The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-02-04

ing that its details had at once ar
rested my attention--to say nothing OF
the fact that the diamonds, which
formed the celebrated collection be-
longing to the Grand Duke Michael, Of
misunderstanding in Paris because
unappreciated in his native land and
also because Of the supreme attraction
OF the French capital to one of his
thing like 100000 francs.
That theft" continued M. Pigot,
was accomplished in a manner at
once so bold and so unique that we
were certain II could be the work Of
but a single mana rascal named
Crochard, who calls himself also the
lnvtncible'--a rascal who has given us
very great trouble, but whom we have
never been able to convict. In this case
we had against him no direct evidence;
we subjected him to an interrogation
and found that he had taken care to
provide perfect alibi; so we were
compelled to release him. We knew
that 1t would be quite useless to ar
rest him unless we should find some
of the stolen jewels in his possession.
He appeared as usual upon the boule-
wards, at the cafes, everywhere. He
laughed in our faces. For us, II was
not pleasant, but our law is strict For
10 " dSSGS6 a HAIL. 10 dETeSl uAIIl, anu
then to be compelled to own ourselves
mistaken, Is a very. serious matter.
But we did what we could. We kept
Crochard under constant surveillance;
we searched his rooms and those OF
his mistress not once but many times.
On one occasion, when he passed the
barrier at Vincennes, our agents fell
upon him and searched him, under
pretense of robbing him.
He was, understand well. not
for an instant deceived. He
knew thoroughly well what we were
doing, for what we were searching. He
knew also that nowhere in Europe
would he dare to attempt to sell a
single one OF those jewels. We sus-
pected that he would attempt to bring
them to this country, and we warned
your department of customs. For we
knew that here he could sell all but the
very largest not only almost without
danger, but at price far greater than
he could obtain them in Europe. We
closed every avenue to, him, as we
thought-and then, all at once, he dis
appeared.
For two weeks we heard nothing
then came the story of this man Drouet,
killed by a stab on the hand. At once
we recognized the work of Crochard,
for he alone Of living men possesses the
secret Of the poison of the Medici. It is
life, he had used but once-and that
upon man who had betrayed him."
M. Pigot paused and passed his hand
across his forehead.
I'VE were at a loss to understand
Orchards connection with Drouet,"
Nj. Pigot continued. "Drouet, while a
mere hanger-On of the cafes of the bou-
levards, was not a criminal. Then came
the death OF that creature Morel, in an
effort to gain possession Of this cab
met, and We began to understand. We
made inquiries concerning the cabinet:
we learned its history, and the secret
OF it's construction. and we arrived at
certain conclusion. 1t was to ascer-
tain If that conclusion is correct that i
came to America"
What is the conclusion" queried
Grady, who had listened to all this with
a manifest impatience in strong con-
trast to my own absorbed interest.
For l had already guessed what the
conclusion was, and my pulses were
bounding with excitement.
"Our theory" replied NJ. Pigot, with
out the slightest acceleration Of speech,
lis that the Michaelovitch diamonds
are concealed in this cabinet. Every
thing points to it-and we shall soon
See."
AS he spoke, he drew from his pocket
q steel gauntlet. marvelously like the
=
over his right hand.
when one attempts to fathom the
secrets of L'Invincible." he said with
a smile. "one must go armored. AL
ready three men have paid with their
lives the penalty of their rashness."
Three mem" repeated Grady, Won
deringly.
Three" and Pigot checked them off
upon his fingers. First the man who
gave his name as d'Aurelle, but who
was really a blackmailer named
DrOuet; second, M. Vantine, the con-
noisseur; and third, the creature Morel.
OF these, the only one that really mat
tiers is M. Vantine; his death was most
unfortunate, and 1 am sure that Gro
chard regrets 1t exceedingly. He might
l have no wish to be the fourth. Not
J." and he adjusted the gauntlet care
fully.
"One moment, monsieur" I said,
bursting in, unable to remain longer
silent. This is all so wonderful-so
thrilling-will you not tell us more? For
what were these three men searching?
For the jewels?"
Monsieur is as familiar with the
facts as l." he answered in a sarcastic
tone. He knows that Drouet was killed
while searching for a packet of letters,
which would have compromised most
seriously great lady; he knows that
NJ. Vantine was killed while endeavor-
ing to open the drawer after its secret
had been revealed to him by the maid
of that same great lady, who was hop
ing to get a reward for them; Morel
met death directly at the hands of Gro
chard because he was traitor and de-