Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-01-02

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60 HIS is the story of a famous
blue diamond which mysterious
IL disappeared, a mad count and
D Russian diplomat, and the interest Of
Rhs tale lies In its truthfulness.
II. Alexandra Greger, a Russian
CouncIlor of State and connected with
Che imperial diplomatic service, with
bis wife had been spending a fortnight
b the charming Chateau Ker-Stears,
which, commanding the Cliff Of Saint
AERrc, stands like a gray sentinel over
khe town of Brest In Brittany. The
Silhouette Of the castle against the Bre-
Don sky is the most prominent and TO
mantle feature of the landscape. NJ.
Greger was ready to depart. Madame
Greger had had a delightful time as
Rha guest of the Comtesse de Rodelles
"a PorZic. the mistress of the chateau
She regretted the hour for parting had
come.
For two weeks the Gregers had en-
Rryed the hospitality and the social dis
fractions provided by their hostess.
Bust as they were ready to leave the
chateau NJ. Jerome, the "commissaire
central" OF Brest arrived.
M. Greger," he said politely, max
ang an official bow to the Russian, Il
arrest you in the name of the law for
aheft"
Theft! The guest could scarcely be-
heve this was not worrying dream.
~Theft!' he echoed, looking from the
0Ommissaire to his wife, casting an in
quiring glance at the COmtesse.
you are charged with the theft Of
me blue diamond ring of Madame la
COmtesse," the official replied with ex-
actness. Then he added, 1T is my dis
agreeable duty, monsieur, to search
your effects"
N. Greger demonstrated; then he
protested his innocence, and finally,
seeing the law would take its course,
became calm, determined.
This is all some hIdeous mistake"
De declared, as he handed the officer
his bunch of keys.
The officer began his search. Trunks,
hatboxes, bags, travelling cases Of both
Che diplomat and his wife were as min
1tely examined as the handbag Of
suspected smuggler The contents of
the travelling case OF the Russian were
turned out The ring was still undis-
covered
But the officer was persevering.
There was a bottle of dentifrice almost
allied. He spread a piece of paper, and,
unscrewing the bottles metal top, pour
I'd the contents into the paper
There is your ring, Madame Ia Com
Jesse :" remarked the officer, with the
miling face Of the successful prophet.
The Russians were spechIess. What
could NJ. Greger say? How could he
answer evidence produced IN this splen-
fidIy theatrical manner?
Protesting his innocence, III. Greger
was taken before the examining magis-
erate The Russian Ambassador was
bottled, and, after the formalities
we're arranged, the accused diplomat.
upon the request of the Russian gov
1rnment, was paroled
Here ends the first chapter In the
which, perhaps, should have preceded
lt
Not SO many years ago, say fifteen
Or twenty, 4 wealthy American named
Btears, who had married the daughter
Of an old Armorican family, the Ker-
aren de Trobiand had built for himself
and vile the elegant house which over
hooks Brest, and which in the twilight
has the appearance Of a medieval cas-
9ie surmounting the hill behind the
city. A local architect, certain NJ
Lapierre, an old pupil of Viollet-le-
Due, and regarded locally as a man of
talent, designed the chateau, and as
his orders called for a luxurious mod
ern abode, a fit nest for a man of mil
lions, he exerted himself to build
house which would stand as a monu-