, 1914-10-01
brought him In

"Mr. Simmonds had a little valise
with him. Did you notice it,
Yes, sir. And looked for it in the
wagon. but it amt there"
Grady turned away with a curse rs
four or five men ran in from the street
the men from headquarters. | told my
self. ! could heal him talking to them
In sharp. low tones. and then they de
parted as suddenly as they had come.
The reserves also hurried away. and
I concluded that Grady was trying to
throw a net about the territory In
which the fugitive was probably con
cealed. But my interest in that ma
neuver was overshadowed for the
time being by my anxiety for Sim.
monds. | picked up his right hand
and looked at it. Then I drew a deep
breath of relief, for 1t was uninjured.
HAS any one sent for a doctorse" |
asked.
Yes. sir" one of the bank attaches
answered. I'VE telephoned for one at
once. Here he is nowt' he added. as a
little black bearded man entered, car
rying the inevitably Identifying medi
cine case.
The newcomer glanced at the body,
waved us back. fell on one knee, strip
ped away the clothing from the breast
and applied his ear to the heart.
Lets have some water" he said.
"He's had a taste or Whit of some
thing that has stopped the heart ac-
ton
With a queer. creepy feeling over
my scalp. I remembered the little flask
half full OF blood e liquid which
Crochard carried in his pocket.
But he had not meant murder this
time. | remembered that Godfrey had
said he never killed an adversary. The
doctor worked away briskly, and at
the end Of a few minutes Simmonds
drew a long breath and sat erect.
Then his eyes opened. and he sat sway
ing unsteadily and staring amazedly
about him.
Where am II" he gasped. Then his
eyes encountered mine. "Lestert' he
said. Where is he-PigotT"
Scarcely knowing what | did | CROP
ed my way to the telephone and asked
for Godfrey's number, hoping against
hope absurdly. and at last. to my in
tense surprise and relief. l heard his
voice. not a very amiable voice.
Il tried to get you," | explained, las
soon as Simmonds told me they were
going to look at the cabinet. | phoned
the office. The city editor said he had
sent you out into westchester."
Godfrey laughed shortly.
1T was a wild goose chase" he said.
cooked up by our friend Crochard.
But even then I'd have got back If we
hadn't punctured a tire when we were
FIVE miles from anywhere. 1 knew
what was up. but there | was. oh.
he's made fools of us all, Lester"
But. Godfrey" | said. II can't IN
derstand even yet how he did 1t.
Where is Pigot?"
Hes on the Savoie, bound and gag
ged under the berth in his stateroom."
could only gasp.
And to think | didn't suspectI' add
ed Godfrey bitterly. I'VE stood there
and saw that yacht with the French
flag walk away from US. We saw her
put a man aboard the Savoie. We saw
that man talking to Pigot"-
Yes" said breathlessly, 'yesI"
well. that man was Crochard. He
got Pigot into his stateroom: gave him
a Whit of the same stun he used on
Simmonds. no doubt; put him out OF
the way under the berth, got into his
clothes, made up his face. put on a
wig-and all that while we were kick
Ing o heels outside waiting for him.
Crochard is an artist in that line, and
he was, no doubt. thoroughly familiar
with Pigot's appearance. He took the
papers Of Pigot, set his bag outside
the stateroom door and then came
out calmly to meet his dear friends of
the press. You remember he said he
would come todayY'
Yes"
There's one consolation - it will
break Grady"
But Godfrey" l said. "if you could
have seen those diamonds-those beau
tiful diamonds-and to think he should
be able to get away with them from
right under our nosesI'
ITS pretty bad. isn't lit But
there's no use crying over split milk.
Lester" he added. in another tone. Il
a you to be In your office at noon
tomorrow-or. rather. today. l have
got one more bomb to explode, Lester.
jump! Good night"