, 1914-10-08

Crochard Writes an epilogue.
ODFREY picked the big Ola
- mond from the heap and held
II up between his fingers.
TITS a beauty, isn't it?" he
asked
M. Pigot smiled a dry smile.
at Is the Mazarin." he said. 'and
is worth three million francs. There
Ia a copy of 1t at the Louvre"
"Well." continued Godfrey, after |
got the duplicates. I rolled them ND In
the cotton packets. and placed them
back In the dra wer. being careful to
put the Mazarin at the bottom. where
I had found It. Orchard knew that
tho game was up the instant he opened
the first packet Do you suppose he
would be deceived? Not by the best
reproduction ever nader
And Their I remembered the slow
dush which had crept into Orchards
cheeks as he opened that first packet
81 didn't expect to deceive him."
Godfrey explained. 81 just wanted to
give him a little surprise. And to
think l. wasn't there to see itr
But If he knew they were imita-
tons" ! protested. why should be go
to all hat trouble to steal them?"
THAT is what puzzled me last night
said Godfrey, and. for that matter, It
puzzles me yet. but I'm ready to turn
these diamonds over to you. l should
Ike you to u them. and give me a
receipt for them"
And then, Of curse. you will write
the story" sneered Grady. "and give
yourself all the credit"
WELL" asked Godfrey, looking at
him. do you think you deserve any7"
And Grady could only crimson and
keep silent. "As for the story. Ii is al
ready written. 1t will be on the streets
in ten minutes. and 1t will create a sen
sation. Please count the diamonds.
You will find 210 of them
That is the exact number stolen
from the grand duke" remarked NJ.
Pigot and fell to counting. The num-
Der was 21O
Mr.. Shearrow has the receipt"
Godfrey added. And Shearrow took a
paper from his pocket. unfoIded it and
read the contents.
1t proved to be not only a receipt
but a full statement OF the facts of the
case, without emitting the details of
the robbery and the credit due the
Record for the recovery of the dia-
monds. Grady's face grew redder and
redder as the reading proceeded.
IL won't sign no such testimonial as
that" he clustered. Not on your life
| won'tr"
Your resignation was accepted at
noo today by the mayor" said God
frey.
my r~esignationr' snorted Grady. II
never wrote one!"
Tell the public that. If you want
to-" retorted Godfrey coldly. That's
your affair. You ought to have phoned
1: in when | told you to. Now, Sim
monds"
Grady crushed his hat upon his heao.
strobe to the door. jerked 1t open and
banged 1t behind him
"Now. Simmonds." Godfrey repeat
ed. as the echo died away. and Sim
monds came forward and signed. l
witnessed the signatures, and Godfrey
with more eagerness than he a
shown in the whole affair, caught up
the paper and sprang with 1t to the
door.
Get that down to the office as quick
as you can" he said to n man outside.
''IIl phone instructions. That" be
added. closing the door and turning
back to US, lis my reward for all this.
or. rather, the Records reward. And
now. gentlemen, Mr.. Shearrow has his
car below, and I think we would better
drive around to some safe deposit box
with this plumber"
1t was perhaps ten days afterward
that Godfrey dropped In to see me
one evening. Lester" he said. 81 am
going to claim that cabinet"
ION what groundsY- I demanded.
Because the man who owned it
gave It to me-" and he got a paper out
OF his pocketbook and handed 1t across
to me.
| opened 1t and recognized the deli
cate and feminine writing which I had
seen once before.
My Dear Slr-l ma that ! MADE the mis
take Of Understanding you, and ] pre-
sent you my sincere apologies. trust
that at some future time IL may be my
privilege to be again engaged with you.
The result Is certain to be most interest
ing. But at present l hnd that ! must
return to Europe by La Bretagne, since
after the trouble 1 ave taken 1t is i'm
possible that | hould consent to part with
the brillants OF his highness the grand
duke. As q slight souvenir OF my high re-
gard l trust o will be willing to accept
the cabinet Boule. which 1 am csrtain that
good NJ. Lester will surrender to you IL
you show to him this letter. The cabinet
is not only interesting In itself. but VIII
be doubly so to you because Of h part
II has played In our little comedy. And l
should like to know that II adorns q cor