
entered with sweeping courtesy
She still wore her black taffeta dress,
the color of which was rapidly turn
ing to rust and lilac, to say nothing
of the dingy bonnet. She seemed in
a good temper. She at once said:
Good evening, gentlemen! It's for
the envelope, | suppose"
Yes, Nine CRY" said Richard,
most amiably For the envelope
and something else besides"
AT your service, M Richard at
your service And what is the some
thing else, please?'
First of all, Nine. CRY, l have
little question to put to you"
by all means, NJ Richard; Nine.
CRY is here to answer you
Are you still on good terms with
the ghOst?'
Couldn't be better, sir; couldn't
be better"
"Ah, we are delighted. Look
here, Nine. Giry," said Richard, in
the tone of making an important con-