, 1914-09-24

| UeTt ut NOuld hdNt u oim1dihy IL
marketing this one" And he unfolded
the last packet aud held up to the
light a rose dia which seemed to
me as large IA Il walnut and aglow
with lovely color.
perhaps you have stopped to ad-
mire the MaZarin diamond in the gal
lery of Apollo at the Louvre" said NJ.
Pigot. There is always a crowd
about tina case. and a special attend
ant Is installed there to guard II, for it
contains articles of great value. But
the Mazarin is not one of them. for it
is not a diamond at all: 1t is paste-a
paste facsimile of which this Is the
original, The directors of the Louvre.
needing money. sold the original to the
empress of Russia, who had a craze
for precious stones and who at her
death left this remarkable collection to
her favorite son, who had inherited her
passion. And now" he added. with a
gesture toward the glittering heaps.
"what shall we do with all thisF"
There's only one thing to do said
Grady. awaking suddenly as from a
trance. land that's to get them in a
safe deposit box as quick as possible.
There's no police safe I'd trust with
EN-"
"Can we find a box of safe deposit
at this hour of the pight?" asked NJ.
Pigot, glancing at his watch. st is
almost / o'clock and a half"
That's easy in New York" said Ora
dy. "We'l take 'em over to the Day
and Night bank on Fifth avenue. 1t
never closes. Wait till l get something
to put 'em In"
He went out and came back present
ly with a small valise.
This will do" he said. STOW 'em
away. and I'll call up the bank and
arrange for the box"
Simmonds and Pigot rolled up the
packets carefully and placed them in
the valise. while ! sat watching them
in a kind of daze. And understood
the temptation which would assail a
man in the presence of so much beauty
and value.
'There they are" said Simmonds and
closed the bag with a nap as Grady
came in again.
I've arranged for the box" said
Grady. land one of u wagons is Mt
the door. Simmonds. you go along
with Moosseer Piggott and put an ex-
ira man on the seat with the driver
Maybe that Crochard might try to hold
you up"
The same thought was in my own
mind. for Crochard must have learned
of NJ. Pigot's arrival. Sol was re-
lieved that Grady was wise enough to
take no risk.
You'd better get a receipt" Grady
went on. land arrange that the valise
is to be delivered only when you and
Moosseer Piggott appear together,
That will be satisfactory. m~oosseer;"
he added, turning to the Frenchman.
ENTIRELY so. sir. Au revoir. mon.
sieur." and with a bow to me he fol-
lowed Simmonds inID the outer room.
Grady sat down AMI got IL IA fresh
cigar.
well, Mr.. Lester" he said as he
struck a match. what do you think
of these Frenchmen, anywayT
They're marvellous" i said. Even
yet l can't understand how he knew
30 much. For instance. how did he
know about those letlers?''
Fact is" broke in Grady. that's the
first I'd heard of 'em. What is that
storyT"
l told him the story briefly. carefully
suppressing everything which would
give him a clew to the identity of the
yelled lady.
ssThere wara cartain dStailou 7 odd
ed, (which l supposed were known 10
no one except myself and two other
persons, and yet NJ. Pigot knew them.
Then. again. how did he know SO GER
tainly just how the mechanism work
ed? 1t seemed to me that he handled
that mechanism as though he was ia
miliar with it. OF course. he may have
prepared himself by studying the draw
ings which no doubt accompany the Sc
cret memoir. He may even have had a
working model made. he is an extraor-
binary IAN"
"And a great actor" Grady supple
mented. Hello! Who's thatY"
The front dOOr had been flung open.
There was an ~instant's %colloquy with
the desk sergeant. then a rapid step
crossed the outer room. and Godfrey
burst in upon us.
He cast a rapid glance at the Boule
cabinet, at the secret drawer standing
open, empty. and then his eyes rested
upon Grady.
$50 he got away with 1t, did he?" he
inquired.
"Who do o think you are?" shout
ed Grady, his face purple, coming in
here like this? Get out or I'll have
you thrown out!'
"oh, III CO." retorted Godfrey cool.
ly. "Pve seen all | care to see. Only
I'll tell you n thing, Grady-you've
signed your w death Warrant to-
night" You won't last an hour after
the story of this nights work gets
out!'