The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-03-17
Continued From Our Last issue.
CHAPTER XXI.
III. at AIT az the Drama

]
Godfrey nodded all around.
Il think YOU know Mr. Shear
row he said. placing on my desk
small leather bag he was carry
Ing The object Of this confer.
ence. Lester" he concluded. is to
uralghten out certain matters con
nectsd with tho Michaeloyitch dia
monds and incidentally TO give the
Record the biggest scoop Il has had
for months"
Il Amt here 20 fix mp no scoop
for the Record" broke in Grady
That paper never did treat me
right"
1T has treated you as well AZ you
deserved. fctorted Godfrey I'm
going To talk plainly 10 YOU. Grady.
Your goose ~ cooked You're ensr-
getlo enough and all that: but
| you're not ~ for your job-it's too
big for you. and yon know Il. Take
my advice. and go TO tho phone
there and send In your rcsigna-
! ton"
Phone IN my resignation ="
Grady echoed
Was it 10 tell me that you IN,
me over hercT"
NO" said Godfrey. 4 got you
here 10 meet --"
The outer door opened. and God.
frey looked toward n. smiling
"Moosaecr PlEEott'" announced
tho officeboy.
And then | almost bounced from
my seat. for would have sworn
that the man who stood on the
threshold ~as ;Ae man Who had
opened tho secret drawer.
Ito came forward. looking from
face to face: then his eyes met God
frcvA and he smiled
Behold that | am here. mon
sieu-. he raid. and ! started anew
at tho voice. Tor II was the voice
OF Crochard Il hope that ! have
not kept you waiting
Not at all. NJ. Pigot." Godfrey
assured him. and placed chair for
him.
Godfrey looked about at us. smil-
ing as be saw our expressions.
Il went down the bay this morn
ling aud met tho Sayoie." he said.
l"i related 60 81 Pigot last nights
Occurrences. and begged TO be pres
lent at this meeting. lie was good
cnough 90 agree. assure you he
added. seeing Grady's look. that
this IL NJ Pigo, Of the Paris Ser.
lylce du Surcte. and no; Crochnrt. "
"oh. res, said NJ. Pigo,, with de
lpreciating shrus. but I regret that
lcrochard should have made good
his escape"
More especially since he took
tho MIcharloviteh diamonds with
him." added.
Yes" agreed Mr.. Pigot. q little
bitterly. 1T was q most clever
plan. and now. no doubt. Crochard
can sell tho briiiiAnts at his
leisure"
no, II you've 20, a good dcscrfp-
ton Of them" protested Grady.
I'm make IL a point 10 warn every
dealer In the country"
ooh. there Is no use taking all
that trouble" broke In Godfrey.
ncgiieenuy. "crochard hasn't got
them"
"oh. como Off" said Grady. dis
custody III he hasn't got 'cm. I'd
like to know who has"
II have" said Godfrey. and
cleared my desk with a sweep OF
his arm. Spread out your hand
lkerchief. Lester and as ! dazediy
obeycd. he picked up the little
Heather bag. and poured out It's con-
tents in a sparkling flood.
There" he added. turning 20
GRADY. arc the Michaeloyitch dia.
imonds"
For an instant we gazed at the
,Elittering heap with dazzlcd eyes I:
then Grady Fprzns 10 his feet.
But / don't understand" he
gasped. 'liaye YOU got Gresham.
tool"
NO such luck" said Godfrey.
but I discovered the secret drawer
10 days ago while the cabinet was
still at Nantlne's-ths evening
after IN. velled lady got her letters.
The drawer containing the letters
was on the left side OF the desk. I
saw Mt once that there must he an.
other drawer. opened ia the same
way. on the right side Besides. the
yelled lady herself made a remark
which revealed the whole story"
Il didn't notice H." ! said. re.
signedly. What was it,"
That che was accustomed TO
lopening the drawer with her left
hand. instead OF with her right. SO
II discovered tho drawer very
simply"
Yea" | said: "and them"
Then ! removed the Jewels, took
them down 10 a dealer in paste
gems and duplicated them as close.
lly ms I could
NJ. plgot smiled a dry smile.
We'll" continued Godfrey. after
| got the duplicates rolled them
up in the cotton packets
And then | remembered the slow
flush which had crept into Gro
chard's cheeks as he opened that
first packet,
II didn't expect to deceive him, -
Godfrey continued. Il Just wanted
10 give him a little surprise. And
20 think wasn't there TO see IT."
But II he knew they were imIta.
lions" | protested. why should he
go TO all that trouble TO steal
them7"
THAT IL what puzzled me last
night" said Godfrey; and. for that
matter. 1t puzzles me yet. And now
; gentlemen" continued Godfrey. 81
am ready TO turn these diamonds
over to you. | should like you 10
count them and give me a receipt
for them"
; And then. OF course. YOU will
write the story" sneered Grady
and give Yourself all the credit"