Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-02-18

tell OF the diamond robbery; and then
| realized that no morning paper would
was only q few hours old-and yet, 1t
seemed to me an age had passed since
that moment when Godfrey had rushed
In upon Grady n me. So the city
moved on. as yet blissfully uncon-
scious OF the sensation which would be
lions. and over which reporters and
artists and photographers were even
now. no doubt. laboring. / promised
myself a happy half hour in reading
Godfrey's story!
1t was then that 1 remembered the
appointment for II o'clock. The last
act Of the drama was. yet to be
staged, Godfrey had said, and he
had also spoken of a bomb-a big
one! / wondered what 1t could
be. One thing was certain: II God
frey had prepared 1t, it's explosion
would be startling enough!
There We're a number Of things at
the office demanding my attention, and
l was so late in getting there and the
morning passed SO rapidly that when
the office boy came in and announced
that Mr.. Grady and Mr.. Simmonds were
outside and wished to see me, 1 did
not. for a moment, connect their visit
hllil SOSlISS. IISll l. lOOhCu III IN
watch, saw that 1t was five minutes to
u. and realized hat the actors were
assembling.
Show them ill.," l said, and they en-
tered together a minute later.
Grady was evidently much perturbed.
His usually florid ACE was drawn and
haggard, his cheeks hung in ugly lines,
there were dark pouches under his
eyes, and the eyes themselves were
bloodshot. / guessed that he had not
been to bed; that he had spent the
night searching for Crochard-and 1t
was easy enough to see that the search
had been unsuccessful. Simmonds, too,
was looking rather shaky, and ON doubt
still felt the after effects of that Whit
of poison.
monds," l said, shaking hands with
him. That was a close call"
IT certainly was" Simmonds agreed.
sinking n a chair. IF l had got a
little more of it, I'd never have walked
up.". ~
D you remember anything about
Not a thing. One minute we were
sitting there talking together as nice
as you ~please-and. the next thing I
knew was when / woke up in the bank"
where's that man Godfrey?' broke
in Grady.
He said he'd be here at noon," I
said. and glanced at my watch. It's
noon now. Were you to meet him
him here?"
Grady glanced at me suspiciously.
Don't you know anything about it?"
he asked.
IT only know that Godfrey asked me
to be here at noon today. What's up?"
BLAMED If l know" sal Grady, sulk-
lily. Il got word from him that I'd
better be here, and I thought maybe
he might know something. I'm 30 dizzy
over last nights business that I'm run
ming around in circles this morning.
But l won't wait for him. He can't
make me do that! Come along, Sim
monds."
wait a minute" 1 broke in, as the
outer door opened. Perhaps that's
Godfrey, now"
And so 1t proved. He came in, accom-
panied by a. man whom I knew to be
Record
Godfrey nodded all around.
II think you know Mr.. Shearrow,' he
said, placing on my desk a small leath-
er bag he was carrying. '"This Is MIR.
Lester, Mr.. Shearrow," he added, and
we shook hands. THE object Of this
conference, Lester" he concluded, lis
nected with the Michaelovitch dia-
monds-and incidentally to give the
Record the biggest scoop it has had
for months"
Il amt here to fix up no scoop for
the Record" broke in Grady. "That
paper never did treat me right"
1T has treated you as well as you
deserved" retorted Godfrey. I'm go
ing to talk plainly to you, Grady. YOU
goose is cooked. You can't hold on for
an hour after last nights getaway be-
comes public"
We'll see about that" growled Ora
dy. but the fight had evidently been
taken out of him.
II understand you wouldn't let Sim
monds telephone for me last night2'
aueried Godfrey.
That's right-it wasn't none of your
business"
Perhaps not. And yet, If I had been
there, the cleverest thief in Paris, II
not in the world, would be safe behind
those chrome-nickel steel bars at the
Twenty-third street station, instead OF
at liberty to go ahead and rob some
body else"
you're mighty cocksure," r~etorted
Grady. IT'S a to sbe wise after It'll
all over"
We'll, I'm not going to argue with
you," said Godfrey. 81 admit 1t was
a good disguise, n a clever idea--but
just the same, you ought to have seer
through 1t. That's your business"
Grady mopped his face.
=, "