Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-04-16

simply Because had touud out he
wasn't Armand FrnN Armand is in
Paris NJ this moment Iou Wcce too
crHiulou>, Lester
WAY, never had any doul, OF his
being Armand" | Stammcrrd He
knew about my cableGrum, he knew
about the FIRMS answer"
"Of course he did because your ca
bic WAS never received 10y the AT
mandS, but by a confederate IN this
fellows employ. aud il was that con
irdCrate who answered it.
Then you still believe that the cabi-
net WAS sent to Nantiue 10y design and
not by accidcut?"
"AhSolutrly 1t was sent by the Ar
maudS in good faith because they Ne.
icvcd that ii had been purchased by
Nantine, all of which had been arrang,
cd very carefully by the great TN,
known"
Tell me how you know all this.
Godfrey" | said.
Il Cabled our man ut Paris IL invcS.
tigate. Our man went nj once ~ the
elder Armand and learned Il number
OF very interesting things. One was
that the son, Felix Armand, was in
Paris; another was that no member
of the firm knew anything about your
cable or the answer to il; a third was
that had the cable been received it
would have been understood, because
the ArmandS' books show that this
cabinet was bought by Philip Nantine
for the sum of $4,000 francs"
Not this one" l protested.
YES. this one. and il was cheap Mt
the price"
But Nantine told me himself that
he did not buy that cabinet"
Nor did he But somebody bought
it in his name and directed that it be
sent forward to him."
And paid $4,000 francs for it?"
"Certainly. And paid $4,000 francs
to the Armands."
Rather an expensive present"
said feebly. for my brain was begin
ming to whirl again.
oh 1t wasn't intended as Il present
The purchaser planned to reclaim It,
but Vantine's death threw him out"
"Rut what was his object? Was he
trying 10 evade the duty"
The other cabinet is the one which
Vantine really purchased 1t was. OF
course, sent forward to this other fel
lows address here in New York His
plan is evident enough to call upon
Nantine rs the representative of the
ArmandS or perhaps rs the owner of
the Montespan cabinet and make the
exchange. Nantines death spoiled
that. and he had to make the exchange
through you"
And he accomplished all this by
means Of confederate in the employ
of the Armands?"
mo doubt of it The clerk who made
the supposed sale to Vantine and got
commission on it resigned suddenly
two days ago-Just as soon as he had
Intercepted your cable and answered
it. The Paris police are looking for
him, but doubt If they'll find him"
That's all clear enough" | said.
but what is there about that Boule
cabinet which makes this unknown
willing to do murder for it? Does he
think those letters are still in it?"
He knows they are not in it now
you told him. Before that he knew
nothing about the letters, If he had
known of them he would have had
them out before the cabinet was ship
ped"
What is it, then?" | demanded
"And, above all. Godfrey. why should
this fellow hide himself in Vantine's
house and kill two men?"
Il see no reason to believe that he
was ever inside the Vantine house"
said Godfrey quietly. That is, until
noon"
That's nonsense He must have
been in the house or he couldn't have
killed Vantine and Drouet,"
"Who said he killed Them"
IF he didn't kill them. who did,"
We'll Godfrey answered. now I'm
going to romance little. We will re-
turn to your fascinating friend. Ar
mand. as we may as well call him for
the present He is an extraordinary
man. In my opinion he is the greatest
criminal of modern times"
"If he is II criminal at all he is IN
doubtedly great one" conceded.
But it is hard for me to believe that
he is criminal He's the most cut
tured man ever met"
"Of course he is. That's why he's
so dangerous.