Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-10-23

| nun, Out we OuCc udu OuslubSS IeidllOuS
with each other. Go not choose to
prosecute him. Therefore, Monsieur
you saw nothing, do you understand
Accept my thanks for your trouble -
Desroches left the house in a state of
amazement. Such magnanimity seemed
TO him to SAVIOR of completely, and after
thinking the matter over carefully, he
repaired to the office of the Prefect of
Police, and reported the thoft, giving all
the details possible, and then went home
with lightened conscience. The next
day Leroux was visited by an officer,
and on seeing the librarians sig
nature, he clinched his fist and
wished his officious friend with'the Fur
les. He declared his intention of max
ing no complaint in the matter, and dis
missed the officer Five minutes later
he was in secret council with Coindart,
manager OF the best detrctive agency in
Paris. He stated the case in few
words, and his listener added
"And you wish us to,keep watch on
the Count"
"Yes," replied Leroux, "you are to
watch, but not to arrest him; on the
costpry, you are to prevent his being
arrested. An idiot OF man has gone
and put the police on his'track. Coin.
dart took notes in shorthand, and Ler-
oux added uneasilY,
at probably seems strange to
YOU"
Nothing seems strange to me-" in
terrupted the detective, "and this is not
the first time have had such a charge.
If the public knew all our secrets they
would be less astonished at the failures
of the police to make arrests. under
stand you wish our gentleman to be pu.
to no inconvenience whatever"
That evening, Calcatroni, on leaving
the opera house, stopped minute to take
out cigar and was accosted by stran-
ger, who asked the favor of light. lie
had the air of perfect gentleman, and
raising his hat politely, he said:
"Count Calcatroni, if you thing Of
going to your home now, | advise you
to change your plans, or within fifteen
minutes you will be seated III a cab be-
tween two police officers. You would DO
better to come and spend the night with
me. And, by the way, where are the
diamondsl'
The Count was astonished. After
pause he SAID, haughtily:
"You carry the joke too far. Who
are you1'
"a fairy, "a guardian angel, replied Coin
dart. "Your friend Leroux has commls-
stoned me to watch over you. If you do
not believe me, walk little farther and
you will see two men near your house
awaiting your return
'I will 90 with you" said Calcatroni,
"and explain matters on the way. 1t
was debt of honor, fftren thousand
francs lost at cards, which l was obliged
to pay to-day. have pledged the dia-
monds for that amount, but will soon re-
turn them, Lerodx need have no fear.
Dear fellow, how kind he is to his old
chum! Express my gratitude to him.. .
A week later when the banker received
the message be sai0:
II am willing to forgive him If he
will give me back the diamonds at
once"
"He cannot do that, for he has
pawned them for fifteen thousand
francs, said Coindart, and his hearer
exclaimed:
"Pawned them-for ffteen-it is i'm
possible"
"They are worth morel"
"suppose the broker should sell
them" cried Leroux, wildly. "Oh,
Coindart, | beg YOU, find out his name
for mel"
The next morning, iustea1 Of Coin
dart, the Count himself called at the
bankers house aud proudly presented his
card. He was not kept waiting min
ute, aud when the two men met no one
would have thought that it was Calca-
troni, for whom the police were looking.
"Itis true that you are ia great dis
tressl' he said in distant tone, and Le-
roux stanmered oat reply, which his
visitor interrupted with;
"For week I have Imagined that
friendlness toward me prompted you.
Bnt now know why you did not wish
the police to know Of your transactions.
This morning did what never before
thought necessary-believiug you to be
an honest maui examined the dia-
monds."
"Then you did not pawn thcm1' cried
Lsroux, j,ytully; aud the other. an
swered scornfully'
"Pawned them, sir Since when have
gentlemen tried to raise money on bits
of glassl" Leroux fell into an armchair,
trembling in every limb.
"You thought to deceive every one,
did you notl" continued the Count.
"And in order TO conceal the gulf about
to swallow your patrons fortunes you
stopped to decorate your sons bride with
worthless glass warel am now going