The Washington herald., 1910-10-01
THE PEACOCK FEATHERS.

J. II. Rosny in the Baltimore Star.
When / had cleared up the Lilas mys-
terry and caught the culprIt. Cronard, my
chief thanked me in dark corner. &C
copied the congratulations Of the min
lister Of Justice, and gave himself the
whole credit when telling the story tc
the reporters was mad. but knew
better than 10 say anything. and only
hoped would soon get a chance 20 re
venge myself
The chance came soon enough with
the strange theft OF the diamonds OF
Princess Poll. one Of the richest foreign
ladies' in the city. Although the prince
was not attached 10 the legation, his
wife's close friendship 20 the Austrian
royal family made the robbery OF the
diamonds an affair OF the first magni-
tude. The telephone wires we're kept
crime. The project sent for Cronard
who Immediately went 10 Place Beauvon
from where he returned with the mos
accurate information.
took good care 10 keep quiet The
project had me on an unimportant case
which did not require much skill. He
spoke to me OF the diamonds. but in his
usual good-natured way.
Why. said. you have 10 put Cron-
ard on that case, and 7 bet II won't take
him long TO get hold Of the fellows"
Inwardly I chuckled, and felt sure
Cronard would make a mess Of II, as he
did whenever he tackled anything him.
self.
Having plenty OF time. I went on nv
own hook, out TO the Poll mansion. an
old palatial building in the Haubourg.
At first sight these big mansions seem
impregnable, Ike fortresses. but soon Won
discover cracks and openings. and AT last
the solid porte-cochers seems as trans
parent 10 you as glass. 7 found the kew
10 the whole mystery IN a little shop
near by keep by a little man from Au-
vergne, who sold wine under cover OF
selling wood. The servants from the
mansion came there very often. less 10
drink than 10 have a friendly chat and
smoke a pipe They were all very out
spoken. made the acquaintance Of the
coachman, a fine fellow. who was very
thing about the theft
Monsieur was all upset" he said He
made me drive 10 the police station first,
and was good enough 10 tell me he felt
sure the robbers were soon TO be caught.
7 answered that nothing would please me
more. as the servants are always apt 10
be suspected in cases Of this kind But
We all know each other. We are five
Italians and four French-aH model SER
wants. The princess is very good 20 us.
and very much loved-the prince also"
I noticed the shade OF difference in his
expression. had long known the prince
10 gamble, and also that he had had an
unpleasant adventure with an actress. a
revolver shot think. but the bullet Just
grazed his scalp Though these details
came high. I did not stop. but urged the
man 20 go on.
When he left the project the prince
wanted to see the jeweler who had Just
repaired the necklace. The 1eweler gave
him the address Of a workman at Folie
Mericoprt We hurried there. When we
left the house my master was radiant.
We have him now he said, he has no
chance 10 get away -
Then" I said. you went back to the
project"
How do you know" he snapped with
an air OF defiance.
Il can guess that, OF course. The work
man gave him the description of certain
peculiarities that would make It possible
to pinch the thief"
You just hit It, but you have rather
sudden way Of bursting into a fellows
story.
We had another drink and parted the
best OF friends.
The next day the project spoke to me
of the affair. He was worried about
Cronard. who wanted to arrest all Paris
oh" I said. "the man who solved
the Lilas mystery knows his business"
do you know? he has asked me sew
eral times to put you on the case with
him."
That's regular mania OF his A man
as smart as he is does not need any
bodys help"
I let five more days pass The whole
press was making fun of the police. The
eyes of all Europe were upon Ms I