Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-07

seek a market for the diamonds here
In American"
1--WE knew that he would try to do
so, and we did everything in our power
to prevent Il. We especially relied
upon your customs department"
"The customs people did their part"
said Godfrey, with chuckle. They
have quite upset the country! But the
diamonds got In in spite OF them. for.
OF course, a cabinet imported by
man so well known and so above sus-
plcion as Mr.. vantine was passed with
out question:
Orchard won't try 10 sell them"
said Godfrey.
Won't try TO sell them?'' echoed
Grady. WHATS the reason he won't?"
Because he hasn't got them" an
swered Godfrey. smiling with an evil
IDENTIFY deep enjoyment OF Grady's daz-
ed countenance.
"Oh. come on" said that worthy dis
gustedly. IF he hasn't got 'em I'd like
to know who has.''
II have" said Godfrey. and cleared
my desk with a sweep OF his arm.
Spread out your handkerchief. Les
ter" and as dazedly obeyed he pick
ed up a little leather bag, opened it
and poured out its contents in n spar
king food. There" he added, turn
ing TO Grady. ARE the Michaelovitch
diamonds"
But I cont understand.- Grady
rasped. Have you got Crochare
too:'
mo such luck" said Godfrey.
do you mean to say he'd give these
up without a fightr'
"My dear Grady" said Godfrey. "I
haven't seen Crochard since the min
ute you took him off the boat. I'd
have had him, IL you had let Simmonds
call me. That's what I had planned.
But he was too clever for us. 1 knew
that he would come today
you knew that he would come to-
day." repeated Grady bfankly. How
did you know that-or is it merely hot
air."
81 knew that he would come" said
Godfrey, CURLY, because he wrote and
told me So"
NJ. Pigot laughed a dry little laugh.
The trouble was" continued God
frey, that didn't look for him so
early in the day. and so he was able
to send me on a wild goose chase
after a sensation that didn't exist.
There's where / was a fool. But l
discovered the secret drawer ten days
ago-while the cabinet was still Mt
vantine's-the evening after the yelled
lady got her letters. 1t was easy
enough. 1 am surprised you didn't
think of IT. Lester"
grt- 90 ocr-
"Of the key to the mystery. The
drawer containing the letters was on
the left side of the desk; saw at
once that there must be another draw
er, opened in the same way, on the
right side"
ct didn't see it." said. at don't
see It yet"
Think a minute. Why was Drouet
killed? Because he opened the wrong
drawer. He pressed the combination
at the right side OF the desk. instead
of that at the left side. The fair Julie
must have thought the drawer was on
the right side. instead OF the left. 1t
was a mistake very easy to make,
since her mistress doubtless had her
back turned when Julie saw her open
the drawer. The suspicion that it was
jules mistake becomes certainty
when she shows the combination to
Vantine. and he is killed. too. Be
sides. the yelled lady herself made n
remark which revealed the whole
story. She said she was accustomed
to opening the drawer with her left
hand. instead OF with her right. After
that. there could be no further doubt.
So I discovered the drawer very
simply"
Yes" said. land them
Then removed the jewels. took
them down to n dealer in paste gems
and duplicated them as closely as 1
could. ! had n hard time getting u
good COPY of this big rose diamond