The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-04-26

ried out with such briliancy and dar-
ing that its details had at once arrest
ed my attention-to say nothing OF the
fact that the diamonds. which formed
the celebrated collection belonging to
the Grand Duke Michael of Russia,
sojourning in Paris because unappre-
ciated in his native land and also be-
cause Of the supreme attraction OF the
French capital to enc OF his tempera-
ment-were valued at something like
5000. 900 francs
THAT theft,7 continued NJ Pfgot,
was accomplished in a manner at
once 80 bold and so unique that we
were certain 1t could be the work Of
but a single mana rascal named Gro
chard, who calls himself also The In
vincible'-a rascal who has given US
very great trouble, but whom we have
never been able to convict. In this
case we had against him no direct evil
dence; we subjected him to an inter-
rogation and found that he had taken
care to provide perfect abb: so we
were compelled TO release him. We
kept Orchard under constant surveil-
lance. We searched his rooms not
once, but many times.
HE knew thoroughly what we were
doing, for what we were searching
He knew also that nowhere in Europe
would he dare to attempt to sell a sin
gle one Of those jewels. We suspected
that he void attempt to bring them to
this country, and we warned your de
partment of customs. For we knew
that here he could sell all bat the very
largest not only almost without dan
ger, but at price far greater than he
could obtain for them In Europe. We
closed every avenue to him, as we
thought-and then, all at once, he dis
appeared.
For two weeks we heard nothing,
then came the story Of this man Drou-
ct, killed by q stab on the hand. At
once we recognized the work OF Gro
chard. for he a1ene Of living men pos
sesses the secret Of the poison of the
Medici. 1t is a fearful secret, which,
in his whole life he had used but once,
and that upon a man who had betray-
ed him."
II. Puget paused and passed his hand
across his forehead.
1--WE were at q loss to understand
Orchards connection with Drouet,"
M. Pigot continued. "Drouet, while
a mere hanger-on Of the cafes Of the
boulevards. was not a criminal. Then
came the death of that creature. Mo-
rel, in an effort TO gain possession of
this cabinet, and we began to under
stand. We made inquiries concerning
the cabinet We learned it's history,
and the secret of its construction. and
we arrived at a certain conclusion. 1t
was to ascertain If that conclusion Is
correct that I came to America"
what Is the conclusienT queried
Grady. who had listened to all this
with Q manifest impotence in strong
contrast to my own absorbed interest.
'Our theory" replied NJ. Pigot, with
out the slightest acceleration Of speech,
sis that the Michaelovitch diamonds
are concealed in this cabinet. Every
thing points to 1t, and we shall soon
see"
AS he spoke he drew from his peck
ct a steel gauntlet, marveious1y like
the one Godfrey had used. and slip
ped It over his right hand.
when one attempts to fathom the
secrets of the invincibse one" he said
with q smile, lone must 60 armored.
Already three men have paid with
their lives the penalty OF their rash
ness"
Three men" repeated Grady. won
deringly.
Three" and Pigot checked them
off upon his fingers. First the man
who gave his name as D'Aurelle, but
who was really a blackmailer named
Drouet; second, NJ. Vantine, the con-
noisseur, and third. the creature Morel.
OF these the only one that really mat
tiers is NJ. Vantine. His death was
most unfortunate, and l am sure that
Orchard regrets it exceedingly"
zone moment, monsieur" I said.
bursting In, unable to remain longer
silent '@This Is all SO wonderful-so
thrilling-will you not tell US more?
For what were these three men search
ing-for the jewelsT'
Monsieur is as familiar with the
facts 40 l." he answered in a sarcastic
tone. s$de knows that Dreuet was
killed while searching for a packet Of
letters which would have compromfs
ed most seriously a great lady. He
knows that M. Vnntfne was killed
while endeavcring to open the drawer
after it's secret had been revealed to
him by the maid of that same great
lady. who was hoping to get a reward
for them. Morel met death directly
at the hands Of Orchard because he
was a traitor and deserved It,"
More and more fascinated, 1 stared
at him. What secret was safe. I ask
ed myself. from this astonishing man?
But even yet 1 sta mmered. Il do
not understand. We have opened the
secret drawer of the cabinet-there
was no poison. How could it have
killed Drouet and Mr.. Vaatine?"
Very simply" said NJ. Pigot celdly.
Death came to Drouet and NJ. Van
tine because the maid AZ madame Ia