Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-02-04

ing that it's 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
Russla-sojourning in Paris because
unappreciated in his native and and
alSo because of the supreme attraction
OF the French capital to one of his
iemperament-were valued at some
thing like 5000, 900 francs.
That theft continued M. Pigot.
was accomplished in a manner at
once so bold and so unique that we
We're certain it could be the work of
put a single mana rascal named
trochard, who calls himself also the
lhNihclpie-a rascal who has given us
very great trouble, but whom we have
never been able to convict. In shis case
we mad against him no direct evidence;
We subjected him to an Interrogation
and found that he had taken care to
provide a perfect alibi; so we We're
tontpelied to release him. We knew
! ehat 1t would be quite useless to ar
rest him unless We should ind some
OF the stoler jewels in his possession.
he appeared as usual upon the oule-
wards, at the cafes. everywhere. He
iaughed IN our faces. For us. it was
hot pleasant, but our law is strict. For
US TO accuse a man, to arrest him. and
thel 10 be compelled to own ourselves
mistaken, is Il very serious matter.
But We did We could. We kept
Sfocfard under constant surveillance:
We searched his rooms and those of
nus mistress not once bat many times.
On one occasion, when he passed the
barrier at Nincenues, our agents fell
upon him and searched him, under
pretense of ro5bing him.
de was. understand Well, not
for an instant deceived. He
knew rhnr11fgrflliT wali x.bnt --n ,-1,,
doing for what we We're searching. He
knew also II q 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
the:c. 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
daligef, but at a price far greater than
he could obtain them in Europe. We
closed every avenue to him, as we
t~hought-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,
lor ne alone of living men possesses the
secret OF the poison of the Medici. 1t is
a fearful secret, which. in his whole
life, he had used but once-and that
upon a MAJ Who had BETRAYED him."
M. Plgot paused and passed his hand
across his forehead.
We We're sat a loss to understand
crochard connection With Drouet."
M. Plgot continued. 'Drouet, while a
mere hanger-on of the cafes of the bou-
leVards, was not d 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:
NFe nr.1n tf- I;-t ~ ~
OF lts construction. and We arrived at
a certain conclusion. 1t was to ascer-
tam If that conclusion is correct that 1
came to America"
"What is the conclusion?' queried
Grady, Who had listened to all this with
a manifest lmpatience in strong con-
tIast to my own absorbed interest.
Fol- | had already guessed what the
CONCLUSION was, and my pulses We're
bounding with excitement.
our theory, replied NJ. Pigot. with
out the slightest acceleration of speech,
Is mat 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 poke
a steel gauntlet. marvelously like the
one Godfrey had used, and Slipped 1t
over his right hand.
when one attempts to fathono 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 men!" 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 b~lackmailer named
Drouet; second, M. Nantine. the con-
nolsseur;; third, the creature Morel.
or these. the only one that really mat
tiers is NJ. Vantine: his death was most
unfortunate, and L am sure that Cro-
chard regrets it exceedingly. He might
also regret my death, but at any rate.
l nave no wish to be the fourth. Not
j. and he adjusted the gauntlet care
fully.
zone moment. monsieur" said.
bursting in. unable to remain longer
silent. "Thi is all so wonderful-so
thrilltng-will you not tell us more? Fol
what were these three men searching?
For the jewels?"
Monsieur is as familiar with the
facts as t. he answered in a sarcastic
lone. He knows that Drouet was killed
while searching for a packet Of letters.
which would nave compromised most
seriously a great lady; he knows that
M. Fantine was killed while endeayor-
ing to open the drawer after it's 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 a traitor and de-
served it,
H