South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-13


bery-promilent bank entered
huge sum taken" were the head
lines in Paris paper
In following up this extraordi-
nary case the mystery deepened. un-
heard OF crimes were unearthed
and thrilling situations occurred
which banIed even the celebrated
detective. Lecoq r. appeared that
upon opening the safe one morn
ing the cashier startled the clerks
By crying out FL have been rob-
bed" They gathered about, but
strangely enough upon inspection
the safe showed only a scratch, but
no sign Of having been broken open,
although the 100000 francs were
missing that the cashier said he
had placed there the day before. in
order to pay Count Louis de Clam
erap. "a friend who had been left
legacy by his brother Castor. NJ.
Fauvel. the president Of the bank,
and VI Prosper BertOmy, the cash
possessed keys 10 the door and
were credited with the knowledge
OF a word which made up the COM
bination. Although their relations
had been like those Of father and
son, each now accused the other Of
taking the money.
The clerks were interviewed by
the police. and search was made Of
the apartment over the bank, oc-
cupied by the president, his wife,
and beautiful Mice. Madeleine,
whose engagement TO the cashier
had been mysteriOusiy broken Off
il was suspected she preferred Nine.
Valentine FauveIs handsome nep-
hew Raoul Layers. The presidents
record was good, but suspicion was
directed toward the cashier. as he
had been living extravagantly. His
arrest followed. although ne pro-
tested his innocence. During the
inspection OF the bank and the ap-
pretending OF the cashier, he was
seen TO scribble a line hurriedly and
threw il 10 a clerk The latter was
Swallowed 10 the cashiers apartment
and the note procured. 1t was ad-
dressed 10 Nine. Gypsy, informing
her Of his arrest and advising her
10 hide During the examination at
court, Prosper remembered that he
had been indiscreet the previous
night in saying to GYPSY, when per
haps he might have been overheard
by the Count and Raoul that ne
had reason for constantly thinking
of her at his work, when she ac-
cused him OF not thinking Of her
any longer. The word GYPSY open
ed the safe. For lack of sufficient
evidence Prosper was released and
the case filed in No. 49,
on Prosper's return to his apart
ment. Gypsy had gone. but a note
addressed in small printed letters
was delivered to him containing
money. The clever Lecoq. now liv-
ing with Prosper. under the dis
guise OF an old friend of his fathers
revealed that the printed letters
had been cut from a prayer-book.
Surely there was a woman in the
case! Later a torn prayer book
was discovered hidden in Made
leine's room. Did she love Prosper
and think him innocent and in need
of money? Yet soon after that, to
the surprise of every one. her en-
gagement was announced TO the
old Count de Clameran. The rea-
son for this was that Madeleine, by
chance. overheard a conversation
between the Count and her aunt.
The old count threatened TO tell Of
the family skeleton if she did not
consent 10 the marriage. Made
Ieine appeared and said she would
marry him to keep the secret and
me honor OF the family name. on
learning OF Medicines engagement,
Prosper, who really had always
loved her. became very angry. and
thinking there must be a sinister
motive for Mime. F'auveTs allowing
IL. wrote an anonymous letter 10 NJ.
Fauvel. telling him TO watch his
wife.
Lecoq noticed that the cookbook
ing RaouI still continued his fire.
quent visits 20 the house Did il
mean that he was perhaps not the
nephew. but the lover OF Nine
Fauvel2 Disguised. The great de-
tective attended a masquerade ball
and made insinuating remarks To
Nine I'auvel concerning RaoUl
which caused her 10 faint. and when
he spoke OF money matters. Count
Louis turned pale. Returning home
that uieht the detective was follow
ed by two men and stabbed. but. for
tunately, not killed Lecoq. think
ing ne recognized the Count and
Raoul. decided that they realized
that the police suspected them OF
robbing the bank. and also that