The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-10-15
HAPTER nr-econtinued,.

ne wanted TO borrow SOM
money, or asy for help; and then
while he was waitin. he suddenly gave
the thing up and killed himself. The
address has no bearing whatever, thai
i can see, on the question Of suicide
And I'll say this, Mr.. Lester, IL this
isn't suicide. it's the strangest case
ever had anything to do with"
Yes" l agreed. If IL isn't suicide
We come to a blank wall right away
That's f." and Goldberger nodded
emphatically. Heres the ambulance
he added, as bell rang.
The bearers entered with the stretch
ar. placed the body on II, and carried II
away. Goldberger paused to gather VI
the articles he had taken from the dead
mans pockets.
''You gentlemen win have to give
your testimony at the inquest he said
so will Parks and Rogers. IL win be
day after tomorrow. probably at 1(
o'clock, but ri notify you OF the hour
Very WELL" I said; well be there
and Goldberger bade US good bye. and
left the house. "And now" I added, to
vantine. ~ must be getting back to
the office. They'll be asking the police
TO look for me next. Man alfve!" and
l glanced at my watch. ITS after
"Too late for the office" said vantine.
Better come upstairs and have a
drink. Besides. I want to talk with
you"
cat least. I'll let them know I'm stfl
alive" I said, and I called up the Of
flee and allayed any anxiety that may
have been felt there concerning me. !
must admit that It did not seem acute.
II feel the need OF a bracer after all
this excitement" Vantine remarked, as
he opened the ceraret. "Help yourself.
/ dare say you're used to this sort of
thing H
Finding dead men lying around?"I
queried with a smile. "No-tts not SO
common as you seem to think"
Tell me, Lester" and he leaked at
me earnestly, d you think that poor
devil came In here just to get @ chance
to kill himself quietiyT'
mo, / don't" I said.
Then what did he come IN for?" .
II think Goldberger's theory q pref
" good one--that he had heard Of you
as q generous fellow and came In here
to ask help; and while he was waiting,
And killed himself3" vantine COM
plefed.
I hesitated. I was astonished to find,
doubt.
See here, Lester" vantine demand
ed, IF he didn't kill himself. what
happened to himr'
=. ~AO6 "a NAlo"6t II an6WGI6us III
despair. I've been asking myself the
am question, without finding q rea-
sonab answere to It. AS i said to
Goldberger, It's a blank wall. But IL
anybody can see through It, Jim God
yantine seemed deeply perturbed. He
took a turn or two up and down the
room. then stopped In front Of me and
looked me earnestly IA the eye.
Tell me. Lester" he sid, do you be-
eheve that theory OF Godfrey's-that
that insignificant wound on the hand
caused death2'
ut seem absurd. doesn't "? But
Godfrey Is q sort OF genius at divining
Then you do believe it7"
Is asked myself the same question be-
fore j answered.
"Yes. I do" ! said. finally.
Vantine walked up and down the
room again. his eyes on the floor, his
brows contracted.
Lester" he said, at last, at have n
queer feeling that the business which
brought h man here In SEINE way
concerned the Boule cabinet I was tell
ing you about. Perhaps It belonged to
him"
Hardy" I protested, recalling his
shabby appearance.
AT any rate. I remember. as I was
IA 80 hAo S6NuS LlAh bOkM0 BuCn
thought occurred to me. It was for
that reason I told Parks to ask him to
wait"
It's possible, OF course" I admitted.
But that wouldn't explain ms excite
ment. And that reminds me-" I added,
Il haven't sent OF that cable.
Amy time tonight win do. It will be
delivered In the morning. But you
haven't seen the cabinet yet. Gene
down and look at It"
He led the way down the stair. Parks
US In the lower hall.
There's a delegation Of reporters
outside. sir" he said. They say
they've got to see you"
Vantine made a movement OF impa-
thence.
'"rell them" he said, " shat I pos
itively refuse to see them or to allow
my servants to see them. Let them get
their information from the police"
Very well, SIR" said Parks, and
turned away grinning.
Vantine passed on through the ante
in which we had found the body
Of the unfortunate Frenchman, and
into h room beyond. Five or six
pieces Of furniture, evidently Just UNI
packed, stood there, but, ignorant as I
am of such things, he did not have to
point out to mo the Boule cabinet. 1t
dominated the room, much as Madame
de Montespan, no doubt, dominated the
court al Versailles.
/ looked at It for some moments, for
1t was certainly a beautiful piece of
work, with a wealth of inlay and in
~crustation little short Of marvellous. But
/ may as well say here that ] never
really appreciated II. The iorid style
OF the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Louis
is not at all to my taste; and 1 am too
little or a connoisseur to admire q
beauty which has no personal appeal
for me. Sol am afraid that Vantina
found me q little cold.
Certainly there was nothing cold
about the way he regarded II. His
eye cleaned with q strange fire as he
looked at it.; he ran his fingers over
the inlay with q touch almost rever-
emit; he pulled out for me the little
drawers with much the same air
thaa another friend OF mine takes down
hts Kilmarnock Burns from his book
shelves: he pointed out to me the grace
OF Its urv in the same tone that one
uAes to discuss the masterpiece OF q
great artist. And then, finding no echo
20 his enthusiasm, he suddenly stopped.
You don't seem to care for It." he
said, looking at me.
That's my fault and not the fault of
the cabinet" / pointed out. I'm not
educated up to 1T; I'm too little Of an
artist, perhaps"
He was flushed, as q man might be
should another make a disparaging re-
mark about his wife, and he led the
way from the room at once.
Remember. Lester" he said. a little