The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1914-12-02


back to us, sis my reward for all this,
or, rather, the Records reward. And
now, gentlemen, Mr.. Shearrow has his
car below, and 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"
son what grounds" demanded.
Because the man who owned it
gave it to me-" and he got paper out
Of his pocketbook and handed it across
to me.
| opened it and recognized the deli
cate and feminine writing which had
seen once before.
My Dear Sir-I find that made the mis-
take of Understanding you, and l pre-
sent you my sincere apologies. l trust
that at some future time 1t may be my
privilege to be again engaged with you.
The result Is certain to be most interest
ing. But at present l find that | must
return to Europe by La Bretagne, since
after the trouble l have taken it is i'm
possible that 1 should consent to part with
the brilliants of his highness the grand
duke AS a slight souvenir of my high re-
gard trust you will be willing to accept
the cabinet Boulc. which ! am certain that
good M. Lester will surrender to you If
you show to him this letter. The cabinet
is not only interesting in itself, but will
be doubly so to you because of the part
it has played in our little comedy And ]
should like to know that it adorns a cor
ner of your home.
Till we meet again. dear sir, believe me
your sincere admirer,
CROCHARD.
The Invincibe.
"Heo good sport isn't hep" asked
Godfrey. as j silently handed the let
ter back to him. What do you say
about the cabinet?"
Il suppose there is 10 doubt that
Crochard bought it." said.
so that it is mine now?'
Yes; when did La Bretagne sail?"
"A week ago today. She is due at
Havre in the morning"
did you warn them?"
warn them of what?"
THAT Orchard is after the dia-
monds. They went back on La Bre-
tagne, suppose?"
''Yes-and Pigot went with them. So
why should / warn any one? Surely
they know that Orchard will get
those diamonds if he can. 1t has be-
come a sort of point Of honor with
him. imagine. 1t is up to them to
| take care of them"
THAT oughtn't to be difficult" l
said. THE strong room Of a liner is
| about the safest place on earth"
Yes" Godfrey agreed and blew a
meditative ring toward the ceiling.
And presently he went away with
out saying anything more.
Two weeks later a black headline
caught my eye:
MICHAELOvITCH JEWELS FALSE!
French Detective Takes Back Paste I'M
itationS From America.
Fraud Discovered When the Grand Duke
Michael Sends Them to a Jeweler
to Be Reset.
| had no need to read the article
which followed. for | saw in flash
what had occurred. | saw. too, why
Crochard had retained the paste Jew
els-he had use for them. How or
where the substitution had been made
| could only guess
Who, | wondered, had bought the
Mazarn? Surely there was a diamond
most difficult to sell. 1t could, of
course, be cut up. But that would be
sacrilege. One morning in the personal
column of LIE Matin appeared notice,
Of which this is the English:
TO NJ. the Director of the Museum Of the
Louvre:
1t has been my good fortune to come
| into possession of the rose diamond known
| rs the Mazarin. 1t is my wish to restore
it to your collection in order that it may
| no longer be necessary to delude the pub
lie with an imitation of colored glass. 1t
will give me great pleasure to present this
brilliant to you with my compliments pro-
yided his highness the Grand Duke Mi
chael. who preceded me in possession Of
the diamond, will join me in the gift
Should he refuse it will be my melancholy
duty to cleave the diamond into num-
Der of smaller stones, as it is too large
Tor my use. But | hope that he will not
'efuse CROCHARD
The Invincible.
What could the grand duke do? To
nave refused, would have made him
the butt of the boulevards Besides.
ne was. after all. losing nothing which
he had not already lost So, with a
better grace than one might have ex-
pected. he consented to join in the res
toration Two days later the direc-
tor of the Louvre discovered packet
upon his desk. He opened it and
found within the MaZarin When you
visit the Louvre, you will see it in the
place of honor in the glass case in the
center Of the gallery Of Apollo, with
IN attendant on guard beside it.
And Orchard? do not know Each
morning. | read first the news from
Paris, searching for the "Invincible"
III some new incarnation.
THE END.
WOvnntnnf 0f Cnt4on