The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-03-04
CHAPTER xxvIn-(continuedI.

NNS SNRS~S W uSCGlNo HIIIl.
Godfrey explained. Il Just wanted to
give him a little SURPRISE. And to think
] wasn't there 10 Ee% ~"
but IL he knew they were Imita-
tons" ! protested. why should he go
TO all that trouble to steal them?"
That is what puzzled me last night"
said Godfrey; and. for that matter 1t
puzzles me yet"
Maybe he's got the real stones, aft
er ALL" suggested Grady, who has been
listening to all this with ~incredulous
countenance. The story sounds fishy
TO me. Maybe these are the immi-
tations."
N. Pigot came forward md picked up
the Mazarin and looked at It.
This one, at least, Is real" he said,
after a moment. And I have no doubt
the others are" he added, turning them
over with his finger.
Grady, still ~incredulous, picked up
one OF the brilliants, went to the win
dow, and drew II down the It
left a. deep scratch behind It.
Yes" he admitted reluctantly. 7
guess they're diamonds, all right" and
he sat down again.
And now gentlemen" continued
Godfrey, who had watched Grady's by
play with a tolerant smile, Il am ready
to turn these diamonds over to o I
should like 0 to count them, and
give me O receipt for them"
"And then, Of course, you will write
the story" sneered Grady. and give
yourself all the credit"
WELL" asked Godfrey looking at
him, do you think you deserve any? ?"
And Grady could only crimson and
keep silent. -As for the story. IL is
already written. It will be on the
streets in 10 minutes-and it will Gre
ate q sensation. Please count the dia-
monds. You will find 21o of them"
That is the exact number stolen
from the Grand Duke" remarked NJ.
Pigot, and fell to counting. The num-
Der vas 210.
Mr.. Sherrow has the receipt" God
frey added, and Shearrow took q paper
from his pocket, unfoided 1t, and read
the contents.
but q full statement OF the facts Of the
case. without emitting the details of
the robbery and the credit due the
Record for n 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 I won'tI",
you will sign II, will you not, NJ.
Pigot?" asked Godfrey.
Certainly" said the Frenchman; 1T
Is q recognition Of your services very
well deserved" and he stepped forward
and signed 1t with a flourish.
Now, Simmonds," said Godfrey.
-No, you don'tl" broke in Grady.
.Stay where you are, Simmonds. I for
bid you 10 sign that. Remember, I'm
your superior officer"
"No, he's not, Simmonds," said God
frey, quietly. HE hasn't been an Off
Ger at all for an hour n more"
Grady sprang to his feet, his eyes
blazing, n strobe toward Godfrey.
what do you mean by that2" he
shouted.
81 mean" said Godfrey, looking him
squarely in the eye, that Mr.. Shear
row and myself had q talk with the
mayor this morning, n laid before
him certain evidence In our possession
this latest case among others-and
that you resignation was accepted at
400 today"
my resignation" snorted Grady. Il
never wrote one!"
''Tell the public that, II you want to-"
retorted Godfrey coldly. That's your
affair. You ought to have 'phoned II
In when I told you to. Now, Sim
monds." ~ y ....
Grady stood glaring about him an in
slant like an enraged bull, and I half
expected him 10 hurl himself on God
frey: instead. he crushed his hat upon
his head, strobe to the door, Jerked II
open, and banged It behind him.
Now, Simmonds,". Godfrey repeated,
as the echo died away. and Simmonds
H.. ~ " ~ ~ @AAN DIV - NAAOSo
the signatures, and Godfrey, with more
eagerness than he had shown in the
whole affair, caught up the ape and
sprang with It to he door.
Get that down to the office as quick
as you can" he said, to a man outside
added, closing the door and turning
back to us, rs my reward for all this
-or. rather, the Records reward. And
now. gentlemen, Mr.. Shearrow has his
car below. and 1 think we would bet
ter drive around to some safe deposit
box with this plumber"
It was perhaps 10 days afterward that
Godfrey dropped in to see me n eve
ming. I was Just back from a week on
Cape Cod, which had done me a world
of good; and, I need hardly say. was
glad to see him.
You're looking normal again." he
said, surveying me, as he sat down. u
was worried about you for q while"
IT never felt better. I told you that
all I needed was to have that mystery
solved"
"And II was solved on schedule time
wasn't it," he smiled; though not quite
in the way I had anticipated. Do you
know, Lester" he added, IT am going
to claim that cabinet"
"on what grounds?" I demanded.
Because the man who owned IL gave
II to me-" and he got q paper out OF
- AAo RNSnSNSO~H INV
me.
I opened It and recognized the dell,
cate and feminine writing which I had
seen once before.
my dear sir: (the letter RAM
1T find hat I made the mistake OF
Understanding you, and I present you
my sincere apologies. I trust that, al
some future time, II may be my priv
ilege to be again engaged with you
the result Is certain to % most inter
esting. But at present I find that ]
must return to Europe by La Bre-
tagne; since. after the trouble I have
taken. IL Is impossible that I should
consent to part with the brilliRnts Of
his highness tho grand duke. As q
slight souvenir of my high regard, ]
trust you will be willing to accept the
cabinet Boule, which I am certain thai
good M. Lester viii surrender to you
n you win snow 10 him this letter. THIS
cabinet Is not only interesting In It.
self, but will be doubly so to you be-
cause OF the part II has played In oul
little comedy. And I should like &c
know that it adorns q corner Of your
home.
It'll we meet again, dear sir, believe
me YOU sincere admirer,
"Crochard L'Invincible!"
Hes a good sport, isn't he2" s X
Godfrey. as I silently handed the letter
back to him. "What do you say about