Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-04-30

The Mystery
of the
b0uIe Cabinet
By BURTON E. STEVENSON
4 Copyright, 1913. by Burton f.
NJ Stevenson.
Copyright. 1913. by Burton f.
Stevenson. ~
Observation-Disclosures
CHAPTER XII.
Part With the BouIe Cabinet.

shed amy light on the way in which
Drouet and Philip Nantine had met
death.
Police commissioner Grady did not
go on the stand. He WAS not ut the in
quest. The case had been placed in
SimmondS' hands. and it was he who
testified on behalf of the police. admit
ting candidly that they We're all at sea.
But he had not abandoned hope and
was still working on the case.
The end OF the hearing was that the
jury brought in Il verdict that Philip
Vantine and Georges Drouet had died
from the effects Of Il poison admins
tered by Il person or persons unknown.
Godfrey joined me ut the door as l
was leaving.
II was glad to hear Simmonds con-
fess that the police are up a tree he
said. "Of course Grady is trying to
sneak out of it. I'll see that Sim
mOnds gets a square DEAL
Were all up a tree. aren't we?" I
said. "Sirce my theory about the
Boule cabinet exploded l have given
Up hope. BY the way. I'm going to
turn the cabinet over to it's owner to-
morrow"
ITO it's owner?" he repeated. his
eyes narrowing. Eyes. l thought he'd
be, around for it. though 1 hardly
thought he'd come so soon. Who does
ithappen to be, Lester?"
why" said. a little impatiently.
you know as we'll as I do that it be-
longs to Armand & Son."
you've seen their representative.
them" he queried. with a little flush
Of excitement.
"He came to see me yesterday. Id
like you to meet him. Godfrey. He is
Felix Armand. the son of the firm,
and one of the most finished gentle
men l ever met"
"I'd like to meet him. said Godfrey,
smiling queerly. Perhaps | shall.
some day. / hope so. anyway. But
how did he explain the blunder, Les
ter?""
'In some way they shipped the
wrong cabinet to Vantine. The right
M will get here on La Provence to-
morrow.
ut is all most interesting Godfrey
commented.
Godfrey" l added. II felt yester-
day when ! was talking with him that
perhaps he knew more about this affair
than he would admit. l could see that
he guessed in an instant who the own
er of the letters was. and what they
Ieontained. Do you think I ought to
hold on to the cabinet a while longer?
I could invent some pretext for delay.
easily enough
why. no: let him have his .cabinet:''
said Godfrey. with an alacrity that sur
prised me. "If your theory about It
has been exploded. what's the use Of
hanging on to it,"
admitted. but 1 thought perhaps you
might want more time to examine it."
"I've examined it all I'm going to-
Godfrey answered. and l told myself
that this was the first time | had
ever known him to admit himself de-
feated. Perhaps Ill see you tomor-
row." he added, and we parted at the
corner.
But ! did not see him On the morrow.
I was rather expecting a call from him
during the morning. and when none
came l was certain l should find him
awaiting me when | arrived at the
Vantine house, in company with M.
Armand. But he was not there. and
when l asked for him Parks told me
that he had not seen him since the day
before.
I confess that Godfrey's Indifference
to the fate OF the cabinet surprised me
greatly: besides. l was hoping that he
would wish to meet the fascinating
Frenchman-more fascinating. if pos
sible. than he had beer on Monday.
There had been less delay than he had
anticipated in getting the cabinet off
the boat and through the customs, and
it was not vet 3 O'Clock when we reach
ed the Vantine house.
81 haven't seen Mr.. Godfrey" Parks
repeated. but there's others here as 1t
fair breaks my heart to see."
He motioned toward the door of the
music room. and. stepping to it. l saw
that the inventory vas already in prog
ress.
1.-THE cabinet is in the room across
the hall" | said to NJ. Armand. and led
the way through the anteroom into the
room beyond.
Parks switched On the lights for us.
and my companion glanced with sur
prise at the heavy shutters covering
the windows.
we put those up for a protection"
I explained. I'VE had an idea that
some one would try to enter. In fact.
one evening we did find a wire con-
meeting with the burglar alarm cut.
and. later on. saw some n peering In
through the hole in that shutter yon-
der"
"You didY' Nj. Armand queried quick
ly. Would you recognize the man. II
Won were to, meet him nrain?"