Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-04-16

me cnDlner Is III mere. I SAID inc
led the way into the inner room. the
two men and the yelled lady at my
heels.
1t stood in the middle of the floor.
just MS it had stood since the night Of
the tragedy. and all the lights were
going. AS ] entered | noticed Cod
frey's gauntlet lying on a chair.
us it the right one. MADAME" |
asked.
Yes" she answered. with a gasp
that was almost a sob.
You are Sure?" | queried.
do you think ! could be mistaken
in such a matter. sir: | assure you
that this cabinet at one time belonged
to me You l'e,nnt me-" she ADDED
and 1ook Il step toward it.
"Oue moment. madame" interpoS.
ed. Il mist warn you that in touch.
ing that cabinet yuu are running d
great risk.
"A great risk" she echoed. looking
at me.
lis there not connected With the
drawer" | asked. "a mechanism which
as the drawer is opened plunges two
poisoned fangS into the hand which
opeuS it,"
NO. Mr.. Lester she answered. as
constituent in her voice, Il ssure you
there is no such mechanism"
clutched at ~ last straw. and d sor.
ry n it was.
THE mechanism may have been
placed there since the cabinet passed
from your possession" / suggested.
THAT is perhaps possible" she
agreed. though 7 saw that she was I'm.
convinced.
AT any rate. madame" / said. 81
would ask that in opening the drawer
you wear shis gauntlet" and | picked
up GodfrGy's gauntlet from the chair
on which it lay. 1T - needless that
you should take any risk. however
slight. Permit me-" and | slipped the
gauntlet over her right hand.
AS | did so ! glanced at Godfrey.
He was staring at the yelled lady with
such Il look Of %stupefaction that l near
ly choked with delight. 1t had not
often been my luck to see Jim Godfrey
myStitied. but he was certainly mysti-
fed now.
She moved toward the cabinet. God
frey and | close behind her. ~lnstinc-
lively | glanced toward the shattered
window. but the semicircle Of light
was unobscured.
The yelled lady bent above the table
and disposed the fingers of her right
hand to fit the metal inlay midway of
the left side.
1T is a little awkward" she said.
Il have always been accustomed &c
using the left hand. You will notice
that | am pressing on three points
But to open the drawer one must press
these points in Il certain %order-irs'
this one. her this one and then this
one"
There was a sharp click. and at the
side of the table a piece Of the meta
inlay fell forward.
That is the handle" said the veilet
lady. and without an instant's hesita
ton. while my heart stood still, sh'
grasped it and drew out a shallow
drawer. "Ah!" And. casting aside tn
ridiculous gauntlet. she caught up til
packet Of papers which lay within
you see that they are only letters
Mr.. Lester" she said in a low voice
land | assure you that they belong t
me-"
Il believe you. madame" l said. anC
with a sigh Of relief that was almos
a sob. she rebound the packet an
slipped it into the bosom Of her gown
There is n thing" | added. "whic
madame can perhaps. do for me-"
Il shall he most happy" she breatheC
"As | have old Mr.. Hornblower,"
continued. Two lei died in this rooI
the day before Yesterday. or. rather
it was in the room beyond that the
died. but we believe it was here the
received the wounds which cause
death. 1t seems that we were wrong i
this"
"Undoubtediy." she agreed. "Ther
has never been any such weird meet
anism as you described connected wit
that drawer. Mr.. Lester-at least nc
since ! have had it. There is a legenC
you know. that the cabinet was mad
for Nine. de M%ontespan."
"Mr. Vantine suspected as much"
said. HE was examining it at tn
time be died. What the other ma
was doing we do not know. but If W
could identify him it might help u:
1t has occurred to me. madame. tina
you may have seen him on La Tourain
that he may even be known to you.
What was his name?"
The card he sent in to MIR. Vantin
bore the name Of Theophile D'Aurelle.
She shook her head.
II have never before heard tina
name. Mr.. Lester"
T-