Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-11-26
CHAPTER x1--(continued).

AAaSS you oAS IliAAS W Gil Us LifiS
he only shook his head.
I've told you everything I know,
sir" he answered in a low voice.
I'm not going to hurry you. Rog-
ers., l went on, but l wan you to
to help you. If l can"
He looked up quickly, but caught
himself and turned his eyes way.
THANK you, sir" was all he said.
And now" 1 added, briskly, III
have to ask o to get up. Move
Parks obeyed with astonished face.
You're not going in there, sir?' he
protested, as l turned the mob.
Yes, we are" l said n opened
the door. Isis
NO, sir" broke in Parks. under
the coffin and put him in it and moved
him over to the drawing room this
afternoon. sir"
I'm glad of that. I want all the
lights lit, Parks, just as they were last
night"
Parks reached inside the door and
switched on the electrics. Then he
went away, came back in a moment
with a taper and proceeded to light
the gas lights. A moment later the
lights in the inner room were also
blazing.
1ieie you are, SIT, Sdlu aims, anu
retreated to the door. will you need
me-"
Not now, out wait in the hall out
side. We may need you. l had a no
ton to tell him to have an ak handy,
but l saw Godfrey smiling.
Very good. SIR" said Parks. evil
IDENTIFY relieved, and went out and
closed the door.
l led the way into the inner room.
We'll, there it is I said and nodded
toward the Boule cabinet, standing in
the full glare of the light, every inlay
eyes Of a basilisk. 1T isn't too late
to give it up, Godfrey"
"Oh, yes, it is" he said, coolly, re-
moving his coa ut was too late the
moment O told me that story. Why,
Lester, if l gave it up l should never
sleep again"
And if you don't, you may never
wake again." I pointed out.
He laughed lightly.
What a dismal prophet you are.
Draw up a hair and watch me"
He pulled back his shirt sleeves and
beside the cabinet. Then he paused
with folded arms to contemplate this
masterpiece of M. Boule.
1T is a beauty" he said at last, and
then drew out the little drawers one
after another, looked them over and
pltCcd lllGll CdIelullS Oh ii CltdlE.
Now" he add.l, let US see if there
is my space that isn't accounted for
He took from his pocket a folding
rule of ivory, opened it, and began
a series of measurements so search
ing and intricate that half an hour
passed without a word being spoken.
Then he pulled up another chair and
sat down beside me.
Il seem to be pretty much up
against it," he said, no doubt just as
the designer of the cabinet would wish
me to be. The whole bottom Of the
desk is inclosed and those three little
drawers take up only a small part
Of the space. Then the back of the
cabinet seems to be double-at least
there's a pac of three inches I can't
account for. So there's room for a
dozen secret drawers, if the Monte
spa required so many. And now to
find the combination"
He adjusted the steel gauntlet care
fully to his right hand and sat down
or the loor before the cabinet.
I'll begin at the bottom" he said.
'1f there is any spot 1 miss. tell me
of it."
He ran his fingers up and down
the graceful legs, carefully feeling
every inequality Of the elaborate
bronze ornamentation. Particularly
did his fingers linger on every boss
and point, striving to push it in or
| wv u IiiCS LII 1Illllo III
Then he examined the bottom Of the
table infinitely, using his torch to IL
lumine every %crevice, but again with
out result.
Another half hour passed so. and
when at last he came out from under
the table his face was dripping with
sweat.
It's trying work." he said, sitting
down again and hopping his face. But
isn't it a beauty, Lester? The more l
look at it. the more wonderful it
seems"
II told Philip vantine 1 wasn't up
to it and I'm not" 1 said.
Nor I, but l can appreciate 1t to the
extent of my capacity. It's the Louis XIV
ideal of beauty-splendor carried to the
ninth degree. Look at the a~rabesques
along the front-can you imagine any
thing more graceful? And the engrav-
ing-nothing cut and dried about that.
1t was done by a BURN in the hands of
a master-perhaps by Boul himself. I
don't wonder Vantine was rather mad
about it. But we haven't found that
drawer YETI and he drew his chair
close to the cabinet.
I'D point out one thing to you, Cod
frey" 1 said. IF you go poking about
with the fingers of both hands, as you
have been doing, you are just as apt to
get struck on the left hand as on the
right
io luz, ne dSlcCd. olop HE
if 1 forget"
There were three little drawers in the
front Of the table, n these Godfrey
had removed. He inserted his hand
into the space from which he had ta-
ken them, and examined it carefully.
Then, inch by inch. he ran his fingers
over the bosses and arabesques with
which the sides and top OF the table
were incrusted. 1t seemed to me that,
II the secret drawer We're anywhere. it
must be somewhere in this part of the
cabinet, and 1 watched him with
breathlcss interest. Once | thought he
had found the drawer, for a piece of
inlay at the side of the table seemed to
give Il little under the pressure of his
fingers: but no hidden spring was
touched; no drawer sprang open: no
poisoned fangs descended.
Well" said Godfrey, sitting back in
his chair at last, and wiping his face
again, there's SO much DONE. If there
is any secret drawer in the lower part
of the cabinet, it is mighty cleverly
concealed. Now we'll try the upper
part"