Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-03-05

o'clock
TOO late for the office" said Van
tine. Better come upstairs and have
Il drink. Besides, l want to talk with
YOU
A least III let them know I'm still
alive" | said. and l called up the Of
fee and allayed any anxiety that may
have been felt there concerning me. l
must admit that it did not seem acute.
Tell me, Lester" said Vantine. and
he looked at me earnestly. do you
think that poor devil came in here just
to get a chance to kill himself quietly?"
NO. don't | said.
Then what did be come in for?"
II think Goldberger's theory a pref
ty good one-that he had heard Of you
as Il generous fellow and came in here
to ask help and while he was waiting
suddenly gave it up
And killed himself?" Vantine COM
pleted.
hesitated. was astoniShed to find
at the back OF my mind Il growing
doubt.
See here. Lester" Vantine demand
ed. IF he didn't kill himself. what
happened to him."
Heaven only knows" l answered
in despair. I've been asking myself
the same question without finding a
reasonable answer to it. But if any
| I~I- INV ~~N Alp1,-l - IT, Nzlq--.
can"
Vantine seemed deeply perturbed.
Tell me. Lester he said, do you
believe that theory of Godfrey's--that
that insignificant wound on the hand
caused death?"
asked myself the same question
before ! answered.
Yes. | do" | said finally.
Lester. | have Il queer feeling that
the business which brought this man
here in some way concerned the Boule
cabinet ! was telling you about. Per
hapS it belonged to him"
Hardly" | protested. recalling his
shabby appearance.
lat any rate. 1 remember as | was
looking at his card that some such
thought occurred to me. 1t was for
that reason | told Parks to ask him to
wait
Its possible. of course" | admit
ted. But that wouldn't explain his
excitement. And that reminds me-" 1
added. II haven't sent off that cable"
ANY time tonight will do. 1t will
be delivered in the morning. But you
haven't seen the cabinet vet. Come
down and look at it,"
He led the way down the stair.
Parks met us in the lower hall.
There's a delegation Of reporters
outside. sir" he said. "They say
they've got to see you"
Vantine made a movement of impa-
thence.
Tell them he said. that l posi-
lively refuse to see them or to allow
my servants to see them. Let them
get their information from the police"
Very we'll. sir" said Parks and turn
ed away. srinning.
Nohl1llS boooSo VII ~ AouSu ShC 1
room in which we had found the body
of the unfortunate Frenchman and
into the roo beyond. Five Or six
pieces Of furniture. evidently just IN
packed. stood there; but. ignorant as
am of such things. he did not have
to point out to me the Boule cabinet.
! looked at it for some moments. for
it vas certainly a beautiful piece Of
work. with a wealth of inlay and in
crustation little short of marvellous.
But l may as we'll say here that l
never really appreciated 1t. The lorid
style of the fourteenth and fifteenth
Louis is not at all to my taste. I am
afraid that Vantine found me a little
cold.
You don't seem to care for it, he
said. looking at me.
That's my fault and not the fault
of the cabinet" I pointed out. I'm
not educated up to it. I'm too little Of
an artist perhaps"
He was flushed. as a man might be
should another make a ~disparaging re-
mark about his wife. and he led the
way from the room at once.
Remember. Lester he said a little
sternly. pausing with his hand on the
front door. there is to be no foolish
ness about securing that cabinet for
me. Don't you let it get away. I'm
in deadly earnest. Let me know as
soon AZ you have any news"