The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-05-20
CHAPTER VII.
The Secret Desk.

CHAPTER VII.
The Secret Desk.
II was thinking of his cap"
said Cazalet, as they returned
to the tradesmen's door, and Just
as Blanche put In her word,
What about me?"
Mr.. Drinkwater eyed the trim
figure standing in the sun. 1.-THE
more the merrier!" his grim hui
NOR had 1t. II dare say you'll
be able to teach us a thing or two
as well, miss"
1t was all strangely still and in
active, as though domestic ami
nation had been suspended In
definitely.
Yet the open kitchen door re-
vealed female form in multi; a
sullen face looked out of the
pantry as they passed.
Mr.. Drinkwater conducted his
friends into the library.
The library was square room
of respectable size, but very close
and dim with the one French win
dow closed and curtained. But
Mr.. Drinkwater shut the door as
we'll, and switched on the electric
lamps.
The bookshelves contained diff
ferent books. Certain cup
boards, grained and vanished in
Victorian days, were undeniably
improved by being enameled
white.
But the former son of the
house gave himself no time to
waste in sentimental comparisons.
He tapped pair of mahogany
doors, like those of a wardrobe
let into the wall.
Have you looked In here?" de-
handed Cazalet. His air was
almost authoritative now.
whats the use of looking in
a cigar eupbooard?"
Cigar cupboard" echoed
Cazalet in disgust. did he real
ly only use it for his cigars?"
"A cigar cupboard repeated
Drinkwater. "and locked up at
the time it happened. What was
1t, If | may ask. in Mr.. Cazalet's
time?"
~ remember!' came suddenly
from Blanche; but Cazalet only
said, ooh, well, II you know 1t
was locked there's an end of II"
Drinkwater went to the door
and summoned subordinate.
Just fetch that chap from the
pantry, Tom," said he.
II thought you told me this
was a cigar cupboard?" said
Drinkwater, in browbeating
tone when the chap from the
pantry appeared. az
80 1t is" said the man. ga
"Then where's the key?" ot
How should l know? / never
kept it," cried the butler. HE
would keep it on his own bunch;
find his watch, and all the other
things that were missing from his
pockets when your men went
through 'em, and you may find
his keys, tool"
Drinkwater gave his man
double signal; the door slammed
o ma petty triumph for the
servants hall.
TRY your hand on it," Tom,"
said Drinkwater.
Tom applied himself to the
lock In one mahogany door.
The cupboard was open again
broken open-before many min
utes. There was not much in 1t
except cigars. Boxes of these
were stacked on what might have
been meant for shallow desk.
The whole place was shahow as
the wardrobe that the doors sug-
gested, but lighted high up at
one end by a little barred window
of Its own. According to Cazalet
a desk 1t had really been.
Father used to complain that
he was never left in peace" said
Cazalet. 80 finally the old gov
ernor told us he'd got a place
where he could disappear at a
moments notice and yet be back
in another moment IL we rang the
gong. | fancy he told mother
where 1t was. but only found out
for myself by accident. l shall
never forget how | found out its
existence"
mo more shall l." said
Blanche. You told me all about
1t at the time, as a terrific secret,
and l may tell you that I've kept
1t from that day to this!"
"You would" he said simply.
but think Of having the nerve
to pull up the governors floor!"
l wonder If the holes there still"
Whats that about hole in
the floor" asked Drinkwater.
81 made one myself with one