The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-02-18

NAkOEOuo LO"Clluk LelL lLIlLlchBCiy bON-
ter. So returned to my chair and sat
down to review the events OF the eve
ming; but found that somehow my
brain refused to work, and black
circles began to whirl before my eyes
again.
II told Godfrey I couldn't stand any
more OF this" muttered, and stumbled
into my bedroom, undressed with diff
ficulty, and turned out the light
| Then, as lay there, staring UP into
the darkness, a singing though brought
me upright.
Godfrey-where was Godfrey Was
he on the track or CrochardH Was he
daring a contest with him? Perhaps,
even at this moment.
Scarcely knowing what I did, /
CROPPED my way to the telephone and
asked for Godfrey's number-hoping
againt hope absurdly-and at last, to
my intense surprise and relief, heard
his voice--not q very amiable voice.
"Hellol" he said.
Godfrey" began, its Lester. He
got away"
"of course he got away. You didn't
call me out Of bed to tell me that, l
hopper"
Then you knew about itT'
| II knew he'd get away"
| when the wagon got to the bank
there was nobody inside but Simmonds.
/
WAS he hurt?
He was unconscious, but he came
around all right" =.
That's good-but Crochard wouldn't
hurt him. He got away with the Jewels,
| OF course?"
"Of course" assented, surprised that
Godfrey should take IL so cody. When
you rushed out that way" added. Il
thought maybe you were going after
him."
with him 20 minutes In the lead
I'm no such fool! He got away from me
the other day with start Of about half
q second"
IT tried to get YOU" I explained, "as
soon az Simmonds told me they were
going to look at the cabinet 'phoned
the office The city editor said he had
sent you out into Westchester."
Godfrey laughed shortly.
TT was a wild goose chase" he said.
| cooked UP by our friend Crochard.
But even then, I'd have got back, II we
hadn't punctured q tire when We were
Ave miles from anywhere. knew what
was up-but there was. Oh, he's made
fools Of us all, Lester. told you he
would"
Then you didn't get my message %
"Yes--they gave II to me when I
| 'phoned in that the Westchester bust
ness was a fake. rushed for the STA
ton, though knew I'd be too late"
But, Godfrey" said, Il can't I'M
derstand, even yet, how he did 1t.
Grady and Simmonds left the boat with
Pigot and were with him all evening,
showing him the sights. How did Gro
chard get into it2 What did he do with
Pigot? Where Is Plgot?
Hes on the SavoieI rushed wire
less down to her as soon as left the
station. They made q search and found
Pigot bound and gagged under the
berth In his stateroom."
could only gasp.
And to think I didn't suspect" ad-
ded Godfrey, bitterly. I'VE stood there
and saw that yacht with the French
flag walk away from US; we saw her
put a man aboard the Savoie; We saw
that man talking to Ptgot :"
YES" / said. breathlessly; yes"
We'll, that man was Crochard. He
got Pigot into his stateroom-gave him
a whiff of the same stuff he used on
Simmonds, no doubt; put him out of
the way under the berth; got into his
clothes, made up his face, put on q
wtg-and all that while we were kick
ing our heels outside waiting for him.
"But II was a tremendous risk" ]
said. There were so many people
on board who knew Pigot-it would
have to be q perfect disguise"
| "Crochard wouldn't stop for that.
| But II wasn't much of q risk. None
OF US had seen Ptgot closely; all we
had seen OF him was the back Of his
head; and the passengers were all on
| deck watching the quarantine men.
And yet, OF course the digutse was q
perfect one. Crochard Ia an artist in
that line, and he was. no doubt, thor
oughly familiar with Pigot's appear
ance. He deceived the purser-but the
purser wouldn't suspect anything!"
80 It was really Orchard -
But we ought to have suspected.
We ought to have suspected every
thing. questioned everything; I ought
to have looked up that visitor and
found out what became OF him. In
stead OF which. Crochard put Pigot's
papers in his pocket, set his bag out
came out calmly to meet his dear
| friends of the press; and stood there
talking to him like little schoolboy-
no wonder he thinks I'm fool"
But nobody would have suspected
gasped. why. that man isis
"a genius" said Godfrey. IAN alb
solute and unquestioned genius. But
knew that all the time, and ought to
have been on guard. You remember
he said he would come today?'
| Yes"
And you didn't believe it."
II can't believe 1t yet
| break Grady"
| But, Godfrey" said. 'if you could
have seen those diamonds-those beau
tiful diamonds-and to think he should
be able to get away with them right
under our noses!'
Its pretty bad. isn't It? But there's
no use crying over split milk. Lester,
he added. in another tone, II want you
to be In your office at noon tomorrow
or rather, today"
"All right" I promised: TN be
| there"
Don't fail me. There Is one act OF
the comedy still to be played"
"Pll be there" said again. But
I'm afraid the last act will be an anti
climax. Look here. Godfrey. :"
Now go to bed" he broke in;
you're talking like a somnambulist.
Get some sleep. Have you arranged
for that vacation"
| Godfrey" said. tell me :"
| "I won't tell you anything. Only I've
got one more bomb to explode, Les H.,
and it's a big one. 1t will make ySu
jump"
self -" '.-..... -.
Good night" he said. and hung up.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE LAST ACT OF THE DRAMA.
/ Il.