Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-09-19

But the body has been found on your
premises, and"
"But it is easy for any one to get
into the back gardenw cried Arthur.
"And if a crime has been committed,
the murderers could have carried the
body of their victim here and thrown
it into the WELL"
The commissaire shrugged his shol-
ders. 1t was easy TO see that he had
formed his opinion. He had seen them
shrink back in terror after they had
view the body, and had heard what
they said to each other.
"You may as well tell me frankly"
he said. you recogniz the victim,
do you not ?"
Louis stepped up TO the commits
saire.
GAS you are beginning an inquiry
monsieur" he said, IL think it would
be better if you were to proceed in a
more regular manner. If | have any
information to give to the police, |
shall give it to the investigating
Judge, and in private. am not going
to reply to your questions before this
crowd of people whom you have per-
mitted to enter my grounds"
The country commissaire recog-
nized the justice of these words. He
cleared the garden of the neighbors
and sent for the Judge.
Until the investigating judge ar
rives," said the commissaire, "you
must consider yourselves under ar
rest. An officer will accompany you
TO your respective rooms"
Il shouldn't like to change places
with those two" remarked Father Te-
roigne to Millette, as the brothers
walked back to their home accom-
panied by two policemen.
Il know something" said the excise
man, drawing himself up with impor-
lance, "but won't tell it to anybody
but the Judge"
For twenty years Louis and Arthur
Farades had lived side by side. Arthur
Farades held an important position on
the Bourse, and the younger brother
was a partner in large c.S.h mann
factory.
Before their father had died he had
often spoken 20 them of his younger
brother, Jean Farades, who had run
away from home when he was twenty
years old He had always spoken of
this brother with great affection and
he had searched in vain for him. When
he died he had made his two sons
promise that if Jean should return,
the half of the estate should be given
to him, for that was his share. Arthur
and Louis after their fathers death,
began another search, but it proved
futile and they had come to the con-
clusion that this long lost uncle must
be dead.
The two sons became successful
business man; both married, but Ar
thur Farades's wife died and his little
girl was brought up by Madame Louis,
the aunt.
Some months before the discovery
of the crime, the two families were
spending the evening in Arthur Fa-
rades's house when the postman de-
livered a letter which bore a foreign
postmark. 1t was addressed to both
the brothers.
My dear nephews," it read, when
your father was alive he may have
spoken to you of your uncle, who was
young rascal and who ran away
from home. Well, | am your uncle
Jean. | am no longer the silly fool
that | was, but | cannot tell you in
this letter all that has happ, ned since
| left France. One thing you may
know; | have made a good round for
tune, and this fortune is for you.
am coming home to give it to you.
have had some little trouble in finding
out where you live. Now drop me a
line and tell me if you have a little
affection for your dear fathers rascal
of brother. AS soon ds ! have set
tied my affairs in Calcutta | shall start
for Paris. Your old Uncle Jean 80"
1t was Arthur Farades who had
read the letter aloud When he had
finished there was a moments silence.
Then he said:
81 shall write to him tomorrow, the
dear old chap"
"You mean we shall write to him."
corrected Louis. For the first time in
their lives the brothers were cold and
distant to each other. The rest of the
evening passed in silence. Jeanne and
Valentine tried in vain to shake off
the constraint.
The rich uncle announced the day
Of his return. Preparations were made
in both houses to receive him. The
brothers started for Paris in the
morning at their usual hour and re-
turned on the train that they were
accustomed to take. That was the
day when old Jean Farades was to ar
rive in Paris.
Each brother was confident that as
soon as the investigating judge began
his inquiry he could clear himself.
NJ. Beaulieu, the investigating judge
whom the prosecutor sent down, ar
rived in due time. The commissaire
who had gone to meet him had quick
ly given him his opinion on the mys-
FERROUS murder. From the beginning
he had been suspicious # the two
brothers.
81 am sure that the victim was
known TO them both, and they know
something about the crime" he said.
After NJ. Beaulieu had examined
the corpse he declared that the man
must have been dead before he was
thrown into the well. Then he began
the inquiry. First he questioned Ar
thur Farades, who told him frankly
that he knew the victim. 1t was an
uncle who the day before had return
ed from Calcutta.
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