The Washington herald., 1914-06-05

the clothing OF NJ. Farades. The polict
overlooked 1t. The stupidity of them
He fattened a scrap Of paper against
| the desk, his partner watching him in
| tently. 1T is badly mutilated, but you
can read 1t quite readily
| With frecuent exclamations, NJ. Mer-
| sains deciphered the writing. II was a
receipt for securities deposited by Fara-
des with one Smithworth. a banker in
| Calcutta. proving that the uncle had de-
Waited from his original plan of bringing
! his fortune with him. The lawyers
| though realizing the receipt was useless
in the matter of proving the brothers
innocent. hoped II might yield some clew
! to the identity of the murderer. A cable
gram asking for details OF Farades' trans
actions with the bank was sent 10 Cal
! cutta-
The days that followed were occupied
by the lawyers in efforts to untangle the
| maze of conflicting clews and theories
that every murder case develops with
mushroom-like rapidity. Little of i'm
portance transpired until one morning.
when Velimay excitedly telephoned his
partner to come to his Office at once.
1.-Two things happened last night and
this morning" said Maitre Velimay.
Look, Nv office has been burglarized.
And. II Is very strange, nothing was
taken except a piece of paper. The re-
ceipt issued by II. Smithworths' bank is
missing"
ner. his eyes fitting over the articles
tossed in confusion over the room. And
the other?"
This telegram. II Is from n. Smith
worth in Calcutta and imparts the in
formation that no such gentleman as ".
Farades has honored the bank with his
business"
The partners locked at each other like
two men who read each others thoughts
II preceive NJ. Smithworth is a very
interesting gentleman" observed Mer-
sains. TT is my suggestion that we cul-
tivate his acquaintance"
The suggestion is very good" as
serted Velimay. I'VE can start this aft
ernoon. We shall return in ample time
before the trial opens
One thing perplexes me-" observed
Mersains. THE cablegram you received
this morning was from Mr.. Smithworth.
Therefore that gentleman must be in
Calcutta. 1t is not probable that he
burglarized your office last night. 1t is
no customary for men to be in two places
at the same time"
But 1t Is customary for great bankers
to have accomplices in all parts of the
world remarked Velimay.
Some time later two sportive French
tourists arriving in Calcutta found it
convenient to cash their travellers checks
at the banking house over which Smith
worth presided. The banker proved an
accommodation and delightful gentleman.
but he was also a cautious fnancier.
There were subjects he was loath to dis
cuss: his French clients, for instance
and in particular one NJ. Farades. Such
conduct would not be ethical. he pro-
tested. But learning that the travellers
intended to remain in Calcutta some
time. he implored them to honor him by
calling frequently. plea that the strang-
ers could not resist
Prudent man." observed Marsains as
they were ushed from the private office
But he will make mistake" ven-
tured his partner. 1T is probable the
receipt Is now in his desk. His agent
in Paris must be anxious to get rid of
it. and undoubtedly he sent it to Cal
cutta by first mall
The partners called frequently upon NJ
Smithworth, whose supply of choice
cigars and wines seemed as ineNhaus-
tible as his good humor. But he never
permitted his prudence to slip single
cog. and the day when the Frenchmen
must depart was approaching. The
banker suggested a little farewell dinner
in their honor. and hoping that chance
would favor, them at the last moment,
they accepted
What the genial banker had called a
little farewell dinner proved to be a
fete of rare Oriental splendor. The
wealth and beauty and wit Of the city