Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-09-15
~wnen Crocnard opened the secret

drawer.
| us it true that the theft of the
MichaeIovitch diamonds was planned
by Crochard" asked Godfrey.
Undoubtedly. No other thief In
France would be capable of it. He ar
ranged the affair so cleverly that we
were wholly unable to convict him
unless We should find him with the
stolen brilliants In his possession"
"And you were not able to do thatF"
"No; we could discover no trace or
the brilliants. though we searched for
them everywhere"
but you did not know Of the Boule
J cabinet and OF the secret drawer"
mo; of that we knew nothing. /
must examine that famous cabinet"
"It is worth examining. And 1t has
an interesting history. But you did
know, of course, that Crochard would
seek a market for the diamonds here
in America"
1--WE knew that he would try to do
SO, and we did everything in our power
to prevent it. We especially relied
upon your customs department"
'aThe customs people did their part"
said Godfrey, with a chuckle. "They
have quite upset the country! But the
diamonds got in in spite Of them, for,
of course, a cabinet imported by q
man so we'll known and so above sus-
piciOn as Mr.. Vantine was passed with
out question:
"Crochard won't try to sell them."
said Godfrey.
Wont try to sell them?" echoed
| Grady. whats the reason he wOn't?"
Because be hasn't got them" an
swered Godfrey. smiling with an evil
IDENTITY deep enjoyment Of Grady's daz-
| ed cOuntenance.
"Oh, come off," said that worthy dis
gustedly. IF he hasn't got 'em I'd like
, to know who has!'
81 have" said Godfrey. and cleared
nv desk with a sweep of his arm.
Spread out your handkerchief. Les
ter" and as dazedly Obeyed he pick
ed up a little leather bag. opened it
and poured out its contents in SPAR
king food. There" he added, turn
ing to Grady, 'are the MichaelOvttch
diamonds"
"But I don't understand" Grady
gasped. "Have you got CrOchard
| toOY
mo such luck" said Godfrey.
do you mean to say he'd give these
up without a fight"
my dear Grady" said Godfrey, 81
haven't seen Crochard since the min
ute you took him off the boat. I'd
have had him, if you had let SimmOnds
call me. That's what | had planned.
But be was too clever for us. knew
that he would come today
You knew that he would come to-
dayY repeated Grady blankly. "How
did you know that-or is it merely hot
ARP?
st knew that be. would come" said
Godfrey, CURLY, because he wrote and
told me So"
NJ. Pigot laughed dry little laugh.
1.-The trouble was." continued God
frey. "that l didn't look for him so
early In the day. and so he was able
to send me on a wild goose chase
after a sensation that didn't exist.
There's where 1 was a fool. But I
discovered the secret drawer ten days
ago-while the cabinet was still at
Vantine's-the evening after the yelled
lady got her letters. 1t was easy
enough. l am surprised you didn't
think OF 1t, Lester"
Think Of what?" I asked.
"Of the key to the mystery. The
drawer containing the letters was on
the left side Of the desk; l saw at
once that there must be another draw
right side"
81 didn't see it." I said. ST don't
see it yet"
Think minute. Why was Drouet
killed? Because he opened the wrong
drawer. He pressed the combination
at the right side OF the desk, instead
Of that at the left side. The fair Julie
must have thought the drawer was on
the right side instead of the left. It
was a mistake very easy to make,
since her mistress doubtless had her
| back turned when Julie saw her open
the drawer. The suspicion that it was
jules mistake becomes certainty
when she shows the combination to
Vantine, and he is killed, too. Be-
sides. the yelled lady herself made q
remark which revealed the whole
story. She said she was accustomed
to opening the drawer with her left
hand, instead of with her right. After
that, there could be no further doubt.
So discovered the drawer very
simply"
EYES," said, "and them"
"Then l removed the jewels. took
them down to a dealer In paste gems
and duplicated them as closely as I
could. I had a hard time getting
good copy of this big rose diamond"
CHAPTER XVIII.
| Crochard Writes an EpiIogue.
/ nnED v;oi~od tho hfop do.