Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-12-24

Comment" he cried. his voice SHARP
with surprise. Found? The secret
drawer has been found?"
Yes, and there was no poisoned
mechanism guarding it."
he oreathed deeply for an instant;
then ne pulled himself together with
a little laugh.
Really" he said, II must not in
dulge myself in this way. 1t is a kind
OF lntoxication But you say that the
drawer was found and that there was
no poison? Was the drawer empty?"
in it"
Delicious! Love letters OF a GER
tainty! Billets-doux from the great
Louis to the Montespan. perhaps?"
NO, unfortunately they We're Of a
much more recent date. They nave
peen restored to their owner. l hope
that You agree with me that that was
the right thing to do?"
He sat for a m regarding me
narrowly, and 1 had an uneasy feel
ing that since he undoubtedly knew Of
whom the cabinet had been purchased.
he was reconstructing the story more
completely than 1 would have wished
him to do.
Since the letters have been re-
turned" he said, as last, a little drily,
'it is useless to discuss the matter. But
no doubt 1 should approve if all the
circumstances were known to me.
Especially If it was to assist a lady"
1t was" l said, and l saw from his
face that he understood.
Then you did WE'LL" he said. Has
no other explanation been found for
the death OF Mr.. Vantine and of this
stranger?"
Il think no. The coroner will hold his
inquest tomorrow. He has deferred it
in the hope that some new evidence
would be discovered"
And none has been discovered?'
Il have heard of none.'
you do not even knew who this
stranger was?"
"Oh. yes, we have discovered that
He was a worthless fellow named
Drouet."
"A Frenchman?"
yes, living in an attic in the Rue
de la Huchette. at Paris"
Nj. Armand had been gazing at me
intently, but now his look relaxed, and
| fancied that he drew a deep breath
as a man might do when relieved of a
burden. AT the back of my brain a
vague and shadowy suspicion began to
Armand knew more of this affair than
he had yet acknowledged.
You did not, by chance, know htm?"
l asked carelessly.
NO. l think not. But there is one
thing I do not understand, Mr.. Lester,
discreet. But l do not understand what
this Droue. as you call him, was doing
in the house of Mr.. Vantine."
H was trying to get possession Of
the letters" I said.
oh. so it was that!" and my COM
panion nodded. And in trying to get
those letters. he was killed?"
Yes but what mona oP ~, ,,rjor-
stands. M. Armand. is how he was
killed. Who or what killed him? How
was that poison administered? Can you
suggest an explanation"
He sat for a moment staring thought
fully out of the window.
1T Is a nice problem he said, "a
most Interesting one. 1 will think it
over. Mr.. Lester. Perhaps I may be
able to make a suggestion. l do not
know. But, in any event, / shall see
you again. Wednesday. If it is agree
able TO you. We can meet at the house
OF Mr. Nantlne and exchange the cabi-
nets"
A what timer"
Il do not know with exactness. There
may be some delay in getting the cabi-
net from the ship. Perhaps it would
be better If l called for you?"
Very Well" l assented.
Permit me to express again my
sHoI eoSh q lIllSldhS SlOulQ
have been made by us. Really. we are
most careful; but even we sometimes
suffer from careless servants. 1t desc
lates me to think thatsI cannot offer
these apologies to Mr.. Vantine in per
son; TSI Wednesday, then. M. Lester"
Till Wednesday," I echoed, and
watched mis- erect and perfect-garbed
figure until it vanished through he
doorway. A fascinating man, / told my
self as l turned back to my desk, and
one whom l should like to know more
Intimately; a man with a hobby for
the mysteries Of crime, with which 1
could fully ~sympathize; and ] smiled
as l thought of the burning interest
with which he had listened to the story
of the double tragedy. How naively he
mad confessed his thought that he
would have made n great detective-or
a great criminal; and here he was only
a dealer in curios. Well, / had had he
same thought, more than once-and
here was I. merely a not-too-successful
lawyer. Decidedly. M. Armand and
myself had much in common!