The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-03

OK the currency were instructed to keep
the matter . secret. and the governor
took Il into his own hands. However,
he could do nothing but address a COM
munieafion to the writer of the notes,
to be called for at the general delivery
window. asking her to visit him the
next day at the bank.
She did not respond In person, but
wrote that an official in the bank some
years before had been discharged un-
der suspicion OF dishonesty. The dis
charged man had suffered much by
this injustice. the consequences Of
which, including loss of salary, amount
ed to a claim against the bank OF O
hundred thousand francs. He was no
better able to prove his innocence now
than formerly. but he was In a posi-
ton to help himself to the amount of
his claim. II the bank would pay it
without lawsuit the danger In which
the institution stood of losing funds
would be revealed; IL not, the claimant
would choose his own way OF securing
| bis claim.
The governor at once called for the
names OF all persons discharged from
the bank within twenty years. When
the List was presented to him he was
surprised to see that It embraced
nearly 100 names, for IL had been the
policy of the management to discharge
suspected officials without investiga-
ton.
After mature deliberation the gov
1 HeT &A0% ~ d..
possible among so many to hit on the
person named He believed that there
was leak somewhere among his sub
ordinates. that one of them was a con-
| federate Of the person who was en-
deayoring to get money from the bank.
while a woman confederate was en-
ployed to write the notes. He at once
called upon the banks chief detective
for a list OF the officials now In the
banks employ who had been observed
visiting places Of questionable repute
or were believed to be living beyond
their means. Five names were fur
nished, and they were all discharged.
Nothing further was heard from
Elise r. for a month; then came an
other note. 1t stated that the amount
of the discharged officials claim had
been appropriated and the governor
need give himself no further concern
in the matter. The claimant would not
help himself to any more Of the banks
funds than the amount Of his claim,
though he was In position to take all
he liked.
Upon receipt of this letter the gov
ernor gave an order for an inventory
to be made Of all the funds of the
bank. The amounts in the safes were
found to be correct, but there was one
! room with massive walls called the
treasure room, In which was kept the
} enormous supply of gold belonging tc
, the institution, together with certain
> paper currency for which there wes
not storage room elsewhere. From the
treasure In this vault which constitut
ed a part Of the foundation Of thu
. , building, the SUM Of 100000 francs
was found to be missing.
The governor at once wrots>to Ellis
: R, inviting her to cali at the banK, In
! closing an indemnity for whom 4
might concern on account of any fund.-
that had been taken from the bank
He received reply that IL on a giver
night and hour he would be in tn,
strong room Of the bank he would find
not only the 100000 francs deficiency
but an explanation Of the mystery.
-~-oiuted night q carriage
| drove up to the bank lncy, accom- snS
panied by an attendant, apgnIeo ano
being admitted, was shown 70 us Wv
ernor's private Office.
"Mademoiselle or perhaps madame, "
asked the official, whom have the
: honor TO addressT
II am Jeanne Brisson, the daughter
of Paul Brisson, whom you probably
know as one of Frances prominent
manufacturers"
'1ndeedp'
81 have come to accompany you to
your strong room. am your CORE
spondent, Elise r. This gentleman d
one of your former employees"
More mysterious than ever ex
claimed the governor.
II believe 1t is the appointed hour
Shall we proceedr'
The governor. summoning attendants
led the way to the treasure room. The
door was unlocked, and the party en-
tered.
Remove those boxes" said Jeanne
pointing.
The boxes were removed. Jeanne
, went to a spot they had uncovered and
stamped with her boot heel upon one
Of the marble slabs that constituted
the floor. The slab was lifted from ii
place, and the soiled head Of Francois
Ferriere rose through the opening.
Tell how you came here" said
Jeanne.
az am a sewer scavenger.- said Fran
co.'s. Zone day while hunting In th.
sewer saw that there was a break IL
the arch. Climbing to it, I pullet
: away stones and earth till came Il
: crumbling mortar. This, too, remov
: ed and found this slab. Lifting 1t,
found what you see about you"
Jeanne's attendant stepped forwart
!, and addressed the governor:
3 Monsieur" he said, y am Luciei
= villaret, once In charge Of one Of you
i departments, You discharged me o.
mere suspicion on the day my be
trothal was being celebrated and caus
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