The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-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-
onglng to the Grand Duke Michael, of
Russla-soJourning in Paris because
unappreciated in his native land and
also because Of the supreme attraction
OF the French capital to one of his
temperament-were valued at some
thing like 5000, 600 francs.
n theft" continued NJ. Pigot,
was accomplished in a manner at
once so bold and so unique thai we
We're certain it could be the WORT: of
out a single man-a rascal named
~Groehard, who calls himself also the
IhNlnclple-a rascal who has given US
very great trouble, but whom we have
never been able to convict. In this case
we mad against him no direct evidence:
we subjected him to an Interrogation
ana found that he had taken care to
PfoNlue a perfect aIibi; so We We're
compelled TO release him. We knew
lLlat II would be quite useless to ar
rest him unless we should find some
OIL the stolen Jewels in his possession.
ne appeared as usual upon the bOule-
S9FdS, at the cafes. everywhere. He
iauShed In our faces. For us, it was
not pleasant, but our law is strict. For
US 70 accuse a man, 10 arrest him. and
tAen 20 be compelled to own ourselves
mistaken, is a very serious matter.
But we did what we could. We kept
Orochard under constant surveillance;
we searched his rooms ana those of
nls mistress not once but many times.
On one occasion, when he passed the
barrier at Nlncennes. our agents fen
upon him ana searched him. unaer
pretense OF robbing him.
lie was, understand we'll. not
Ior an instant deceived. He
Knew thoroughly We'll what we We're
aolnS, for what We were searching. ne
knew also that Nowhere in Europe
would he dare to attempt to Sell i
SINGLE one of those jewels. We sus-
pected that he would attempt to bring
them to this country, Il we warned
your department of customs. For we
knew that here he could sell all but the
very largest not only almost without
Ganger, but at a price far greater than
ne could obtain them in Europe. We
closed every avenue to him. as we
tnousht-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 or the hand. AT once |
we recognized the work of |
for he alone of living men possesses the
secret OF the poison OF the Medici. 1t is
q fearful secret. which. in his Whole |
lie, ne 4 used but once-and that
upon q man who a betrayed him.
". = -SHA paused ana passed MS hand |
across his forehead.
We We're at a loss to understand
CrocnarQ connection With Drouet,"
II, Plgot continued. "Drouet, while a
mere hanger-on of the cafes of the bou-
-eVards- was not q criminal. Then came |
me death OF that creature Morel, in an
e4LorI 10 gam possession of this cab
met. and We began to understand. We
mace inquiries concerning the cabinet:
We learned its history, n the secret
Oh lis construction. and we arrived at
. certain conclusion. II was to ascer-
tain If that conclusion is correct that I
came 10 America
What is the conclusion" queried
GTaoF Who had listened to all this with
3 manifest imparience in strong con-
ITsst 10 my own absorbed interest.
FOE / had already guessed what tho
conclusion was, and my pulses We're
bounding with excitement.
O1r Theory, replied III. Pigot. with
out the slightest acceleration of speech.
Is that the Aichaelovitch diamonds
are concealed in this cabinet. Eyerv-
lning points 10 it-and we shall soon
see.
A. he spoke. he drew from his pocket
3 sLsel gauntlet. r7arvelousIv like the
oue Godfrey mad used. and slipped II
over MS right hand.
When n attempts to fathorn the
SECRETS Of LInvincible.' he said with
e smile. Q n must go armored. Al
ready three men have paid with their
I1Fes the penalty OF their rashness."
Three mem repeated Grady, Won
deringly.
Three and Pigot checked them off
upon MS fingers. First the man who
gave mis- name as d'Aurelle, but who
vas really a blackmailer named
Drouet; second. NJ. Vantine, the con-
noisseur; and third, the creature Morel.
Of these, the only one thu really mat
1srs Is III. Vantine; his death was most
unfortunate, n II am sure that Cro-
cnara regrets 1t exceedingly. He might
also regret my death, but. at any rate.
l have no wish to be the fourth. Not
fully.
One moment, monsieur I said
bursting in, unable to remain longer
silent. This is all SO w~onderful-so
tnriling-win 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. II knows that Drouet was killed
while searching for a packet of letters.
which would ave compromised most
seriously a great lady; he knows that
M. Fantine was killed While ~endeavor-
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 hem; Morel
met death directly at the hands of Gro
chard because he was a traitor and de-
served It."
Continued next week