, 1914-10-08
monds."

fonda"
present, last night" he added blandly,
when Crochard opened the secret
drawer.
'Is 1t rue thai the theft of the
Michaelovitch diamonds was planned
by Crochard?" asked Godfrey.
Undoubtedly. No other thief In
France would be capable of 1t. He ar
ranged the affair 80 cleverly that we
were wholly unable to convict him
unless We should find him with the
stolen brilliants in his possession"
And you were not able to do that2"
mo; We cohld discover no trace of
the brilllants. though we searched for
them everywhere"
But you did not know of the Boule
cabinet and of the secret drawerf'
mo; of that we knew nothing. |
must examine hat famous cabinet"
at is worth examining. And 1t has
an interesting history. But you did
know. Of course. that Crochard would
seek IA market for the diamonds here
in America 2"
"We knew that he would try to do
30, int we did everything in our power
to prevent it We especially relied
upon your customs department"
THE customs people did their part"
said Godfrey. with a chuckle. They
have quite upset the country! But the
diamonds got in in spite Of them. for.
Of course. a cabinet imported by a
man SO well known and SO above sus-
picion as Mr.. vantine was passed with
out question:
-Crochard won't try to sell them"
said Godfrey.
Wont try to sell themY' echoed
Grady. whats the reason he won't2'
Because he hasn't got Them" an
swered Godfrey. smiling with an evil
IDENTIFY deep enjoyment of Grady's DAG
ed countenance.
"Oh, come OFF, said that worthy dis
gustedly. IF he hasn't got ZEN I'd Hike
to know who has!'
81 have" said Godfrey. and cleared
my desk with a sweep Of his arm.
Spread out your handkerchief. Les
ter" n as | dazedly obeyed he pick
ed up a little leather bag, opened 1t
and poured out its contents In a spar
king flood. There" he added. turn
ing to Grady. ARE the Michae,ovitch
diamonds."
.But 1 don't understand" Grady
gasped. Have you got Crochard
too?'
mo such luck" said Godfrey.
do you neal to say he'd give these
up without a 6ght!'
My dear Grady said Godfrey. 81
haven't seer Crochard since the min
ute you took him of the boat. I'd
have had him. IL you had let Simmonds
call me. That's what | had planned.
But he was tor clever for US. / knew
that he would come today
"You knew that he would come to-
dayT'' repeated Grady blankly. How
did you know that-or is 1t merely hot
arr"
II 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 30 he was able
to send me on a wild goose chase
after a sensation that didn't exist.
There's where | was a foo. But l
discovered the secret dra wer ten days
ago-while the cabinet was still at
vantlne's-the evening after the yelled
lady got her letters. II was easy
enough. am surprised you didn't
| think of 1t. Lester"
Think of what?" asked.
"Of the key to the mystery. The
drawer containing the letters was on
| the left side of the desk; I saw at
once that there must be another draw
err. opened In the same way, on the
right side"
81 didn't see It," l said. 81 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 II was
jules mistake becomes certainty
when she shows the combination to
vantine, and be is killed, too. Be