Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-12-16
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The yelled lady turned to me and held
out her hand.
II thank YOU. Mr.. Lester, for your
| Kindness" she said. Come, julie" and
she moved toward the door, which Rog-
ers fastened to open.
Mr.. Hornblower nodded and passed
out after them. and Godfrey and l were
left alone together.
We both sat down, anu for q moment
neither OF us spoke.
! what a story it would make! And 1
can't use it. It's Il bitter reflection,
Lester!"
lit would certainly shake the pillars
of society" I agreed. I'm rather shak-
en- myself"
so am 1! was all at sea for a
while-I was dumb with establishment
when l heard you and the yelled lady
talking about the secret drawer-I
could see YOU laughing at me! l don't
know the whole story yet. How did she
happen to come to you?"
1 told him of Hornblower's visit, of
the story he told me, and of the ar
rangement We had made. Godfrey
nodded t%houghtfully when l had fin
ished.
The story is straight, OF course he
said, "Hornblower would not be en-
gagged in anything tricky. Besides, 1
recognized the lady. l p you did,
too"
Yes. I have seen pictures of her. And
admired her for putting back her
Veil"
SO did 4. She has changed since the
day of her wedding, Lester-she was a
'smooth-faccd girl. then! Three years of
life with her duke have left their mark
on her!"
He fell silent, staring taoughtfully at
the carpet. Then he shook himself.
And the maids story was mnSf In.
teresting.' he added. Nevertheless.
there are still Il number of things which
are not quite clear to me-"
There is one thing I don't under
stand. myself" l said. II hadn't any
idea this was the right cabinet. l 4 didn't
see how it could be-"
That's it. exactly. How did it hap
pen. when the yelled lady went to
Armand & Son in Paris. that she was
directed to Philip Vantine? Ac-
cording to his own story. he did
NOT purchase this cabinet; he had never
seen 1t before: it vas presumably
shipped him by mistake; Armand e Son
cable you that it was a mistake: and
yet they cite Eantine as the purchaser.
Ihere is something twisted somewhere.
Lester; Just where I'll try to find OUT
Which reminds me that Armand's
representative hasn't been around yet.
NO doubt he a straighten the matter
out"
1T won't do any harm to hear his
story. anyway" Godfrey agreed. Now
iets nave a look at that drawer"
1t a standing open as we had left
~; ana Godfrey pushed it back into
pace, called my attention to the cum
hlng way in which it's outline was con-
ceaied by the inlay about it. Then he
worked the spring. h handle fell into
place. and he drew the drawer out
again. as far 1y If wnl116 <.o,,,n o,l ox
amined it carefully.
Hihe FELLOW who devised that was a
genius" he said, a%dmiringly, pushing it
back into place. Il wonder what it's
contents have been from the days OF
Madame de Montespan down to the
present? Love letters, mostly, / sup
pose. since they are the things which
need concealment most. Don't you wish
this drawer could tell it's secrets. Les
ter?"
There is one 1 wish it would tell, il
IT knows It," l said. Il wish it would
pose you will agree with me thai our
pretty theory has got a Knockout blow.
this time"
1T looks hat way, doesn't it?'
There is no poisoned mechanism
about that drawer-that's sure.' l add
ed.
No. and never has been,' Godfrey
agreed.
And that leaves us all at sea, doesn't
1T? 1t leaves the whole affair moro
mysterious than ever. / can't UNDER
stand it," and I sat down in my be-
wlderment and rubbed my head. l real-
ly felt for an instant as though 1 had
gone mentally blind. There is one
thing sure" l added. THE killing. what
ever its cause, was done out there in
the ante-room. not in here"
What makes you think that?"
we bellev that Drouet came here to
get Vantine's permission to open this
drawer and get the letters. no doubt
representing himself as the agent Of
their owner"
Il think it's a pretty good guess"
said Godfrey, pensively.
Our theory was that. after being
shown into the ante-room. he discov-
cred the cabinet. tried to open the
drawer, and was killed in the attempt.
But it is evident enough now thai there
Is nothing about that drawer to hurt
any one
Yes. that's evident, I think" Cod
frey agreed.
If he had opened the drawer, then,
he would have taken the letters. since
there was nothing to- prevent him.
Since they were not taken, 1t follows.
doesn't It. that he was killed before
he a q chance at the drawer? Per.
haps he v saw the cabinet. He
u have been killed there in the
ante-room. a few minutes after Parks
left"
and how about vantine " Godfrey
asked.
II don't know. I said. helplessly.
He didn't want the letters--if he
opened the drawer at all, 1t was merely
out Of curiosity to see how 1t worked.
Only. of purse the same. agency that
killed Drouet. killed him. Yes-and now
that I think of 1t. it's certain he didn't
open the drawer. either"