Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-02-24
CHAPTER xx~vl1.-rontinued).

~ < III even WHICH i
got him off the boat myself; even when
went through his papers and found
them all right-yes. even to the photo
graph on his passport! That's plain
enough now. ain it! If people only had
as good foresight as they have hind
Look here, Grady said God
frey. more kindly. Il haven't
anything against you person
ally. and l admit that it was foolish of
me to stand there talking to Crochard
n never suspect who he was. But
that's all beside the mark. You're at
the head of the detective bureau. and ,
you're the man who is responsible for
all this. You're energetic enough and
all that; but you're not fit for your job
It's too big for you. and you know it.
Take my advice, and go to the phone
there and send in your resignation"
Grady stared at him as though I'M
able to believe his ears.
h in m y resignation!' he
think l amp
II see you're a bigger one thar 1
thought you We're! Your pull can't
help you any longer Grady
Was 1t to tell me that you got me
over here?'
NO" said Godfrey. "all this is just
yourself, didn't you? 1 got you here to
The outer door opened again, and
Godfrey looked toward it, smiling.
"MOoseer Piggott!" announced the
office boy.
And then l almost bounced from my
seat. for i would have sworn that the
man who stood on the threshold was the
man who had opened the secret drawer.
He came forward, looking from face
to face; then his eyes met Godfrey's
and he smiled.
Behold that ] am here. monsieur" he
said and 1 started anew at the voice.
for it was the voice of Crochard. II
hope that l have. not kept you waiting"
Not at all. Nj. Pigot.' Godfrey as
sured him, and placed a chair for him.
could see Grady and Simmonds
gripping the arms of their chairs and
staring at the newcomer, their mouths
open; and i knew the thought that
was flashing through their brains. Was
this Pigot? Or was the man who had
wat neither Pigot? Was it possible
that this could be a different man than
the one who had opened the cabinet?
l confess that some such thought
flashed through my own mind-a sus-
picion that Godfrey. in some way. was
playing with us.
Godfrey looked about at us, smiling
as he saw our expressions.
Il went down the bay this morning
and met the Savoie,' he said. Il relat-
cd 10 M. ElSOC laSI night 9 occurrences
and begged him to be present at this
meetings. He was good enough to
agree. I assure you,' he added. see
ing Grady's look. that this is M. Pigot.
of the Paris Service du Surete, n not
C~rochard."
"oh. yes" said NJ. Pigot. with a de-
precating shrug. II am myself-and
greatly Inundated that l should have
fallen SO readily into the trap which
Crochard set for me. But he is a very
clever. man,"
1T was certainly a marvellous dis
gufse." / said. 1T was more than that
1T was an representation"
"Cochard has had occasion to study
me-" explained NJ. Pigot, drily. And
he is an artist in whatever he does.
But some day l shall get him-every
pitcher to the we'll goes once too often.
There is no hope of finding him here
in New York;"
II am afraid not" said Godfrey.
Don't be too sure of that!" broke in
Grady ponderously. Il amt done yet
not by 10 manner of nieans!"
Pardon me for not introducing you,
M. Pigot," said Godfrey. This gen.
tleman is Mr.. Grady. who has been
the head of our detective bureau; this
is Mr.. Simmonds, a member OF his
staff; this is Mr.. Lester. an attorney
and friend of mine: and this is Mr..
ShearroW, my personal counsel. Mr..
Grady, Mr.. Simmonds and Mr.. Lester
were present, last night" he added
blandly, when Crochard opened the
secret drawer"
Grady redeemed visibly, and even I
felt my face grow hot. NJ. Pigot looked
at us with a smile of amusement.
1T must nav been a most interest
ing experience" he said, Ito have seen
Crochard at work.. l have never had
that privilege. But l regret that he
should nave made good his escape."
"MOre eSDecially since he tOOk the
M~ichaelovitch diamonds with him. 1
added.
Before we go into that" said God
frey. with a little smile, there are n
or two questions l should like to ask
you. NJ. Pigot, in order to clear up
some minor details which are as yet a
little obscure. Is it true that the theft
of the Michaelovitch diamonds was
planned by Crochard?"
Undoubtedly. No other thief in
France would be capable of 1t"
lis it also true that no direct evil
dence could be found against him?"
That also is true. monsieur. He had
arranged the affair so cleverly that we
were wholly unable to convict him.
unless we should find him with the
stolen brillants in his possession
'And YOU We're not able to do that?
NO; we could discover no trace OF
the brilliants. though we searched for
them everywhere
But you did not know of the Boule
cabinet and of the secret drawer?"
NO; Of that we knew nothing. I
must examine that famous cabinet
1T is worth examining. And it has
an interesting history. But you did
know. of course. that Crochard would
seek q market for the diamonds here in
America"
1--WE knew that he would try to do
so. and we did everything in our pow
NJ IN O~ANyonf ~ No o0nooS01lV Po0foG1