, 1914-08-20

"Wflr you show me how the secret
drawer is operated. Mr.. Lester?" he
said. 81 am most curious about it."
placed my hand upon the table and
pressed the three points which the
yelled lady had shown US. The little
handle fell forward with a click. and |
pulled the drawer open.
He examined it with much Interest,":
pushed 1t back into place and then
opened 1t himself.
Very clever. indeed" be said. 81
have never seen another 80 well con-
cealed.'
my friend and l went over the cab
met very carefully and could not find
It," l said.
"Your frtend-I think you mentioned
his Manner
Yes. His name is Godfrey"
"a man of the law. like yourselfr'
"Oh. no, a newspaperman. But he
had been a member of the detective
force before that. He is extraordinarily
keen. But that combination was too
much for him."
NJ. Armand snapped the drawer back
into place with a little crash.
Il am glad. at any rate. that 1t was
discovered" be said. II will not con-
ceal from you. Mr.. Lester. that it adds
not a little to the value of the cabi-
net"
what is its value?" l asked. "Mr.
Vantine wanted me to buy it for him
and named a most ~extravagant figure
as the limit he was willing to pay"
Really NJ. Armand answered aft
err an instant's hesitation, II would not
without further consultation with my
father"
what is 1t, ParksT" l said as that
worthy appeared at the door.
There's a van outside. sir" he said.
'and a couple of men are unloading a
piece of furniture. Is 1t all right, sir7"
"Yes." l answered. Have them
bring it in here, and ask the man in
charge Of the inventory to step over
here a minute. Mr.. vantine left his
collection of art objects to the Metro
politan Museum. l explained to NJ.
Armand, land I should like the repre-
sentative Of the museum to be present
when the exchange is made"
Certainly he assented. THAT Is
very just"
Parks was back In a moment, pilot
ing two men who carried between
them an object swathed in burlap,
and the Metropolitan man followed
them in.
II am Mr.. Lester" I said to him.
'Mr. vantine's executor. and this is
NJ. Felix Armand of Armand & Son Of
Paris. We are correcting an error
which was made just before Mr.. PAN
tine died. That cabinet yonder was
shipped him by mistake In place of
one which he had bought. NJ. Armand
has caused the right one to be sent
over and will take away the n which
belongs to him. have already spoken
to the museums attorney about the
matter. but wished you to be present
when the exchange was made"
THAT is a very handsome piece"
said the Metropolitan man. II am
sorry the museum is not to get it"
The two men meanwhile. under NJ.
Armand's direction, had been strip
ping the wrappings from the other cab
met, and II finally stood revealed. 1t,
too. was II beautiful piece Of furni-
ture, but even my unframed eye could
see how greatly 1t fell below the other.
.oThe other cabinet IL yours" I said
to M. Armand,
81 shall hope to see you again. Mr..
Lester" he said. with a cordially
which fiattered me. land to renew our
very pleasant acquaintance. When
ever you are in Paris l trust you will
not fail to honor me by letting me
know"
THANK you" I said. II shall GER
tafnly remember that invitation. And
meanwhile. since you are here In New
York.
you are most kind" he broke In.
land I was myself hoping that we
might at least dine together. But
I'm compelled to proceed to Boston
this evening. and from there ] shall go
on to Quebec"
Then he signed to the two men to
take up the cabinet and himself laid
a protecting hand upon 1t as It was
carried through the door and down
the steps to the van which was back
ed up to the curb. II was lifted care
fully inaide. the two men clamhered