Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1915-06-11
A Notary S
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By DWIGHT NORWOOD

Many years ago in the city Of Rheims,
scene of fighting between the French
and the Germans. there lived an Old
uu,uLy. III rance d Notary is a law
yer, but in the olden time a lawyer was
not OF much more Importance so far as
his work was concerned than 4 notary
is With us today. Jules Farlieux the
notary of Rheims, had accumulated
some $4,000 francs, which had come to
him through small fees. This sum
$4,000 in our money-was quite a for
tune III those days, especially in France,
where everything was very cheap and
one could live comfortably on a small
income
The Old man had one child, daugh-
ter, Delphine, to whom he expected to
leave his property. and it was his ex-
pectatiOn that she should marry a man
having at least an equal amount. What
was his chagrin. therefore, when he
learned that she had fallen in love with
Alphonse Du Bots. a young fellow who
had just been graduated from law
school in Paris and settled in Rheims to
practice his profession without sou to
his name. The notary simply forbade
his daughter to have anything to do
with the man.
one day three men came into Jules
Farlieux's office. and after asking if and
being assured that he was the ''distin-
gu1shed notary" with whom so many
persons intrusted their affairs and their
nonnvs they asked + e taEe carr Of
10000 francs IL ao.~- Il i was theirs
Jointly. Jules accepted the trust, it be-
ing agreed that he should deduct per
cent of the amount when the money
was returned. He was then asked to
draw up contract to that effect, in
Which be stipulated to pay over the
money to the three men together and
not to any one or two Of them sepa-
rately. The contract having been sign
ed, the men departed. leaving the gold
on table. AS the notary was gather
ing it up to put in his strong box one of
the men returned, saying he had been
deputed by the others to count the
money before it was put away. While he
was doing so stranger came hurriedly
into the office and, after taking the
notary into rear room, asked him
some questions concerning a matter
which he seemed to consider of imme-
date Importance. The notary tried to
get away from him, but found it impos-
slDle. When he was permitted to re-
turn to the other room both the money
and the man who had been counting it
were gone.
Farlieux found himself in a very un-
pleasant position. He had receipted
Tor lOO,OOO francs which he was to pay
to the three owners together. One Of
them had taken the amount and the
notary would be, obliged to indemnify
the others, which would require nearly
double all he possessed. He heard
) nothing from any of the men for q
! month; then one morning the two who
; had lost their share came to him and
! demanded it,
! The notary believed that the men
had conspired to swindle him, but un-
less he could prove this he had no hope
OF saving the little fortune he had been
j a lifetime in accommodating and which
| was to go to his daughter for dowry.
he made every effort to prove that the
! men were dishonest and in collision.
but was not able to do So
After a formal demand for their
money the two men put the case in the
courts, and day was set for trial.
Alphonse Du Bots learned of the case
from his sweetheart, Louise, and the
probable loss of her dowry. He told
her to say to her father that he would
save him from the swindle if he would
consent to his marriage with her.
Louise gave the old man the message
and it made him very angry.
| "What!' he exclaimed. ''Does this
pop1njay who has no experience in the
law propose to do what 1, who have
been notary for forty years, cannot
do?"