The Virginia enterprise., 1908-05-29
DIAMONDS

flashed in a brilliant smile
I'VE learn many curious things in
the course of our profession," he said,
quietly.
"As you are acquainted with the
circumstances then. you will under
stand that it would be by no means
agreeable to have them exposed in
court for the benefit of the masses"
said the duke, anxiously.
Exactly responded NJ. Claude.
"And the question of how the stones
came into your possession does not
in the least affect the fact of the
robbery by your valet, nor would l
have mentioned the circumstance had
not your grace referred to it in the
first place.
The duke gave vent to a sigh of re-
lief
You are model of discretion, my
dear NJ. Claude" he said. For the
present I will bid you adieu"
AS events proved, it would have
been vastly better for Henry Shaw,
having executed his master stroke of
plunder and revenge, had he trusted
to the assistance of some professional
thief in disposing of his booty For
tude Of the duke of Molinford recoiled
upon him in startling fashion. The
latter, a prince of the British blood
royal, waxed indignant over the pre-
sumption that he would consent to act
as a rogues confederate, and turned
don police. They. in turn, forwarded
it to the prefecture at Paris, thereby
furnishing NJ. Claude with information
which made certain the capture of
the man who had SO far eluded the
vigilance of his most cunning sleuths.
In postscript to the letter, Shaw, to
whom it did not seem to have oc.
CURED that the duke of Molinford
would refuse to benefit by his SER
vices. stated that he would wait at
Boulogne until messenger arrived
from England with authority to re-
ceive the diamonds and pay him the
| reward demanded. Immediately upon
receiving the clue from the London
police NJ. Claude started for Boulogne,
and the following day saw him seated
in the Hotel d'Angleterre in company
with Henry Shaw whose own heed
lessness had thus delivered him into
the hands of the law.
The ex.valet's face was downcast
and sullen, and NJ. Claude surveyed
him with a certain amount of benig.
nant pity.
II do not mind telling you that per-
sOnally I regret in a certain sense be-
ing obliged to put you under arrest
said the chief "Oficially, of course,
l regard you as successful criminal.
But your story with reference to the
unfortunate Ellen Crosby leads me to
declare that your former master
richly deserves any retribution that
may overtake him.
II might have thrust knife in his
heart" said Shaw. looking up. But
who know him so we'll, knew that
the keenest agony could infict upon
him would be to deprive him of the
idols he worships. the bright gems for
which he sold his worthless soul to
| Satan
THAT" said NJ Claude, gravely, "is
probably true. But in game where
Fate deals the cards the boldest and
most skillful gambler knows not what
tho end may be. And this time the
| duke has won the trick"
| Much to the surprise of certain peo-
pie who knew Of the capture of Shaw,
the duke of Lambay upon receiving
his valuables back positively refused
to prosecute the prisoner NJ. Claude
was one Of the few who smiled wisely,
for he was aware that it was the
dread of scandal that brought about
this determination on his grace's part
| Nay, even more, the duke actually
brought such powerful influence to
! bear in high places that the charge
against the prisoner was dropped.
Prior to the release of Shaw from the
prison where he was confined pending
prosecution, the owner of the dia-
monds paid another visit to NJ. Claude.
II wish to ascertain" he said to the
chief, when and to what time the
wretch who robbed ME is to be re-
! stored to freedom?"
Your grace's motive is no doubt
a philanthropic one?" queried M.
Claude, with the ghost of smile
lowering on his lips.
| MY motive is that may take ad-
ditional precautions against becoming
victim of his audacity a second
time," rejoined the duke, testify.
Il think you overestimate your dan
GER" returned NJ. Claude, TRANQUILITY.
| Nevertheless your grace is welcome
| to the information. NJ. Shaw leaves
the prison at eight o'clock tomorrow
morning"
From the hour that the released
prisoner stepped across the thresh-
old of the gaol into the streets Of
| Paris thosn who knew him saw him no
more, and 1t was generally supposed
that he had returned to his native
land Two weeks later the newspa-
pers contained an item to the effect
that the eccentric duke of Lamb&y
was leaving Paris and would reside
for the future in Switzerland. On
the following day the chief of police
received a communication from the
nobleman in question which read as
follows:
| ''Monsieur Claude: Enclosed you
will find key which will admit you
by the small door in the west wing to
my late habitation. In the upper