The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-06

4@33@43&4e49s4&+1-@ 44<e4419 some one would try to enter. In fact
 one evening we did find d wire con l meeting with the burglar alarm cut and. later on. saw some one peering 1r
 through the hole in that shutter yon
 der.
 You did2 M. Armand queried quick
 ly. Would you recognize the man. fl you were to meet him againsv
 tOh. no; you see the hole is quite small. There was nothing visible ex. cept pair of eyes. Yet might know
 them again. for I never before saw
 such eyes-so bright. so burning 7 M. Armand was gazing at the cab
 met apparently only half listening. ''Will you show me how the secret 1 drawer Is operated. Mir. Lester?" he
 said .T am most curious about it-'' I placed my hand upon the table and pressed the three points which the handle fell forward with a click, and l l pulled the drawer open
 1 He examined it with much interest: pushed 1t back into place and then opened it himself
 ~very clever. indeed" he said. q
 have never seen another 10 well con
 cealed."
 My friend and I wentover the cab
 inet very carefully and could not find
 it." I said
 your fdend--1 think you mentioned 1 his name ?v
 @Yes His name Is Godfrey 2 "A man of the laW. like yourself r,
 ..0h. no, newapaperman- But he
 had been a member of the detective E keen Buf that com binat1on WAS too much for lsiri1 M. Armand snapped the dra wer back into place with ifttle crash.
 T am glad, at any rate. that 1t was
 discovered, 2 he said e.I will not con
 ceal from you. Mr. Lester thatsft adds not little to the value Of the cabi-
 net"
 What is it's value 2s'5 I asked. MT. vantine wanted me to buy it for him and named most extra vagant figure as the limit he was willing to pay 7
 Really N. Armand answered aft CT an instants hesita lion. T would not care to name a figure, Mir. Lester.
 without further consulta ton with my E father.'' 1 What is it. Parks P said as that worthy appeared at the door.
 There's a van outside; sir.ss he said. ..and couple of men are unloading a piece of furniture. Is it all right, sir ?'' 'sYes.'' answered. Have them bring 1t in here. and ask the man in charge of the inventory to step over here minute. MT. Vantfne left his collection of art objects to the Metro politan Museum,' I explained to M. 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 backSfn moment. pilot ing two men who carried between them an object swathed in burlap, and the Metropolitan man followed them in
 ss.1 am MT. Lester,. I said to him. ssNIr yantine's executor. and this is M- Felix Armand of Armand & Son of
 Paris. We are correcting an error which was made just before MT. Van tine died. That cabinet yonder was shipped him by mistake in place of one which he had bought. M. Armand has caused the right one to be sent over and will take away the one 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 very handsome piece,r said the Metropolitan man. 1T am sorry the museum is not to get 1t-''
 The two men meanwhile. under M. Armand,s direction, had been strip ping the wrappings from the other cab inet. and it finally stood revealed. 1t, too. was beautiful piece of furni- ture, but even my untrained eye could see how greatly it fell below the other.
 s4The other cabinet is yours." said to NJ. Armand.
 q shall hope to see you again. Mfr. Lester" he said. with cordiality which dattered me. '.and to renew our very pleasant acquaintance. When ever you are in Paris trust you will not fail to honor me by letting me know
 Thank you'' I said T shall cer- tainly remember that invitation And meanw hiIe, since you are here in New York
 l eYou are most kind" be broke in. faand was myself hoping that we might at least dine together. But I am compelled to proceed to Boston this evening and from there shall go on to Quebec
 tTo be Continued,