Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-11-06
II a N exceptionally daring rob-
bery-prominent bank en-
4 - tered-huge sum taken !"


u ~ tered-huge sum taken !"
were the headlines In a Paris paper.
In following up this extraordinary
case the mystery deepened, unheard of
crimes were unearthed and thrilling
situations occurred which bafiled even
the celebrated detective, Lecoq. 1t ap-
peared that upon opening the safe one
morning, the cashier startled the
clerks by crying out: 81 have been
robbedr They gathered about, but
strangely enough upon inspection, the
safe showed only a scratch, but no
sign of having been broken open, al
though the $4,000 francs were miss
ing that the cashier said he had placed
there the day before, in order to pay
Count Louis de Clameran, friend
who had been left a legacy by his
brother, CASTOR M. Fauvel, the presi-
dent of the bank, and M. Prosper Ber-
tony, the cashier. were the only per-
sons who possessed keys to the door
and were credited with the knowledge
of word which made up the combina-
ton. 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 ofktbe
apartment over the bank, occupied by
the president, his wife, and beautiful
niece, Madeleine. whose engagement
to the cashier had been mysteriously
broken Oft was suspected she pre-
ferred Mime. Valentine Fauve'S hand
some nephew, Raoul Layers. The
presidents record was good, but sus-
picion was directed toward the cashier,
as he had been living extravagantly.
His arrest followed, although he pro-
tested his innocence. During the in
spection of the bank and the appre-
bending of the cashier. he was seen
to scribble a line hurriedly and throw
it to the clerk. The latter was shad-
owed to the cashiers apartment and
the note procured. 1t was addressed
to Nine. Gypsy. informing her of his
arrest and advising her to hide. Dur
ing the examination at court, Prosper
remembered that he had been indis-
Greet the previous night in saying to
Gypsy, when perhaps he might have
been overheard by the count and
Raoul, that he had reason for con-
stantly thinking of her at his work,
when she accused him of not thinking
of her any longer. The word Gypsy
opened the safe. For lack of sufficient
evidence Prosper was released and the
case filed in No. 113.
On Prosper's return to his apart
ment. Gypsy had gone. but a note adj
dressed in small printed letters was
delivered to him containing money.
The clever Lecoq. now living with
Prosper. under the disguise of an old
friend OF his fathers. revealed that
the printed letters had been cut from
woman in the case! Later torn
prayer book was discovered hidden in
Madeleine's room. Did she love Pros
per and think him innocent and in
need of money. Yet soon after that.
to the surprise of everyone, her
engagement was announced TO the
old Count de Clameran. The rea-
son for this was that Madeleine,
by chance, overheard a CONVERSE
ton between the count and her
aunt. The old count threatened to tell
Of the family skeleton II she did not
consent to the marriage. Madeleine
appeared and said she would marry
him 10 keep the secret and the honor
of the family name. On learning OF
Madeleine's engagement, Prosper. who
really had always loved her. became
very angry. and thinking there must
be sinister motive for Nine Fauvel's
allowing it, wrote an anonymous lette,
TO Nj. Fauvel telling him TO watch hi:
wife.
Lecoa noticed that the good-lookins
Raoul sttl! continued his frequent Wis
its 10 the house. Did Ii mean that hi
was perhaps not the nephew. but the
lover Of Mime. rauvelf Disguised. the
great detective attended masquerade
ball and made insinuating remarks e
Nine. Fauvel concerning Raoul which
caused her to faint. ana vsen he spoke