The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1914-07-24


American family-a most prominent
family. Three years ago she married
a French nobleman. You can perhaps
guess her name. but l should prefer
that neither of us utter it.
This nobleman has been both prodi-
gal and unfaithful. He has scat
I red my clients fortune with both
bands. l am free to confess that l
consider her a fool not to have left
him long ago. At last her trustees in
terfered, for her father had been wise
enough to place portion of his for
tune in trust. They paid her husbands
debts. placed him ON an allowance and
notified his creditors that his debts
would not be paid again"
l had by this time. Of course, guessed
the name Of bis client.
The allowance is a princely one"
Mr.. Hornblewer continued, "but it does
not suffice Monsieur X. No allowance
would suffice him. So he has become
a thief. He has taken to selling the
objects of art with which his resi-
dences are filed and which are really
the property of my client, since they
were purchased with her money.
About two weeks ago my client re-
turned to Paris from a stay at her
chateau in Normandy to find that he
had almost denuded the town house.
Among other things which he had ia
ken was Boule cabinet, which had
been used by my client as her private
writing desk. The cabinet was a most
valuable one. But it is not it's none
tary value which makes my client so
anxious to recover it."
He paused an instant and cleared his
throat.
Monsieur X. had had the decency,"
he went ON. more slowly. ito. as he
thought retain his wife's private pa
pers. He had caused the contents of
the various drawers to be dumped out
upon chair. But there was one
drawer Of which he knew nothing-a
secret drawer. known only to my cli-
ent. That drawer contained a packet
Of letters which my client is most anx-
ious to regain. She has given me to
understand that their recovery is es-
sential to her peace of mind
l reflected faithless husband has
no reason to complain if his wife re-
pays him in the same coin.
My client went to work at once to
regain the cabinet" continued MIR.
Hornblower, plainly relieved that the
thinnest ice had been crossed. ''She
found that 1t had been sod to Armand
& Son. Fastening to their offices. she
learned that it had been resold by
them to Mr.. Vantine and sent forward
to him here. So she came over on the
first boat, ostensibly to visit her fami-
ly, but really to ask Mr.. Vantine's per-
mission to open the drawer and take
out the letters. His death .interfered
with this, and in despair she came to
me. need hardly add that no men,
Der of her family knows anything
about this matter. and it is especially
never even suspect it. On her behalf
apply to you as Mr.. Vantine's execu-
tor to restore these letters to their
owner"
l sat for a moment turning this ex-
traordinary story over in my mind.
Surely Nine. X. would scarcely guard
the secret of that drawer with poison
Does any one besides your client
know of the existence of these let
ters?" asked at last.
II think not" answered Mr.. Horn
blower, smiling dryly. They are not
OF nature which my client would
care to communicate to any one. We
must get them back at any cost"
GAS a matter of fact" I pointed out.
there are always at least two people
who know Of the existence of every
letter-the person who writes it and
the person who receives it."
81 had thought of that, but the per
son who wrote these letters is dead.
He was killed in a duel some months
ago by Monsieur x"
Mr.. Hornblower sat regarding me,
his lips pursed, as an indication, per-
haps, that he would say no more.
But there was no necessity that he
should. l knew enough OF French law
and of French habits Of thought to
realize that if those letters ever came
into possession of Monsieur X, the
game would be entirely in his hands
His wife would be absolutely at his
mercy. And the thought flashed