The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-02

 ! MT. Hornblewer continued, .sbut it does nofesuff1ce Monsieur X- No allowance would suffice him. So he has become thief He has taken to selling the objects of art with which his resi- dences are filled and which are really the property of my client, since they were purchased with her mohey. About two weeks ago my client re- turned te Paris from a stay at her chateau in Normandy to find that he had almost denuded the town house, Among other things which he had ta- ken was q Boule cabinet, which had been used by my client as her private writing desk. The cabinet was a most valuable one. But itIs not It's none tary value which makes my client so anxious to recover it.
 X He paused an instant and cleared his throat
 Monsieur x. had had the decency,' p he went on. more slowly, ''to as he thought, retain his wife's private pa- pers. He had caused the contents of the various drawers to be dumped out upon a chair, But there was one drawer of which he knew npthing-a secret drawer, known only to my eli ent That drawer contained packet of letters which my client is most anx- ious to regain She has given me to understand that their recovery is es- sential to her peace of Hind.''
 I reflected faithlesS husband has no reason to complain if his wife re- pays him insthe same coin.
 My client went to work at once to regain the eabinet," continued MT. Hornblower, plainly relieved that the thinnest ice had been crossed. She found that it had been sold to Armand E Son. Fastening to their offices, she learned that 1t had been nesold by them to MT. Vantine and sent forward to him here So she came over on the first boat, ostensihly to visit her fami- ly, but really to ask Mr. Yantine's per mission to open the drawer and take out the letters. His death interfered with this, and in despair she came to me. I need hardly add that no mem Der of her family knows anything about this matter, and it is especially. important that her husband should never even suspect it On her behalf apply to you as MT. Vanttne's exeeu- tor to restore these letters to their ewner.'
 sat for moment turning this ex- traordinary story over in my mind. Surely Mime. K. would scarcely guard the secret of that drawer with poison.
 Does any one besides your client know of the existence of these let ters ?, asked at last,
 1I think not" answered MT. Horn blower, smiling dryly. They are not of 3 nature which nay client would care to communicate to any one. We kG, /1Ix ,4
 "As matter of fact" pointed out ''there are always at least two people who know of the existence of every letter-tha person who writes 1t and the person who receives it-''
 'T had thought of that, but the per son who wrote these letters is dead. He was killed in a duel some months ago by Monsieur K"
 MT. Hornblower sat regarding me, his lips pursed. as an indication, per haps, that he would say no more.
 But there was no necessity that he should. knew enough of French law and of French habits of thought to realize that if thoses letters ever came into possession of Monsieur X.. the game would be entirely in his hands His wife would be absolutely at his mercy. And the thought flashed through my mind that perhaps in some way he had learned of the existence of the letters, and was trying des- perately to get them. That thought was enough to swing the balance in his wife's favor.
 '1 ana sure" I said, ''that MT. Van tine would instantly have consented to your client opening the drawer and taking out the letters And, as his executor. also consent But I must warn you, MT. HornbIower, that I be lieve two men have already been kill ed trying to open that drawer" and told him the story q am inclined to think" I concluded, ..that Vantine blundered upon the drawer while e1- amining the cabinet, but there is no doubt that the other man knew of the drawer, and also, presuma biy. of its contents"
 ''Weilr' exclaimed my companion. s'T have listened to many astonishing stories in my life. but never one to equal this. And you know nothing of this Frenchman ?''
 Nothing except that he came from Havre on La Touraine last Thursday, and drove from the dock direct to Van ttne's house"
 My client also came on La Tou- raine, but that, no doubt. was a mere coincidence"
 .That may be-" I agreed. .but it is scarcely 9 coincidence that both he and your client were after the con %J, q, z1Tsss