The San Francisco call., 1910-01-23

done at eghteenT
Carter standing at the edge Of the crowd
about the auconeer returned sign to the provoca-
tive glance from under the uprased hammer. The
bid was now in favor OF his only opponent since
the second dollar small red faced bundle OF
in shabby garb, who stood just in front of him.
The auconeer resumed his singsong in hope of fur
ther windfalls.
Going at eighteen. this fine, antique. handmade
rosewood cabinet Eighteen @
It was the backward glance of the red faced man
that had checked Carter Spurred by competition and
z growing curiosity concerning this lone adversary
the young Virginian had pushed up the price to a
point six times value of the piece Of furniture in
question. The uneasness of the red faced man had
been almost ludcrous. He had hdgeted delaying his
BIDS whispering his bids. hurryng them and shouting
them In the second when he named the sum at which
the price stood he had flashed look behind him.
What Carter read in the fat, discolored face had
knocked upon his sense of the mysterious More than
mere cupidity than small desire for fractional
gain. more than auction room rivalry shone in the
black close set eyes With characteristic attention to
whatever suggested concealment or hidden motive
Carter had abandoned the bidding to study the man
and the situation. The wearied hammer was raised
in final appeal when the Virgihian signaled.
'7Ilneteen!" announced the auctioneer
A stir Of interest about the circle awakened the
functionary to a show of briskness and Importance
that served, perhaps. to cover his mystifcation.
'Twentyi" piped the red faced man.
"a real, antique, handmade"-on went the auc-
tioneer and with him the price of the cabinet Carter
bid with nod The red faced man continued his for
mer uneven tactics. His nervousness became aggra-
waited A soiled and crumpled handkerchief was in
constant requisition. He did not look around again.
Thirty" said Carter, yielding to an impulse. Some
looked at him curiously Others smiled. The agta-
ton Of the red faced man was painful The auctioneer
held the bid open second then impatiently knocked
the article down to Carter. Wondering at himself
the Virginian paid the clerk He had started toward
the door when thought drew him back.
can I have the cabinet taken away now?"
Certainly" said the clerk. 81 will send boy for
a wagon"
Carter waited until the vehicle ratified up TO the
door and followed the helpers who bore his purchase
downstairs He saw it safely loaded gave the ad-
dress and started to walk away. AS he turned the
corner he glanced back. The red faced
standing on the steps watching him
In his modest apartment he drew a chair before
the cabinet and examined it carefully. It's outward
appearance was by no remarkable 1t
without inaid carved work. few cheap strips
completed its ornament Its surface was scratched
by hard usage. One leg cracked. The double
doors were closed and the key missing. He
pried at the space between them and they open
under protest Inside three shelves supported
by nails, and nothing more.
The Secret Drawer
Carter was puzzled. He began to suspect that his
usual policy OF following any odd unusual circum-
srance that might offer had led him attach false
value to this unhandsome wreck Thirty dollarsl And
he needed a new silk evening waistcoat. He turned
away impatiently.
But wait How if the cabinet had not given up all
its secrets? Might there not be hidden drawer or
recess? He smiled at the thought. There was almost
too much old century romance in the affair already
with sentimental junkman the central figure. He
came back to the cabinet and a hand under it.
With thrill OF renewed interest he forced ad
NIT that the apparent bottom the left
some three inches unaccounted for. tap brought a
hollow sound He went around to the back and
looked closely at the wood Cheap boards ran cross
wise and were nperfecty fitted. The lower one alone
showed true and smooth. At each side, just beyond
the edge he found small screw head, sunk in the
panel.
After thrice breaking the blade of his knife he was
able to remove the screws, and, warmed now to the
task pulled and drew at the lower bottom. Some
thing slipped suddenly and shallow drawer gave
way, clattering into his hands.
In the center lay bundle of letters tied with green
string The space about the bundle had been packed
loosely with newspapers If to hold it in position.
He lifted out all newspapers and set them aside
noticing that one bore a date five years old. The
letters were in uniform envelopes. plain slightly
tinged with yellow Those the outside had been
faced inward AS he unite the string. re-
hectng upon the possible significance of what he had
found his little clock struck T. He recalled that he
had an engagement for dinner that night with Sam
Pulsain.
Is zspIaced the newspapers methodicaly and closed