The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-04-19

NJ Pigot looked at it an instant,
while his companion added a sentence
| In his ear. Then. with a nod of assent.
the detective turned down one of the
passageways. the other man at his
heels.
Official business. no doubt" COM
mented the purser. He will, no doubt,
soon be disengaged" :
Yes. but meanwhile my esteemed
contemporaries will arrive" said God.
frey, with a grimace. They are on
my heels Here they are nowp
In fact, for the next twenty minutes
reporters from the other papers kept
arriving. till there was quite a crowd
before the purser's office. And from
nearly every paper a special man had
been detailed to interview NJ. Pigot.
Evidently all the papers were alive to
the Importance of the subject. There
was some good natured chatting. and
then one OF the stewards was bribed
to carry the cards of the assem- bled
multitude to NJ. Pigot's stateroom,
with the request for an audience.
The steward went away laughing
and came back presently to say that
M Pigot would be pleased to see US
In a few minutes. But when five min
utes more passed and he did not ap-
pear Impotence broke out anew. The
lords Of the press were not accustomed
to being kept waiting.
81 move we storm his castle" sug-
gested one man.
And just then. NJ. Pigot himself step
ped out into the companionway. In
an instant he was surrounded
MY good friends of. the press" he
said. speaking slowly, but with only
the fatntest accent. you will pardon
me for keeping you in waiting, but I
had some matters of the first impor-
lance to attend to, and also my bag to
pack. Steward" he added. you will
find my bag outside OF my stateroom
door. Please bring it here, so that
I may be ready to go ashore at once"
The steward hurried away, and NJ
Pigot turned back to u.s.
1t was to Godfrey that the position
Of spokesman naturally fell.
I'VE wish first to welcome you to
America. NJ. Pigot" he said. land to
hope that you win have a pleasant and
interesting stay in our country. We
hope that with your assistance our po-
lice may be able to solve the mystery
surrounding the death of the three men
recently killed here. and to arrest the
murderer. OF themselves they seem
to be able to do nothing"
NJ. Pfgot spread out his hands with
little deprecating gesture
II also hope we may be successful"
he said, but If your police have not
been. my poor help will be OF little &C.
count
He spoke with an accent so sincere
that was almost convinced be meant
every word of 1t, but Godfrey only
smiled
1T Is a proverb,' he said. that the
French police are the best in the world
You. no doubt, have a theory in regard
to the death Of these men?"
81 fear 1t is Impossible. SIR" said M
Pigot regretfully. ''to answer that
question at present, or to discuss this 4,
case with you. have my report first
to make to the chief OF your detective
bureau. Tomorrow l shall be most
happy to tell you all that I can. But |
for tonight my lips are closed, sad as
1t makes me to seem discourteous.'
l could hear behind me the little in |
drawn breath Of disappointment at the |
failure Of the direct attack.
A voice was heard inquiring loudly |
for Moosseer Piggott. o. recognized that |
voice, and so did Godfrey, and / saw
he cloud Of disappeintmentsw which fell |
Upon his face. An instant later Grady, |
With Simmonds in his wake, elbowed /
his way through the group.
"Moosseer Piggott." he cried, and
the FrenchDans slender
hand IN his great paw and gave it a
squeeze which was no doubt painful.
Glad to see you, sir Welcome to our
:ity, as we say over here in America.
certainly hope you can speak Eng
fsh, for I don't know a word Of your
lingo. I'm Commissioner Grady, in
barge of the detectiva bureau, and
his is Simmonds, one men"
NJ. P1got's perfect was not
wen ruffied.
II am most pleased to meet you. sir.
md you, Monsieur Simmon," he said.
Yes, I speak English, though, as you
lee, with some difficulty
These reporters bothertng your life
ut, See" And Grady glanced about
he group. Sowing as his eyes met
Sodfrey's.
"I have but Just teld them that my
irst report must be made to you. sir"
aid Pigot. II was hoping that we
night go ashore at once. l have my
,apers ready for you
"All right" agreed Grady. And
fter I've looked over your papers Phi
how you Broadway, and I'll bet you
gree with me that it beats anything
q gay PaEee. Our boats waiting, and
We can start right away. This your
'ag? Yes? Bring 1t along, Sim
nonds." And Grady started for the