The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-14
CHAPTER XVII.
The Last Act of the Dram,

W M N NI1HK6h were nunDef or tiifs.
 at the office demanding Ii
 attention next morning, and
 was so late in getting thers and the morning passed so rapidl. that when the office boy, came in all. announced that MT. Grady and MI Simmonds were outside and wished r.. see me did not, for moment, con meet their visit with Godfrey
 sI'm glad to see you are better Simmonds," I said, shaking hand. with him. '.That was close call.''
 "It certainly was,'' Simmonals agreed, sinking into chair eff I had got little more it it, I'd never have walked up."
 itY'
 Not thing. One minute we were sitting there talking together as nice as you please-and the next thing knew was when I woke up in the bank" szzs
 Where's that man Godfrey7'' broke in Grady s.I won't wait for him. He can't make me do thati Come along. Simmonds."
 Wait minute II broke in, as the outer door opened. Perhaps that's Godfrey now
 And so it proved. He came in ac- companied by man whom I knew to be Arthur Shearrow. chief counsel for the Record.
 Godfrey nodded all around
 The object of this conference, Les ter, is to straighten out certain matters connected with the Michaelovitch dia-= monds-and incidentally to give the Record the biggest scoop it has had for months
 
 T ain't here to fix up no scoop for the Record" broke in Grady. .ssThat paper never did treat me right
 Tt has treated you as well as you deserved" retorted Godfrey. 'I'm go- ing to, talk plainly to you, Grady Your goose is cooked. You can't hold on for an hour after last nights get you wouldn't let Simmonds telephone for me last night2''
 That's right. It wasn't none of your business,''
 Perhaps not. And yet if had been there the cleverest thief in Paris. if not in the world, would be safe behind those chrome nickel steel bars at the Twenty third street station instead of at liberty to go ahead and rob some body else. You ought to have seen Grough his disguise. That's your business, Grady. I haven't anything against you personally, and I admit that it was foolish of me to stand there talking to Croehard and never suspect who he was, but that's all be- side the mark. You're at the head of the detective bureau, and you're the man who is responsible for all. this. You're energetic enough and all that, but you're not fit for your job. It's too big for you. and you know it. Take my advice and go to the phone there and send in your resignaton.v
 'Was 1t to tell me that you got me over here2''
 4.No,'' said Godfrey: q got you here to meets'-
 The outer door opened again, and Godfrey looked toward it, smiling.
 .'Moosseer Piggott!' announced the office boy.
 And then almost bounced from my seat, for would have sworn that the man who stood on the threshold was the man who had opened the secret drawer.
 He came forward. looking from face to face: thea his eyes met Godfrey's, and he smiled.
 Behold that am here. monsieur" he said, and started anew at the voice, for it was the voice of Crochard- s'I hope that have not keptsyou wait ing.''
 t.Not at all, monsieur Godfrey as- sured him and placed chair for him.
 "I went down the bay this morning and met the Savoie,'' he said .1 re lated to M. Pigot last nights occur rences, and begged him to be present at this meeting. He was good enough to agree. I assure you,' he, added. seeing Grady's look, that this is Ms Pigot, of the Paris detective bureau and not Crochard."
 "Oh, yes.p said M. Pigot, with dep recating shFug. sssI Eaili n1ysaIEand greatly humiIiated that I should have fallen so readily into the trap which Crochard set for me. He is a very clever man-but some day I shall get him; every pitcher to the well goes once too often. There is no hope of 1 finding him here in New York?' q am afraid not" said Godfrey. l Don't be too sure of thati' broke in Grady ponderously. ".I ain't done yet 1 not by no manner of means!'' (TO be Continued.) 1 s'I see this. medicine is good for