Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-09-28
FIRST PART
The Theft at the Royal Palace Hotel

NNt
The Theft at the Royal Palace Hotel
All Paris was seethng with un-
easiness, the victim of vague rumors.
Suspicious were rife. No man dared
to trust his neighbor. Every news
paper was eagerly scanned aS soon as
it appeared on the streets. y band of
criminals was terrorizing the city.
The police dealt vigorously with
those they caught. Some were sent
to prison, and others were killed re-
sisting arrest. Because of this con-
stant police pressure, after time law
and order seemed to be getting the
upper hand i'll the city. Its inhabit-
ants began to breathe easier. Sud
denly there came new and terrible
menace:
FANTOMAS
The very name spread intangible
terror. FantomaS-a phantom, a be-
ing without material existence, yet
with deadly power. Many who had
not felt the sinister and heavy hand
of the unseen monster laughed at the
fear which mention Of the name in
spired. Those who had been victims
of his malvolence did not laugh.
They spoke of Fantomas with dread
and alarm.
First a murder was attributed to
which was laid at the door of the
mysterious parsonage. Other crimes,
equally mystiying, were then alleged
to have been executed by him. The
basis for the suppOsition was that af-
ter each crime white visiting card
was found upon the scene. Upon
warming it there would appear the
one word
FANTOMAS
This mysterious creature, who
seemed to have taken an oath of i'm
placable hatred toward society, re-
mained undiscovered. No one seem
ed able to furnish complete descrip-
tion of him. Some who claimed to
have seen Fantomas described him
quite differently from others who also
had been his victims or had come up
on him while at work.
The terror spread. 1t seemed to oe
without limit when the chief of police
sought to allay the eXcitment by
issuing statement in which he de-
clared Fantomas did not exist. He
explained that in reality the authori-
ties were confronted by an organized
band, using the name Fantomas. He
added that he hoped to arrest the
members of the gang rapidly.
However, opinion remained divid-
ed. Some declared that no man
could keep under his control such a
well organized band as Fantomas was
reported to command. Others even
secuted the idea of such gang,
pointing out that sooner or later one
of its members would have sold the
secret of its existence, for immunity,
pardon or gold.
Then there came lull. For siS
weeks no card of the mysterious be-
ing found its way into the hands OF
the police. Talk of Fantomas had
pretty well died down when the
Princess Sonia Danidoff arrived in
Paris.
The Princess spent six months oi
each year in the French capitol. Up.
on her return each season there was
always great deal Of fuss made IN
the newspapers over her arrival. AT.
ter the American fashion, she dwell
IN an apartment hotel, one of those
luxurious structures which are re-
placing the homes of even the wealthy
Her apartment was on the third
floor, four large rooms which rivalet
those reserved for royalty when visit
ing Paris incognito.
Society outdid itself in entertain
ing this beautiful woman. She was I
dream of elegance even in the most ex
elusive circles. Related to royalty
extremely rich, witty, vivacious, in
tellectual, with an unsullied reputa
tion, Princess Sonia was well able t.
fascinate Paris and hold its attention