Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-02-06

come to my Office
Among those who called upon me
was Charles Vernet, financier. and.
while listened to the evidence he
gave In a clear, concise manner, the
conviction stole upon me that | had
met him before under different cir
cumstances. But where?-when? Al
though l have an excellent memory
for faces, his features were not IA
miliar to me- yet his general appear
ance, the way he raised his right hand
when he spoke, reused old recollec-
tions.
who is he'll inquired the next day
Of the police commissary in M. Charles
Vernets district.
"Who is he?" repeated my friend.
with a touch OF surprise In his voice.
my dear Goron, don't you really know
Charles Vernet?"
well, yes, Of course l understand
he is q financier, with plenty OF
money; but / know nothing about
him"
He shrugged his shoulders.
Look here, Goron, l never know
when you are making fun of anybody;
but II you put the question to me Sc
riously. let me tell you that Charles
Vernet is not only rich. but bears
good reputation on the Bourse. and is
received everywhere"
How long has he been in Paris?"
about ten years. He came here
with large fortune made at the Cape,
and has doubled 1t since"
"Who is he?" I again asked myself
when / went to bed.
For days and days the mans face
seemed to follow me. mentally pass
ed in review the various persons l had
met In the course of my career, with
out being able to locate him. Yet l
felt certain l had seen him when his
name was not Charles Vernet
took out my journal. looking over
the cases with which had been con-
nected since | became chief Of the
detective police. And still no trace OF
him.
worked my way back to the days
when | was assistant to M. Clement,
at the Prefecture, and police commits.
sary In the Pantin Quarter, until
came upon the murder OF Moulin, the
notary's clerk, by fellow called 81
mon. And then paused; for 1t sud.
denly dawned upon me that Simon
was the man I must have had in my
mind when I saw Charles Vernet.
Moulin lived in the Rue des Alb
besses, and he and Simon were
friends. One night lodger, occupy
ing a room below Moulin's. was awak
ened by the noise Of scuffie over
head, and, going to the rescue, met
man hurrying past him. Moulin was
lying on his bed stabbed to the heart.
When Simon was arrested the next
day, the lodger recognized him as the
man he had seen on the stairs. 81
mon, who had already been implicated
in several unpleasant affairs, never
admitted his guilt; and In the alb
sence of direct proofs, the jury brought
in a verdict by which he escaped the
gulllOlln6, DuL WAS SeuteuSCu " VIVA
ty years penal servitude.
inquired at the Prefecture. where
learned that Simon and man called
Aymard had planned to escape from
Cayenne. Aymard had succeeded In
getting away, while Simon, his face
battered in and his body covered with
wounds, was found in ditch. His
identity had been disclosed by his
jacket, which bore the number "s4."
The report Of Simon's death did not
remove my doubts. But, as In the
face Of the official statement | could
not we'll apply to the authorities for
assistance, determined to try to
solve the problem myself.
II my theory was right-that
Charlie Vernet and Simon were the
same person-it must have been ST.
mon who placed the telltale jacket
with the number "a on the body OF
Aymard. whom, no doubt, he had muir
dered to insure his own safety. This
trick had been performed several
.-4-