The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-13

s'MEIN GOTTl HE ChlhD, VAT 10 III
ontory had proven the most horrible ex-
periesce of my life. At Cape Guarde
purchased barrel of cocosnuts, to the
great astonishment OF the captain, and
had them slowed in the hold beside those
OF Mother Videaux. Two nights after
ward, when all was quiet on board stole
from my state room to the hold, and
lighting q dark lantern 1 opened tie bar
rel of nuts that had come from Bonita,
and carefully removing them transferred
those from my own barrel to their place.
Then repacked Mother Videauxs CO.
coanuts in the Cape Guarde barrel TO pre-
vent any knowledge that they had been
tampered with, and returned stealthily to
my cabin without having been observed.
The next morning asked the captain
to bring my barrel of nuts INTO my state
room, and ignoring his evident surprise
at the request, had the satisfaction OF see
Ing them safely deposited beside my bunk
The remainder OF my task was easy. In
the seclusion OF my ca bin cracked each
nut and examined Its contents. There
were diamonds In seven of them-hfty-
four stones altogether-and some We're OF
remarkable size and brilliancy. / care
fully sorted them and placed them in
belt about my waist for safe kee ping un-
I'll could restore them TO their owners.
We touched at Liverpool, where the
iron chest of diamonds from Bonita was
turned over to the agent waiting TO re-
tsive them, and / sent snort telegram
to Mr.. Forsythe at New York saying /
was on my way home. l did not mention
his brothers. horrible death, as thought
IL best to wait until had unearthed the
whole chain OF thieves and had them
safely secured. BY waiting my triumph
would be all the greater, and i rather
shrank from the informing my employer
abruptly OF the fact that his brother was
the r,rime mover in the theft
From Liverpool we steamed TO Havre,
where / bade good-by To the staunch lit
tie boat hat had borne me so safely, and
made my way TO Paris. j was all eager
ness 10 follow up the trail of M. Francois
Droubet, and the very evening OF my ar.
rival sauntered up TO the door OF the lit
tie fruit stand in the Rue de Valodin and
walked in.
1t was dingy little room, odorous from
decayine fruit, a few little piles of ne
elected and shrunken apples and oranges
being the only utock in view. A large,
stout woman, with hair and eyes OF jet
black, slouchily dressed I'm n faded print
gown, was behind the counter reading a
novel.
She looked up as entered, but did not
rise from her chair.
'sIs N 'sier INF" asked, raising my hat.
She looked at me steadily over her book
and shook her head.
s'Will he return soon?' / persisted, in
my best French.
hWho are your she asked, abruptly.
"a friend OF an intimate acquaintance
ci NJ Droubet,' y Ireplied, somewhat awk-
wardly.
ssYour name?'' she demanded, without
moving line OF her stolid countenance.
hesitated; then, remembering that i
must OF necess ty be wholly unknown in
Paris, j replied:
"John Andrews.
"Your friends manner"
"Pardon me, madame, | will confide
that TO NJ Droubei.N
She nodded, and glanced at a doorway
at the back OF the little room.
"Come tomorrow at nine,' she said,
and turned 10 her book with an unmis-
taxable air OF dismissal. j retired, but
before left the neighborhood / walked
through an alley and satisfied myself that
the building contained a rear room much
larger than the one l had seen.
Promptly at nine the next morning /
entered the truit store, and found tho la
dy settled in the same spot and seemingly
as intensely interested az before In her
story.
As she saw me come in she reached for
ward under the counter and heard the
faint tinkle OF a bell somewhere in the
distance. i remained immovable and
soon heard door opened and closed and
the sound OF approaching footsteps Then
the rear door OF the shop opened and a
man appeared In the doorway.
he was small man, with stooping
shoulders, a scraggly beard, and small
keen eyes, which fastened themselves uu,
on my face and scanned me closely
while he said, In a low voice;
"Will monsieur please step this way7p
bowed and entered the rear room, the
man holding open the door and closing II
carefully behind me.
The room / stood In was oimly lighted
and entirely without furniture
II was probably about 10 feet deep and
directly back OF the first door / saw an
ether, but made Of heavy oak and bound