The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-12-24

"comment7" he cried, his voice sharp
with surprise. Found? The secret
drawer has been found?"
Yes, and there was no poisoned
mechanism guarding it"
he breathed deeply for an instant;
then he pulled himself together with
a little laugh.
Really" he said. 81 must not in
dulge myself in this way. 1t is a kind
or 1ntoxication. But you say that the
drawer was found and that there was
no poison? Was the drawer empty?"
in it"
Delicious! Love letters of a GER
Lalnty! Rillets-doux from the great
Louis to the Montespan, perhaps?"
No, unfortunately they We're of a
much more recent date. They have
peen restored to their owner. I hope
that you agree with me that that was
the right thing to do?"
lie sat for a moment regarding me
narrowly. and / had an uneasy feel
ing that since he undoubtedly knew Of
Whom the cabinet had been purchased,
ne was reconstructing the story more
completely than I would have wished
him to do. y
Since the letters have been re-
turned" he said, as last, a little drily.
lit is useless to discuss the matter. But
no doubt l should approve If all the
circumstances were known to me.
Especially if it was to assist a lady"
1t was" [ said, and I saw from his
face h a he understood.
Then you did WE'LL" he said. "Has
no other explanation been found for
the death Of Mr.. Vantine and Of this
stranger?"
Il think no. The coroner will hold his
inquest tomorrow. He has deferred it
in the hope that some new evidence
would be discovered"
And none has been discovered?"
i have heard of none.,'
You do not even know who this
stranger was?"
oh. yes. we have discovered that,
Drouet."
"A Frenchman?"
Yes. living in an attic in the Rue
de la Huchette. at Paris"
M. Armand had been gazing at me
1ntently. but now his look relaxed, and
l fancied that he drew a deep breath
as a man might do when relieved of a
burden. AT the back of my brain a
vague and shadowy suspicion began to
Armand knew more of this affair than
he had yet acknowledged.
You did not, by chance, know him7"
l asked carelessly.
mo. 1 think not. But there Is one
thing do not understand, Mr.. Lester,
and you will pardon me if L am in
discreet. But I do not understand what
this Droue, as o call him, was doing
In the house of Mr.. Vantine."
HI was trying to get possession of
the letters I said.
"oh. SO it was that" and my com
panion nodded. And in trying to get
those letters. he was killed?''
IL Yes hl1t whot nnnn Nf no ,,,l.-
stands. M. Armand, is how he was
killed. Who or what killed him? How
was that poison administered? Can you
suggest an explanation"
he sat for a moment staring thought
fully out Of the window.
1T Is a nice problem he said, "a
most interesting one. 1 will think 1t
over. Mr.. Lester. Perhaps 1 may be
able to make q suggestion. I do not
know. But. in any event, I shall see
you again Wednesday. If it is agree
able to you. we can meet at the house
or Mr.. Vantine and exchange the cabi-
nets"
A what time?"
II do not know with exactness. There
may be some delay in getting the cabi-
net from the ship. Perhaps it would
be better If I called for your"
Very well" 1 assented.
Permit me to express again my
apologies that such a mistake should
have been made by us. Really, we are
most careful; but even we sometimes
surfer from careless servants. It DESC
lates me to think that I cannot offer
these apologies to Mr.. Vantine in per-
son. TIL Wednesday, then, Mr.. Lester"
Till Wednesday," I echoed. Inc
watched mis- erect and perfect-garbed
figure until it vanished through the
doorway. A fascinating man, 1 told my
self as 1 turned back to my desk, and
one whom 1 should like to know more
intimately; a man with a hobby for
the mysteries Of crime, with which T
could fully sympathize; and smiled
as 1 thought of the burning interest
with which he had listened to the story
of the double tragedy. How naively he
had confessed his thought that he
would have made n great detective-or
a great criminal; n here he was only
a dealer in curios. Well, I had had the
Same thought, more than once-and
here was 1. merely a not-too-successful
laWyer. Decidedly, M. Armand and
myself had much in common!