The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-11-06

tered-nuSe sum taken!
were the headlines in Paris paper
In following up this extraordinary
case the mystery deepened, unheard of
crimes were unearthed and thrilling
situations occurred which baff1ed 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
robbedw 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. NJ. Fauvel, the presi-
dent of the bank, and NJ. Prosper Ber-
tony, the cashier, were the only per-
sons who possessed keys to the door
and were credited with the knowledge
Of a word which made up the comDina-
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 OF the
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 Nine. Valeptlne FauvePs 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 follow ed, 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 line hurriedly and throw
II 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. lib.
On Prosper's return to his apart
ment, Gypsy had gone, but q note ad'
dressed in small printed letters was
delivered to him containing money
The clever LecoQ. now living with
Prosper, under the disguise of an ole
friend of his fathers, revealed thai
the printed letters had been cut from
a prayer book. Surely there was
woman in the case! Later a tori
prayer book was discovered hidden II
Madeleine's room. Did she love Pros
per and think him innocent and II
need of money! Yet soon after that
TO the surprise Of everyone, ne
engagement was announced to tn
old Count de Clameran. The rea
son for this was that Madeleine
nv chance, overheard a converse
ton between the count ana ne
, aunt. The old count threatened TO TEL
of the family skeleton if she did no
consent to the marriage. Madelein
appeared and said she would MARI
him TO keep the secret and the homo
of the family name. On learning o
Madeleine's engagement, Prosper, VIII
really had always loved her. becam
, very angry, and thinking there mus
be a sinister motive for Nine. Fauver
allowing it, wrote an anonymous lette
, TO NJ. Fauvel, telling him to watch nj
/ wife.
: Lecoq noticed that the good-lookin
/ Raoul still continued his frequent VII
ire TO the house. Did it mean that n
: was perhaps not the nephew, but IN
: lover of Nine. Fauvel? Disguised tn
) great detective attended masquerad
hall and made insinuating remarks
Mime. Fauvel concerning RaouI whic
caused her TO faint, and when he spok