The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-04-05

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There had been less delay than no had
anticipated In getting the cabinet Of
the boat and through the customs, and
&c was not yet 3 o'clock when we reach
cd the vantdns house
81 haven't seen Mr.. Godfrey" Parts
repeated. but there's others hero nm b
fair breaks my heart 30 see"
He moioned toward the door OF the
music room. and. stepping 70 t. / saw
that the inventory was already An prog
ress.
'sThe cabinet IL IN the room across
the hall" said 10 NJ. Armand. and led
the way through the anteroom into the
room beyond
Parks switched on the lights for Us,
and my companion glanced with sur
prise ut the heavy shutters covering
the windows.
I'VE put those mp for a protection"
/ explained I'VE had an idea that
some one would try to enter. In fact.
one evening we did find a wire con-
meeting with the burglar alarm cut.
and. later on. saw some one peering IN
through the hole IN that shutter yon-
der"
"You d3dF' N. Armand querted quick
b. would you recognize the man, II
you were DO meet him againT
"AOh. no: you see the hole In quite
small. There was nothing visible ex-
cept a pair OF eyes Yet | might know
them again, for never before saw
such eyes-so bright. 80 burning"
Ii. Armand was gazing at the cab
inet. apparently only half listening.
"Will you show me how the secret
drawer II operated. Mr.. Lesterf'' he
said 81 am most curious about It"
/ placed my hand upon the table and
pressed the three points which the
yelled lady had shown as. The little
handle fell forward with click. and
pulled the drawer open.
He examined 1t with much interest:
pushed 1t back into place and then
opened IL himself.
Every clever. indeed" he said 81
have never seen another 90 well con-
cealed."
my friend and went over the cab
inet very carefully and could not fnd
it." said
"Your friend-I think you mentioned
his Manner
Eyes. His name In Godfrey"
"A man OF the law, like yourseifT'
"Oh. no. q newspaperman. But he
had been q member Of the detective
force before that. He In extraordinarily
keen. But that combination was too
much for him"
M. Armand snapped the drawer back
into place with little crash.
81 am glad, at any rate. that 1t was
he said. ~ will not con-
ceal from you. Mr.. Lester. that 1t adds
not a little to the value of the cabi-
net"
what In it's valuer' asked. "Mr.
vantine wanted me to buy it for him |
and named a most extravagant figure |
as the limit he was willing to pay"
Really" N. Armand answered aft |
or an instant's hesitation. It would not |
without further consultation with my |
father"
what is II. Parks7'' I said as that |
worthy appeared at the door.
There's a van outside, SIR" he said, |
'and a couple Of men are unloading a |
piece Of furniture. Is it all right, sir2"
YES" l answered. Have them
bring 1t in here. and ask the man In |
charge OF the inventory to step over
here a minute Mr.. vantine left his
collection Of art objects to the Metro
politan Museum" explained to M.
'and I should like the repre-
Of the museum to be present
when the exchange In made"
Certainly" he assented THAT Is
very just"
Parks was back I'm q moment, pilot
Ing two men who carried between
them an object swathed in burlap,
and the Metropolitan man followed
them In.
II am Mr.. Lester" I said to him,
Mr.. Vantine's executor. and this is
NJ Felix Armand Of Armand g. Son of
Paris. We are correcting an error
which was made just before MT. Van
line died That cabinet yonder was
shipped him by mistake In place Of
one which he had bought. NJ. Armand
las caused the right one 70 be sent
over and will take away the one which
belongs to him. / have already spoken
70 the museums attorney about the
natter. but i wished you to be present
when the exchange was made"
THAT IL a very handsome piece"
aid the Metropolitan man "I am
'orry the museum is not to get It."
The two men meanwhile. under NJ.
Armand's direction. had been strip
ling the wrappings from the other cab
net, and it finally stood revealed II,
90, was a beautiful piece OF furni-
ure, but even my unframed eye could
zee how greatly 1t fell below the other.
'The other cabinet In yours" I said
o N. Arn0nd.
81 shall hope to see You again. Mr..
ESTER" he said. with a cordially
which battered me. land to renew our
cry pleasant ACQUAINTANCE. When