Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-05-28

ilSktu.
NJ. Pigot smiled Il dry smile.
1T is the Mazarin." he said. land
is worth three million francs. There
is Il copy of it at the Louvre"
WELL" continued Godfrey. after 1
got the duplicates. J oiic.i them up in
the cotton packets. ana placed them
back in the drawer. being careful to
put the Mazarin at the bottom. where
| had found it. Crochard knew that
the game was up the instant he opened
the first packet. Do you suppose he
would be deceived? Not by the best
reproduction ever made."
And Their ! remembered the slow
flush which had crept into Orchards
cheeks as he opened that first packet.
Il didn't expect to deceive him."
Godfrey explained. Il Just wanted to
give him Il little surprise. And to.
think | wasn't there to see it,
But if he knew they were imita-
TONS" l protested, why should be go
to all that trouble to steal them?"
THAT is what puzzled me last night
said Godfrey, land. for that matter, it
puzzles me yet. but I'm ready to turn
these diamonds over to you. | should
like you to count them. and give me a
receipt for them"
"And then, of course, you will write
the story" sneered Grady. and give
yourself all the credit"
"Well," asked Godfrey, looking at
him, "do you think you deserve any?'
And Grady could only crimson and
keep silent. GAS for the story, it is al
ready written. 1t will be on the streets
in ten minutes, and it will create a SEN
sation. Please count the diamonds.
You will find 30 of them"
'"That is the exact number stolen
from the grand duke remarked M.
Pigot and fell to counting. The num-
Der was 210.
"Mr. Shearrow has the receipt
Godfrey added. And Shearrow took a
paper from his pocket. unfolded it and
read the contents.
1t proved to be not only u receipt,
case, without emitting the details of
the robbery and the credit due the
Record for the recovery of the dia-
monds. Grady's face grew redder and
redder as the reading proceeded.
81 won't sign no such testimonial as
that" he clustered. "Not on your life
I WON'T
"Your resignation vas accepted at
400 today by the mayor" said God
frey.
my resignation" snorted Grady. 81
never wrote one!!"
"Tell the public that. if you want
TO-" retorted Godfrey coldly. THAT'S
your affair. You ought to have phoned
it in when l told you to. Now. Sim
monds."
sh.ode to the door. jerked it open and
banged it behind him.
Now. Simmonds," Godfrey repeat
ed, as the echo died away, and Sim
monds came forward and signed.
witnessed the signatures. and Godfrey
with more eagerness than he haG
shown in the whole affair. caught VI
the paper and sprang with it to th'
door.
Get that down to the Office as quicl
as you can" he said to a man outside
''Ill phone instructions. That" b.
added, closing the door and turnin;
back to us. lis my reward for all this
or, rather. the Records reward. Ant
NOW ,rDo+1or,on NJ, SI,on,roxr, l,ac hi
a below, and l think we would bette
drive around to some safe deposit DO,
with this plumber"
1t was perhaps ten days afterwar,
hat Godfrey dropped in to see N
one evening. Lester he said, 81 an
going to claim that cabinet"
"On what grounds?" l demanded.
Because the mar who owned
gave it to me- and he got a paper on
Of his p%ocketbook and handed it acros
to me.
1 opened it and recognized the del
cate and feminine writing which I ha,
seen once before.
MY Dear Sir TnO tnat L mace the mis-
take Of Understanding you, and 1 pre-
sent you my sincere apologies. I trus
that at some future time it may be m
privilege to be again engaged with you
The result is certain to be most interest
ing. But at present l find that 1 mus
return to Europe by La Bretagne, sine
after the trouble I nave taken it is i'm
possible that I should consent to part wit
the brilliants Of his highness the gran
duke. AS a slight souvenir of my high re
gard I trust you will be willing to accep
the cabinet Boule, which I am certain tina
good M. Lester will surrender to you
you show to him this letter. The cabine
is not only interesting in itself, but wi,
be doubly so to you because of the par
it has played in our little comedy. And
should like to know that it adorns a cor
ner of our home.
Till we meet again, dear sir, believe m
your sincere admirer,
CROCHARD.
The Invincible.
Hes a good sport, isn't he?" aske,
Godfrey, rs I silently handed the let
,,EI,oo1r - Li~o ssyNyl>oA a. ~. 80,