Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-15

I've hidden it in the mattress OF the DeO
upstairs. had
Here the writing ended abruptly. No doubt
Valet or the Chinaman had come upon the
scene and burned the letter, or perhaps Chif-
fon had herself destroyed it to prevent Valet
from knowing where the diamond was hidden.
We were forced to conclude that the former
had happened, for although we tore the mat
treSs to shreds nothing was found. But We
knew, at least, where the beast was hiding.
This time our plans were well laid. d.
DupTez was determined to take no risks, and q
Gordon of more than two hundred police was
drawn around the silent and apparently de-
serted houseboat. We knew that the man We
sought was inside for crackers dressed as Lahore
ers had examined the ground on both banks.
The launch we had heard on the preceding
night was moored TO the houseboat, OF tho
shore, and no footprints showed anywhere In
the clay soil.
Spies had informed us that Valet was not
alone, and it was decided that we should wait
until dark in order to take them by surprise
and carry the place with a preconcerted rush.
Chiffon was probably held a prisoner by the
bandit and would be in great danger. There-
fore, DaumairS and several men were to break
into the place from the back with heavy axes
while we attacked from the landing stage.
The hours were heavy with suspense while
we lay hidden and watched, but at last d
series of tiny flashes from both banks warned
us that the moment for action had arrived.
Like swarm Of ants the police converged
upon the, floating retreat from all sides.
whistle blew and with a rush We were at the
DOORS Armed police climbed to the roof,
others tore open the shattered windows, and
heralded by a storm of yells and pistol shots
we were inside.
Valet and several sinister ruffans, automatic
x>ie4 in f1aoir dc uitIa
dangling by straps from their wrists, met rs
in the narrow passage. At that critical moment
the Splintering crashes of Daumains' attack
caused the bandit to waver for a second and
gave us our opportunity. The hand-to-hand
battle was fierce and short but even In lace
of our overwhelming numbers, Valet, snarling
and cursing, succeeded in pushing his men
before him and pulled open trapdoor IN the
floor He was about to drop into the water
when tiny agile figure sprang at him from
behind, yelling in English:
Now, you hound, I've got you"
It was jim Custer, the ex-jockey. Valet
fought like a demon, and fired again and again
into his opponents body until Custer staggered
back MORALLY wounded. But with last eff0re
the Englishman raised his own pistol just as
Laughton sprang forward. There was crash%
ing machine gun rattle of five shots in quick
succession-the jockeys weapon was para~
bellum-and Valet dropped across the body OF
the plucky little fellow. Both were dead The
remainder Of the men were already chained
and helpless.
Laughton and I raced for the back Of the
boat from which Custer had appeared an-
xious for the safety of Daumains and Chiffon.
We need not have felt concerned about them.
Just inside a tiny cabin, of which the partition
had been smashed by an ak, We perceived our
colleague. He was holding a slim, handsome
boy in his arms.
"Chifon!" he cried joyfully.
Laughton shrugged his shoulders, but shook
hands with Chiffon neverthelesS-and so did
we all. .,,s
M Duprez allowed the brave girl to remain
free, on the understanding that Inspector Dau-
mains guaranteed her appearance at the trial.
The diamond, wonderful blue stone, weigh.
ing forty-five caratS-was found on Valet. 10
was claimed by the family of the dead mera
chant in Saigon. From Chiffon and the caps
tured men we learned that Ling Tang had
indeed murdered the merchant and fed to
Marseille with the stolen jewel to be robbed In
his turn Of all his possessions by several Of hiB
countrymen, who knew nothing Of the gem
hidden in secret compartment of the usual
lacquer box so much in favor in the East.
They had sold this box, together with other
stolen goods, in Lyon.
T ING TANG had traced the box to this town
and confided In Valet, whom he Wae
sheltering and whose help he needed. Valet.
true to his treacherous nature, at once decided
to kill the Chinaman and possess himself Of
the stone Among his men were the coolies
who had robbed Ling Tang and who thus
learned too late Of the treasure which HAD
slipped through their fingers. Therefore threa
distinct groups worked feverishly with the samo
object In view Valet had simply watched tlD
Chinese and had killed the first one in the be-
lief that he had found the jewel
It was Ling Tang who had wrecked the car
when he discovered that Valet was on the
right track and that M. Rolett was bringing
the stone tn headnyYartprS Roth hod coavn ftI,;f-