Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-07-09
A Notary S
Discontinue
By DWIGHT NORWOOD

IN France, which has of late been the
scene of fighting between the French
and the Germans, there lived an old
notary. In France a notary is a law
yer, but in the olden time a lawyer was
moi of much more Importance so far as
his work was concerned than a notary
is with us today. Jules Farlieux, the
notary of Rheims, had accumulated
some 10000 francs, which had come to
him through small fees. This sum
$4,000 In our money-was quite a for
tune in 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, a 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 a aw
school in Paris and settled in Rheims to
practice his profession without a 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-
guished notary with whom so many
persons intrusted their affairs and their
moneys they asked him to take care of
10000 francs in gold which was theirs
Jointly. Jules accepted the trust, it be-
ing agreed that he should deduct 8 per
cent of the amount when the money
was returned. He was then asked to
draw up a contract to that effect, in
which he stipulated to pay over the
money to the three men together and
not to any n or two of them sepa-
rately. The contract having been sign
ed, the men departed, leaving the gold
on a table. As the notary was gather
ing 1t 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 1t was put away. While he
was doing so a stranger came hurriedly
into the Office and, after taking the
notary into a rear room, asked him
some questions concerning a matter
which he seemed to consider of imme-
diate importance. The notary tried to
get away from him, but found it impos-
sible. When be 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 I'M
pleasant position. He had receipted
for 100000 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 a
month; then one morning the two who
had lost their share came to him and
demanded 1t.
The notary believed that the men
had conspired to swindle him, but I'M
less he could prove this he had no hope
of saving the little fortune he had been
a lifetime In accommodating and which
was to go to his daughter for a 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 a 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 1t made him very angry.
"What!' he exclaimed. "Does this
popinjay who has no experience in the
law propose to do what l. who have
been a notary for forty years, cannot
do?"
Louise argued with her father, say
ing that nothing would be lost by per-
uniting Alphonse to take the case and
something might be gained. Since the
old mans principal grief was that she
would be deprived of her dowry, she
finally won him over, but not until the
case had beer called In court, and If
any defense was to be put in it must
be done at once. Then the notary,
who could see no possible excuse un-
der the contract to avoid indemnifying
the plaintiffs, agreed that in case Du
Bots saved his fortune 1t should go to
Louise as his bride.
The young lawyer arose in court and
called for a reading of the contract.
When the reader came to the words.
And the said Farlieux shall pay to
the said depositors together and to no
one or two separately the sum of 100,-
600 francs" Du Bots stopped him and
said:
Your honor. my client is ready to
pay the 100000 francs specified under
the contract to the three depositors to-
nothnr hut il nrnhihitad hV the com