St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-06-13
THE DUKE OF LAMBA Y'S
DIAMONDS .

flashed in 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 M. 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 1
have mentioned the circumstance had
not your grace referred to it in the
first place"
The duke gave vent to sigh of re-
lief
"You are model of discretion, my
dear M. Claude he said. For the
present will bid you adieu."
AS events proved, it would have
been vastly better for Henry Shaw,
having executed his master stroke of
plumber and revenge, had he trusted
to the assistance of some professional
thief in disposing of his booty. For
his endeavor to gain the aid and graft
tude of the duke of Molinford recoiled
upon him in startling fashion. The
latter, prince of the British blood
royal, waxed indignant over the pre-.
sumption that he would consent to act
as a rogue's confederate, and turned
the ex-valet's letter over to the Lon
don police. They, in turn, forwarded
it to the prefecture at Paris, thereby
furnishing M. 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 M. Claude started for Boulogne
and the following day saw him seated
in the Hotel d'Angleterre in company
with Henry Shaw whose own heed
Iessness had thus delivered him into
the bands of the law.
The ex-valet's face was downcast
and sullen, and M. Claude surveyed
l 0n Snx
J nant pity.
Il do not mind telling you that per
sonally regret in certain sense be
ing obliged to put you under arrest,
said the chief. "Oficially, OF course
regard you as successful criminal
, But your story with reference to the
unfortunate Ellen Crosby leads me tt
declare that your former master
, richly deserves any retribution tina
may overtake him."
/ Il might have thrust q knife in hi:
, heart" said Shaw, looking up. "Bu
l who know him so well, knew tina
| the keenest agony / could inf1ict upoI
) him would be to deprive him Of the
idols he worships, the bright gems To-
| which he sold his worthless soul tt
, Satan"
THAT" said NJ. Claude, gravely, "i
j. probably true. But in game wher'
Fate deals the cards the boldest ant
!. most skillful gambler knows not wha
: the end may be. And this time thu
t duke has won the trick"
AE,,oL 90 4bo oF oo.&o;v MN
pie who knew of the capture of Shaw
4 the duke of Lambay upon receiving
f his valuables back positively refuset
l to prosecute the prisoner. NJ. Claud
+ was one of the few who smiled wisely
2 for he was aware that it was tn
] this determination on his grace's part
}. Nay, even more, the duke actuall
i brought such powerful influence t
e bear in high places that the charg
b against the prisoner was dropped
:. Prior to the release of Shaw from tn
: prison where he was confined pendin
s prosecution, the owner of the die
s monds paid another visit to NJ. Claude
s 81 wish to ascertain" he said to tn
= chief, when and to what time tn
l. wretch who robbed me is to be re
stored to freedom?"
|, your grace's motive is no doub
a philanthropic one?" queried N
Claude, with the ghost of smil
a lowering on his lips:
e my motive is that I may take &C
r ditional precautions against oecomin
+ a victim of his audacity a secon
Y time," reioined the duke, testify.
d 81 think you overestimate your dar
GER" returned M. Claude, TRANQUILITY
r Nevertheless your grace is WELDON
s to the information. M. Shaw leave
# the prison at eight o'clock tomorrow
y morning"
From the hour that the release
t. prisoner stepped across the threst
e old of the gaol into the streets G
= Paris those who knew him saw him n
j. more, and it was generally suppose
that he had returned to his nativ
r land. Two weeks later the newsps
. pers contained an item to the effec
that the eccentric duke of Lamba
). was leaving Paris and would resid
! for the future in Switzerland. O.
It the following day the chief of polio
O received a communication from tn
It nobleman in question which read a
IT follows:
s Monsieur Claude: Enclosed 70
If will find a key which will admit 20
by the small door in the west wing
d my late habitesion. In the uppe
IS rooms there is naught but dust an
a emptiness to greet the eye. But i