I Secret of tbe Plundered Sfcfe I i By EMILE OABORIAU CHAPTER VIII. (OntloueJ.I As ha apoka M. LeCoq took from his deak and unrolled a large eheet of draw la paper. On thla paper waa photo graphed tha door of M. Faovel'a aafe. Tha arratck waa Indicated with great actneaa. "Now," ald M. Lecoq. here la our cratch. It runt from top ta bottom, farting from tha hnla In tha lock, diar aally, and from laft to rUht; that la to ay, it terminates on tha aid next to tha private staircase leading to tha banker's apartments. Although very deep at tha keyhole. It enda la acarcly perceptible mirk." "Yea, patron. I a that." Naturally you thought that this cratch waa ruada by tha person who took the money. Let ua aee if you were right I have her a little iron box painted with greeu Tarnish like .M Fau vel's aafe; here it la. Take key and try to scratch It. The paint Is Tery hard, my friend, and Tt that on the aafe la till harder and thicker. So you aee the cratch you discovered conld not have been made by the trcmbliug hand of thief letting the key slip." "Whew!" exclaimed Fanferlot. atupe fled; "I never should have thought of that It certainly required great force to make the deep scratch on the aafe." "Yea, but how waa that force employ ed? I have been racking my bralu for three days, and only yesterday did I come to a conclusion. Let ua examine together and aee If oar conjectnrea pre sent enough chances of probability to establish a starting point" M. Lecoq abandoned the photograph nd, walking to the door communicating with his bedroom, took the key from the lock, and, holding it in his hand, said: "Come here, Fanferlot, and atand by my side; there; Tery well. Now, sup pose that I want to open this door, and you don't want me to open it; when you ee me about to Insert the key what would be your first impulse 7" "To put ray hands ou your arm and draw it toward me so as to prevent your Introducing the key, "Precisely so. Now let us try it; go on." Fanferlot obeyed; and the key held by M. Lecoq, pulled aside from the lock, slipped along the door, and traced upon It a diagonal scratch, from top to bottom, the exact reproduction of the one la the photograph. "Oh, oh, ohT exclaimed Fanferlot, in three different tones 01 admirntlou. aa he stood gaxing in a reverie at the door, "What a man you are! I aee the scene a if I had been present Two persona were present at the robbery; one wished to take the money, the other wished to prevent its being taken. That is clear, certain, and it proves that I am correct in thinking tha cashier innocent1 "How sor "Because, at perfect liberty to open the safe whenever he wished to do so, It is not likely that he would have brought a witness when he Intended to commit tbe theft" "Well reasoned, Fanferlot But on this supposition the banker would be equally Innocent Look for the real rogue, the one who opened the safe, and tola the notes, and who is still at large, while others are suspected." "Impossible, patron impossible! Don't 70a kuow that M. Fauvel and his cashier had keys, and they only? And they al ways kept these keys In their pockets." "On the evening of the robbery the banker left his key In the secretary." "Yes; but the key alone waa not suffi cient to open the safe; the word must also be known. That name waa 'Gypsy.' "Which is the name of the cashier's cousin. Now keep your eyes open. The day you find a man sufficiently Intimate with Bertomy to be aware of all .the cir cumstances connected with this nnme, nd at the same time on a footing with the Fauvel family which would give him the privilege of entering M. Fauvel's chamber, then, and not till then, you will discover the guilty party. On that day the problem will be solved." "We shall certainly succeed if yon In terest yourself in the case." "Yes, I am interested in It, and during the last four days I have discovered many important facts. But listen to me. 1 hare reasons for not appearing in this affair. No matter what happens, I for bid you mentioning my name. "I will obey your instructions and be discreet" "I shall rely upon you. Now, to begin, you must carry this photograph to the Judge of instruction. Explain to him as if it were your own discovery, what I have just shrown you; repeat for his benefit the scene we have just acted, and I am convinced that this evidence will determine him to release the cashier. Prosper must be at liberty before I can commence my operations. Fanferlot was joyously picking up his hat to go when M. Lecoq checked him by waving his hand, and said "I have not finished. Yon know how to drive a carriage and manage horses? Very well. As soon as the judge dis misses you return home Immediately, make yourself a wig and the complete dress of a valet; and, having dressed yourself, take this letter to the agency on tbe Rue Delorme. The agent will send you to M. de Clameran, who la looking for a valet his man having left him yes terday." "Excuse me if I venture to suggest that you are making a mistake. This Clameran is not the cashier's friend." "Why do you always interrupt me?" said M. Lecoq, imperiously. "Do what I tell you, and dou't disturb your mind about the rest Clameran is not a friend of Prospers, I know, but he is the friend and protector of Raoul de Lagors. Why so? Whence the intimacy of these two men of such different ages? That is what I must find out I must also find out who this Ironmaster is, who lives in Paris, and never goes to attend to his furnaces. Through you I will have an eye upon him. He has a carriage; you are to drive it and you will soon be able to give me an account of his manner of life, and of the sort of people with whom he associates. "You will be obeyed. Where shall I report to you?" "I will call on you every day. Until tell you differently don't step foot in this house; you might be followed. 11 anything Important should happen end a note to your wife, and she will lutorm me. Go, and be prudeut." The door closed on Fanferlot as M. Lecoq passed Into his bedroom. In the twinkling of an eye he had dWested him elf of the appearance of a police offi cer, lie took off his stiff cravat and gold spectacles, and removed the close wig from his thick black hair. The official Ioq had disappeared, leaving In hia place the genuine Lecoq whom nobody knew a handsome young man, with a bold, determined manner, and brilliant piercing ejea. Meanwhile Fanferlot did not run. but flew, toward the Talaia de Justice. At last he waa now able to couviuoe some one that he, Fanuferlot, was a man of wonderful perspicacity. His hoix-a were not deceived. If the Judge was not absolutely and fully convinced he admir ed the Ingenuity of the whole proceed ing. "This decides me," he said, as he dis missed Fanferlot. "I will make out a favorable report to-day; and it is hlshly probable that the accused will be releas ed to-morrow. He began at once to write out ou of those terrible decisions of "Not proven." which restores liberty, but not honor, to the accused man; which saya that he Is not guilty, but doea not say he la Inno cent CHAPTER IX. Prosper had been languishing In hie lonely cell for niue days, when on Thurs day morning the jailer came to Inform him of the Judge'a decision. He was conducted before the officer who had searched him when he was arrested; and the contenta of hia pockets, hia watch, penknife and aeveral articles of jewelry were restored to him; then he waa told to sign a receipt He was next led across a dark pas sage, and almost pushed through a door, which abruptly ahut upou him. He found himself on the quay; he waa alone; he waa free, but only acquittal after due trial would restore him to hia former po sition among men. Having arrived in front of Gypsy'a house, he hesitated to cross the thresh old. He experienced the timidity of an honest man who la suspected of a crime; he feared to meet a familiar face. How ever, as he could not remain all day on the pavement, he went In. The Janitor nttered a joyful exclamation on seeing him. "I am delighted to see yon again!" he said. "I felt that yon would come back as white as snow. When I read In the newspapers that you were accused of robbery I said to every one, 'He Is inno cent! " "Madam haa, no doubt left here?' he said; "do you know where she haa gone?" "No, monsieur. Ou the day of your arrest she sent for a cab, put ail her boxes into it and drove away without saying where she was going. Since then we have heard nothing of her. When your father left this morning at 8 o'clock he told me that one of his friends re mained, whom I was to look upon as the master until your return. You know him, doubtless, a stout man, about your height with red whiskers." Prosper was greatly astonished. A friend of his father occupying the house! What did that mean? However, he con cealed hia surprise. "Yea, I know him," he said. Then, rapidly ascending the staircase, he tang hia own bell. The cashier did not recollect having seen him before. I am delighted to make your ac quaintance," said the man, with a bow. That you are surprised to see me here, yon were about to observe. I can easily understand. Your father intended to in troduce me to you, but he was obliged to leave for Beaucaire this morning. I am glad to say he went away as convinc ed aa I am that you have not taken a sou belonging to M. Fauvel. This let ter," continued the stout gentleman, "will serve aa an introduction, I hope. The cashier took the letter, opened it, and as he read his face brightened and the blood returned to his cheeks. Hav ing finished the letter, he held out his hand to the stout gentleman, who shook it warmly. "My father tells me," said Prosper, "that you are one of his best friends. He tells me to place implicit confidence in you and to act entirely on your advice, Just so. This morning your father said to me, 'Verduret that is my name Verduret, my son is In a painful posi tion. Yon must get him out of It' answered, 'All right I wi" do my best' Now the ice is broken, let ns discuss the question. What are you going to do?" What am I going to do? I am going to find out the wretch who has caused my ruin, and hand him over to Justice to revenge myself." "Exactly; and have yon any clew to the guilty person T None, and yet I shall succeed, for a man who devotes his whole life to the accomplishment of a task cannot fall." "Well said, M. Prosper; I fully ex pected such would be your intention, and I have already been looking Into the case, l have formed a plan. To begin with, you must disappear." "Disappear!" cried the cashier, India; nantly. "Disappear! that would be 1 confession of guilt would authorize the world to say that I am hiding so as to enjoy undisturbed the stolen fortune." "Well, what then?" said Red Whis kers. "Did you not say just now that the sacrifice of your life was made? You have an enemy? Some petty Imprudence will betray him. But while he sees you standing on the watch he will be on his guard. Let us reflect on the course you should pursue. Now listen. You have a friend, M. de Lagors? Who Is this fellow?" "M. de Lagors, monsieur," said Pros per haughtily, "la M. Fauvel s nephew a wealthy young man, handsome, intelli gent cultivated, and tbe best friend have." "Humph!" said M. Verduret "I shall be delighted to make the acquaintance of one adorned with so many charming qualities. I must let you know that wrote him a note in your name asking him to come here, be sent word that ' fee wocld be kere directly. I must see thla young man. Also I have arranged ml will aubmit to jou a little plan of couv eraatiou A ring at the front dr Interrupted M. Verduret. 'Adieu to my plan: here ha I. Re- member. Trouper." aald M. Verduret. in a warning tone, "not one word to thla man about your plans, or about me. Pre tend to b dittconrsKed. helpleas and ua- j decided what to ' And h disappeared behind a cnrla a. Prosper ran to open the door. IV per a portrait of M. d Lasora had uot been an exaggerated on. So handsome a fac and manly a figur conld only be-, long to a noble character. Ilia Brut Im- pulse waa to throw hlnuelf luto Proaper'a anus. "Your letter, my dear Prosper," aald frightened by It. I asked mraelf if yu could have lout your mind. Theu I left ever. thing to fly to your assistance, aud here I am." Prosper did not aeero to hear him; ha was preoccupied aooui me leuer n naa , not written. "You must not feel discouraged," eon- tiltllikit f ! T.lL'hK "mil Al rAlln enough to commence llfi anew. Your friends are still left to you. Rely on me. I am rich, half of my fortune la at your disposal. "Thanks. Raoul. he said, with emo-' l . lul I. !... S ' iion. man j..., uiuonunaieiy , ... me money ... me won., worn oe or , tin use now. I hsve mude no Minis wt I m. ml...! 1. t.wi e...r..se.l f.,r ,.' t think." "I will tell you what to do," replied Raoul. quickly; "yon must start afresh; until this mysterious robbery Is explain- j e,i you must keep awayrro.n rnris. It will never do for you to remaiu here. I have been talking about you to Clame ran. 'If I were in Prosper' place," he said, 'I would turn everything into money and embark for America; there I would make a fortune and return to crush with my millions those who have suspected me.' " "I will think It over." Prosper finally forced himself to say. "I will see. I would like to know what M. Fauvel eays." "My uncle? I suppose yon know that I have declined the offer he made me to enter his banking house, and we have al most quarreled. I have not set foot In his house for over a month; but I hear of him occasionally. My uncle, they say. is more distressed by this affair than you re. He does not atteud to his business, nd wanders about as It he had lot ev ery friend on earth." And Mine. Fauvel, and " Prosper esitated "and Mile. Madeleine, bow are they?" "Oh." said Raoul. lightly, "my aunt s as pious aa ever. Aa to my handsome. Icy cousin, she cannot bring herself down to common matters, because ahe la en tirely absorbed in preparing for the fan cy ball to be given day after to-morrow y the Jandidiera. She haa discovered. so one of her friends told me, a wonder ful dressmaker, a foreigner who has sud denly . appeared from no one knows where, who la making a costume of Catherine de Medici'a maids of honor; and It is to be a marvel of beauty." Excessive suffering brings with It a sort of dull insensibility and stupor; and 'rosper thought that there was nothing left to be Inflicted upon him. "I must leave you now, my dear Pros per; on Saturday I will see these ladies at the ball, and will bring you news of them. Now, do have courage, and re member that whatever happens, you have a friend In me." (To be continued.) ARE TREATED LIKE 8ERF3. Servant In Rnasla Cannot Testify In Court Against Their Masters. Although serfdom was abolished in Russia many years ago by tbe first Nicholas, the conditions of tbe work ing people there have not greatly Im proved. The lot of the' domestic ser vant la especially bard. He is hired for one year and Is told exactly what his particular duty la to be. He then ticks to that one duty. Aa long as each servant faithfully performs the special duties of his position all Is well, but the neglectful butler or cook or coachman Is sent by the employer with a written note to the police judge, who, after carefully Investigating the complaints, has a right to order bodily punishment or to write a bad mark In the book kept for this purpose. In great Russian households often from twenty to fifty servants are kept, and even the middle-clans families have from two to four. The pay of these servants varies according to tbe line of work. While the "chiefs" la the kitchens of wealthy families often receive $1,500 a year, a cook In an ordinary citizen's employ gets no more than $60 a year, and a maid of all work never gets more than $25 a year At Easter every servant gets a pres ent generally a suit or dress. Every other Sunday the servants in a Russian household are entirely free Their work stops Saturday night after supper, when the servants leave tbe house not to return until the next Monday morning. Tbe employers never ask where or how the free time Is spent Russian servants will pilfer. Since Russian ladles leave everything to the care of the servants, the latter do as they please. The men servants smoke cigars bo- longing to their masters and pay fre quent visits to the wine cellars of the house, but a gentleman would consider It "demeaning" himself to prosecute a servant for this. The Russian servants will talk about fellow servants, but never about their employers. Even when they quit one place and take service In an other family they would never mea tlon anything about their former mas ters. This discretion goes so far that even the law considers It. In Russia the law excludes servants as witness es against their former or present em ployers, bo long, at least, as these ser vants are not suspected of having taken part In the crime. There are only two powers In tho world, the sword and the pen; and In the end the former is always con quered by the latter. Napoleon. A alQTHIRVS PRfirrCtHRCHtD Sine it has become the fashion fot rich men to endow chalra la unlvirtl- ties, almost every ilud of roIVor hlp has become the recipient of uch attention, Tb greateat of them all 'however, haa been overlooked, and ,, ,. . , . . . ,on, ,U Mlu '"dement tr'" " Urjr l' '"love and afTec tu.M h old deeds My. In an ar tide on the w omen of America tha Outlook tells of one occupant of thla worthy academic chair, In a book tore In a little towu in Wlaconaln a atrangcr beard a woman "k'n ,fof Uwk for children Jm8 j w l,a Uut ,lfl "P7 of Euj.-ene j Field'a "l-ove Song of Chlldhoo.1," laud a vertical writing book, thtce ' thing which to her disappointment lu tore did not contain. "1 do so want the thing," ah an Id. sadly. "I live fifteen miles out of ,own- aml mS husband hud to come o-day I arranged to come with' li'.iu K't t,t for tho children." "I suppose they need them for school?" said the visitor. .,r their lesHons. at any rate," the woumu wrnv,,Hl. ..Ta,,y do,a 1 "'ool. We live too far away for jthem to walk, and the horses cannot h R'red to take them back and forth every day. I tench tuem myself." "You do!" Ym, 1 feel that I am perfectly L.,.,i.i. 1 - ..... it I -. 1 illlll I'VU'I" III Jl marriage, and had the regular normal training." "Rut how do you find time?" "It Isnt always easy. A farmer's. wife my husband Is a farmer- Is a busy person. Hut my children nuiHt have schooling. I am glad I am able to give It to them." Her two little g'rla were seven and nine years old, respectively. "They re quite absorbed In nature tudy lust now," ane said, "and I did no want a book about plant-life!" The stranger, who waa waiting for a train, volunteered to send the books on from Minneapolis, and the oIToi waa gratefully accepted. Theu the toother told more about her little school. "We have half of our lessons In the morning," she said, "after the break fast la over, and the aouse In order and the little girls have washed the dishes. After dinner at noon--we have the other half. I do not keep a sonant, so, besides teaching the chil dren to read and write, I must also teach them to be my helpers about tho house. You see," she concluded, with a smile, "I am obliged to be a 'pro fessor of thlngs-ln-genera!.' " n i rtt- AJ1J1 J..ti AAA lllii "TTTTTTTTT" TTT -I THE SIOUX MOTHER-IN-LAW, TTTTTTTTT It is one of the oldest customs of the Sioux Indians that the Aon In-law shall not look upon the face of IiIj mother-in-law, or communicate with her any more than Is absolutely nec essary. This custom Is probably the outgrowth of family brawls arising from their crude way of living, hud dled together In huts and tepees. At all events, the plan teems to work well. When, In case of sickness, or by In vitation from her daughter, the moth er-in-law visits the family of her son-in-law, a partition is usually made lu the hut or teepee by mean of a blanket, behind which the mother-in- law retires whenever the son-in-law approaches the home. In the ease of John Night Pipe, a young bridegroom living in leu Horn's camp on the reserve, the in visible mother-in-law was a source of great disturbance. Although he never beheld her person, the sound of her scolding voice easily penetrated the blanket wall. John made several fruitless efforts to dislodge bis mother-in-law, and send her to her home on the other part of the reserve, but without avail. He finally decided to appeal to the Indian agent for relief, This is his letter: "My Dear Respectable Friend I have a few words to say to you, and they are that I am sorry to myself, It is an old woman that makes me very sorry every day because ahe talks with bad, bad words always to roe, and never gets rested with her tongue, and I hate this kind of business, tho bad words, I mean, holding them al ways with her tongue that way. "Now, if you will sending your po liceman to take this woman to her camp, I will be your truly friend with a good heart, sir, and we will living haDDY again. Now thla Is all and this la me. "Your acquaintance friend, "MR. JOHN NIGHT PIPE." The letter proved effective. The dis turbing mother-in-law was sent to her home in Black Moon's camp, and the young people were left In possession of an undivided teepee. The story, which comes direct from an Indian agency In Dakota, proves that the mother-in-law Joke Is not wholly the fabrication of the comic paper. ' A Woman Wonld Ask. "Here's an ad in din paper about dat dog yer stole," said the first tough, "an' it says 'Reward If returned an' no Questions asked.'" No questions asked?'" replied the other tough. "Dat can't be dls dog; I stole dls dog from a woman." Cath ollc Standnrd and Times. All the world's a stage und all the women insist on having speaking parts. A spinster hasn't much love for a tvldow who has had two husbands V. '7V' A Miss Nellie Holmes, treasurer of the Youne Woman's Temperance Association of Buffalo, N. Y., strongly advises all suf fering women to rely, as she did, upon Lydh Ee Pinkham's Vegetable Compound DtiB Mm. PisftUM: Your medicine la Indeed an Ideal woman's tnedlolno, and by far tho best I know to restore lont health and strength. I suffered misery for several years, being troubled with menorrhagl. 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