Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-01-27

VI ASSIs It 81 lIldIil1CI OSSDCuhil
military training. The messenger fror
the legation was d %youngish man. with
waved moustache and wearing an eye
glass. He was greeting M. Pigot at thu
moment. and. after u word or two, pro
duced from an inside pocket an official
looking envelope, tied with red taps
and secured with an immense red sea,
NJ. Pigot looked at it an instant
while his companion added Il sentence
in his ear: then. with Il nod of assent
the detective urn down n OF the
p~assageways. the other man at his
heels.
Official business. no doubt COM
mented the purser. who had also beer
watching, this little scene. M. Pigot is
one of the best of our officers. and YOU
Will find it Il pleasure to talk with him
He will no doubt oon be disengaged.'
Yes. but meanwhile my esteemed
contemporaries Will arrive said Cod
frey. With II grimace. They are on my
heelS-here they are now!
In fact. for the next 20 minutes. re-
porters from the other papers kept ar
irving. till there was quite a crowd be-
fore the purser's office. And from near
ly every paper IL special man had been
detailed to interview NJ. Pigot. Evident
ly all the papers were alive to the inn
portance of the subject. There was
some good natured chatting, and hen
me of the stewards was bribed tp
carry the cards of the assembled multi
tude to NJ. Pagot's stateroon. with the
request for an audience.
The steward went away laughing and
came back presently to say that NJ.
Pigot would be pleased TO see us in Il
few minutes. But when five minutes
more passed and he did not appear.
impatience broke out anew. The lords
of the press We're not accustomed to be-
ing kept waiting.
Il move we storm his castle" sug-
gested the World man.
And just then. NJ. Pagot himself
stepped out into the companionway. In
an instant he was surrounded.
My good friends of the press he
said. speaking slowly. but with only the
%faintest accent. and he smiled around
at The faces bent Upon him. You will
pardon me for keeping you in wait
ing, but l had some matters of the first
Importance to attend to; and also my
bag TO pack. Steward" he added. "you
will find my bag outside my door.
Please bring it here, So that | may be
ready to go ashore at once" The
steward hurried away. and NJ. Pigot
turned back to us. Nov. ecntlemen,"
he went on. what is it that can Go
for you"'
1t was to Godfrey that the position
of spokesman naturally fell.
w wish first to welcome you to
America. NJ. Pigot," he said. and to
hope that you will have u pleasant and
interesting stay in our country
You are most kind" responded the
Frenchman. with a charming smile.
Il am sure that l shall find 1T
most interesting = especially your
wonderful city, of which l have heard
many marvellous things"
And in the next place." continued
Godfrey. we hope that. with your as
%sistance. our police may be able to solve
the mystery surrounding the death OF
h three men recently killed here, and
to arrest the murderer. OF themselves
they seem to be able to do nothing"
M. Pigot spread out his hands with
a little deprecating gesture.
Il also hope we may be successful"
he said: but If your police nave not
been. my poor help will be of little
account. ! have a profound admiration
for your police; the results which they
accomplish are wonderful. when ono
considers the difficulties under which
thew labor"
that l was almost convinced he meant
every word of it; but Godfrey only
smiled.
1T is a %proverb." he said. that the
French police are the best in the world.
You. no doubt have a theory in regard
to the death of these men,
II fear it is impossible, SIR" said NJ.
Pigot. regretfully. Ito answer that
question at present or to discuss this
case with you. / have my report first
to make to the chief of your detective
bureau. Tomorrow 1 shall be most hap
py to tell o all that / can. But for
tonight my lips are closed. sad as il
makes me to seem dfscourteous."
1 could hear behind me the little in
drawn breath of disappointment at the
failure of the direct attack. NJ. Pigot's
position was. of course. absolutely cor
rarts bat y
to attack it on the flank.
You are going ashore tonight?" he
inquired.
II was expecting a representative OF
your bureau to meet me here NJ. Pigot
explained. II was hoping to return
with him to the city. l have no time
to lose. In addition, the more quickly
we get to work. the more likely we
shall be to succeed. All! perhaps that
is he" he added, as a voice was heard
inquiring loudly for Moosseer Piggott.
recognized that voice, and SO did
Godfrey. n l saw the cloud of disap-
pointment which fell upon his face.
An instant later, Grady. with Sim
monds in his wake, elbowed his way
through the group.
"Moosseer Piggott!.' he cried. and en-
veloped the Frenchman's slender hand
In. his great paw. and gave 1t a squeeze
which was nc doubt painful. .'Glad to
see you, sir. Welcome to our city, as
we say over here In America. I GER
tatnly hope you can speak English, TO.
l ont know a word of you lingo. I'm
Commissioner Grady, in charge of the
detective bureau; and this is Sim
monds. one of my meh.
NJ. Pigot's perfect suavity was not
even ruffled.
L am most pleased to meet you, sir;
n you. Monsieur Simmon," he said.
yes speak English-though, as you
see. with some difficulty"
"These reporters bothering your life
OUT. see." and Grady glanced about
| the grQup. scoWling as hia ewes mel