The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1914-07-03

the Frencnman got the drawer open.
who closed it?"
Perhaps it closed itself when he let
go Of it."
And closed again after vantine
opened ft?''
Yes"
IT'S possible. We must remember
that the prisoners of those days were
very ingenious. But there is one thing
that isn't possible, and that is that
poison which. If it is administered as
we think 1t is, must be liquid. could
remain In that cabinet fresh and ready
for use for more than 800 years. 1t
would have dried up centuries ago.
Nor would the mechanism stay in or
der so long. 1t must be both compli-
Gated and delicate. Therefore it would
have to be oiled and overhauled from
time to time II it is worked by a
spring-and don't see how else it can
be worked-the spring would have to
be renewed and wound up
"Weli?" asked as he paused
We'll, it Is evident that the drawer
contains something more recent than
the love letters of Louis XIV 1t must
have been put i'll working order quite
recently. But by whom and for what
purpose? That is the mystery we
have to solve. and it is mighty pref
ty one. And here's another objection"
be added. THAT Erenchman knew
about the secret drawer. because. ac-
cording to our theory. he opened it and
got killed. Why didn't he also know
about the poison?''
That was an objection, truly. and
the more thought of it the more seri-
Gus it seemed.
ut may be-" said Godfrey at last,
that DAurelle was going 1t alone
that he had broken with the gang
The gang?"
"Of course there is gang This
thing has taken careful planning and
concerted effort. And the leader of
the gang Is n genius! | wonder if you
understand how great genius? Think!
He knows the secret of the drawer Of
Nine. de Montespan's cabinet. But.
above all, he knows the secret Of the
poison - the poison of the Medici!
Do you know what that means. Les
ter?"
What does it meanP' l asked, for
Godfrey was getting ahead of me.
1T means he is great criminai-a
really great criminal-one Of the elect
from whom crime has no secrets. OBJ
serve. He alone knows the secret Of
the poison. One of his men breaks
away from him and pays for his mu-
tiny with his life. He is the brain:
the others are merely the instrumentsr'
Then you don't believe it was by
accident that cabinet was sent to Van
tine2"
"By accident2 Not for an instant!
1t was part of plot-and a splendid
plot!"
Can you explain that to me too?''
| queried little ironically.
He smiled good naturally at my
tone.
"Of course this is all mere romano
Ing" he admitted. II am the first to
acknowledge that was merely fol-
lowing out our theory to what seemed
its logical conclusion. But perhaps
we are on the wrong track altogether.
Perhaps D'AureIle, or whatever his
name is. just Numbered in like a moth
into a candle fame. AS for the plot
we'll, | can only guess at it, But sup
pose you and had pulled OFF some big
robbery
He stopped suddenly and his face
went white and then red. "Lesterg
he cried. his voice shrill with fear.
THE cabinet-it isn't guardedy'
Yes. 1t is" | said. "At least
thought of thatp'
And I told him of the precautions
had taken to keep it safe. He heard
me out with sigh of relief.
II think the cabinet is safe-for to-
night. And before another night, Les.
ter, we will have look fop ourselves"
"a look2"
eyes; for the secret drawerw
"D'Aurelle and Vantine found it."
muttered thickly.
ut won't kill us. We will go about
it armored, Lester. That poisoned fang
may strike, but I'll be ready. Lester
There will be no danger. Come, mani
Why, it's the chance of a nfetime-to
match ourselves against the greatest
criminal Of modern timesr'
His shrill laugh told how excited he
was.