Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-05-10
The
One Franc Piece
BY Arnold Fredericks
Copyright-The Frank A. Munsey Companyl1
CHAPTEIR I

ttho OiebppeaThUCo OF bVrDot vernon.
Monsieur Euenne LAfevre. the
famous project Of police Of the city
ef Paris tossed his slf-smoked cigar
over the Richelieu's rail snd mado his
way toward his stateroom. g
The project was an early riser. II
was now barely eight o'clock. He had
had his rolls and coffee an hour ago,
and his purpose in returning to his
stateroom was to get book, which he
proposed to spend the morning in
reading.
! The Richelisu was q new boat,
large. roomy, and comfortable. She
had left Havre the day before. NJ.
Isfevre, for the nrst time in several
years. was taking q vacation.
The passage to New York in tho
month Of August seemed likely to
vrove = delightfully."- quiet and enjoy
able ono. He descended to the main
Deck. filled with that pleasant sense
of well.being which comes from per
fsct satisfaction with ones surround
lngs. q
AS he passed the door Ct the pur-
ber's ONCE he noticed two of the
Junior officers standing in front OF 1t
eonversing in low tones. For a mo-
ment It seemed to the prefect that
there was something amiss His pro-
fessional instincts responded auto
matically to the suggestion contained
IN their lowered voices, their somber
faces.
He paused for a moment, then
xhn tv,u 1ff Nd
his way along the corridor. There
was, he argued. no reason why he
should concern himself with the petty
affairs of life on shipboard. He was
on a vacation now. and he proposed
TO make the most of 1t.
He entered his room. selected the
book he intended to read from among
those in his portmanteau, and was
about to return to the deck.
A sudden knocking on the door star
tied him. 1t was a low knock. and to
his practised ear seemed full OF a
strange significance. He put down his
book and threw open the door. M.
Bonnot, the captain of the Richelieu,
stood outside.
"Ah. my dear NJ. Bonnot," the pre-
feet said cheerily, "come in, l beg of
you. / am delighted to see you" He
had met the captain through some
mutual friends the day before sailing,
and had found him most agreeable
and pleasant companion.
Captain Bonnot entered the room
and closed the door carefully behind
him. His face was grave, and his
manner showed repressed excitement
"My dear Levere," he said in a
strained. voice, 81 have come to ask
your assistance"
The prefect hurriedly placed
chair, then sat down upon the couch
which extended beneath the port-hole.
"What can l do for you, monsieur"
he asked. Il trust nothing has gone
amiss"
mon Dieu!" The captain passed
his hand nervously across his fore
head. at is terrible-inexplicable
"What, my friend? You seem ex-
cited!"
"And with good reason. The pur-
ser, M. Vernon, has disappeared"
"Impossible." The prefect rose
from his seat in surprise.
II only wish that it were. He must
have committed suicide by jumping
overheard"
"When did it happen?'
'I do not know Some time last
night, apparently. will give you the
facts as concisely as l can. With your
great experience in such matters 1t
may be that you can render us some
assistance"
NJ. Lefevre sighed and resumed his
seat. Would he never he able to
escape from the clutches of his pro-
fession? Go ahead" he said In a
resigned tone; II will do what ] can"
81 felt sure that you would. mon
sieur Naturally, it is n very astonish-
ing occurrence. NJ. Vernon was seen
last night, a little after midnight,
working in his office, which, as you
may know adjoins his stateroom. This
morning he failed to appear at break
fast. Thinking that he might be Ill,
at once despatched a steward to his
room. The steward, after knocking re-
peatedly and getting no answer. tried
the door. 1t was. locked, He, reported
that he was unable to, enter" o.
"What did you do them"
NATURALLY / went to M. Vernon's
room at once. had the door opened
with pass-key. There was no one
inside" .-l
"Wait moment," exclaimed the
prefect. WAS this the door to the
Office o. to the stateroom?"
''To the office. The stateroom has
no door, except the one from the
ONCE. II Is Intentionally 80 construct
ed. You understand. of course. that
the steel safe. built into the walls OF
the purser's Office, contains usually q
considerable sum in money. and also
such packages of yaluables as the
passengers may wish to deposit with