Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-24

by this scientific detective)
Copyright 1921. by the Worldwide New
Service. Inc.)
BY NAZARIENE DAAN KANNI
BELLE.
With unfailing regularity julie:
Santon had driven his handsome
motor car up to the door OF the
Surete bank in Marseilles once
week precisely at o'clock.
One of the most trusted servants
OF the bank, it had been his duty to
drive another trusted servant, Mon
sieur Bcnot, from the chief office OF
the bank in Marseilles to one of its
local branches with a supply of gold
and notes securely fastened in a
strongly-bound bank box.
Precisely at o'clock on January
10, 1910, Jules Santon drove tht
banks car up to the side entrance OF
the head Office. A fine singing snow,
driven by bitter north wind, cut in
to the faces of those who were COM
pellcd to be out. Jules himself with
his large motor coat, cap and gog-
giles, could hardly be seen, so well
had he protected himself against the
weather.
Monsieur Benot, accompanied by
another bank official, quickly came
down the steps and crossed the
snow-covered pavement with their
precious box between them. AS soon
as the box was safely placed in the
closed car the second bank official
hurried out of the biting cold, while
Monsieur Benot prepared to make
himself comfortable for the half
hours journey before him. But that
journey was to be delayed for the
first time in his memory.
From out of the bank building
there dashed a young man in the
uniform of the banks messengers,
waving to Jules Santon not to start.
what is it," asked Monsieur
Benot.
1.-THE manager wants to see you
before you CO." said the messenger.
Get inside the car, and keep an
eye on that box, Jules" said Mon
sieur Benot. II shant be more than
a few minutes"
In his hurry he did not notice as
he went up the bank steps the GUS
toner who went quickly out of the
swing doors and crashed into him.
Together the two slipped on the
snow and rolled on to the pavement.
"a thousand pardons, monsieur
cried the stranger, quickly rising, and
helping up Benot. Il was in hur-
ry, and was not looking where was
going
"The fault is mine," smiled Benot
in return. 81, too. was in hurry"
Nr Polite Stranger.
The two, in typical French man
ncr. brushed the snow off each 9th
er's clothes, and parted with mutual
apologies for their carelessness. The
bank official had just entered the
vestibule after these few minutes
delay, when the messenger who had
called him away came dashing up
breathless.
"Oh, sir, I'm sorry to have trou-
bled you. An important customer
has called to see the manager, and
he has instructed me to say he will
see you Immediately on your re-
turn
With a grumble at his wasted time,
Benot turned and entered the bank
car again, while the driver left his
charge of the precious box, and re-
sumed his position at the steering
wheel In another moment the two
were rapidly on their way to the
branch bank.
AT the branch bank Benot's arrival
was expected, as it had been week in
and week out for several years, and
an official at once came out of tho
bank and helped him to carry in the
heavy box from the banks car. Fol-
lowing the usual routine, the branch
cashier opened the box with his du-
plicate set of keys, and took out the
two large bags it contained and the
package of bank notes. He opened
F: the first bag and gave Mortified ex-
, clamation as he pulled out handful
of small stones. Hurriedly he
opened the other bag. That, too,
was filled with stones. The bundle
of notes was nothing more than
bundle of common paper cut to the
size of bank notes.
"Good heavens!" cried Benot.
"The bags were filled in front Of my
eyes, and the notes put in the box
by myself. 1t was locked in front Of
me. and has never been out of my
sight or Stanton's. There was $780,
900 in notes and gold this time, more
than usual"
He and the cashier hurried out to
the waiting car. Jules Santon had
disappeared.
Without the loss OF a moment the
head Office was tclephoned to and
the police promptly informed, while
instructions were given-that moth
ing was to be touched any further
till the latter had srrived. At 4
o'clock DR.. Dalthazard. one of the
most famous criminologists and
scientific detectives in France, ar.
rived on the scene and took charge
of the investigation, an investigation
which was only to take few hours,
but was to prove one Of the most
wonderful in the whole history Of
crime.
Chauffeur's Body.
His first step was to examine the
waiting car, which had not been
touched in any way till his appear
anoe. He at once made the discov-
cry of the body of the missing chauf-
feur wedged out OF sight between
The back of the rear scat and the
back of the car. The unfortunate
man was quickly carried into the
bank and there examined by the de-
tectivc.
"Th;s Is the man who drove you
here?" he asked Beno,.
"Yes," replied the latter.
"When did you get hefe?"