Bisbee daily review., 1914-03-29
Copyright. 1913. by Burton E. Stevenson ss s.ss ssS S$ Sss~+4 4%%x%]%~>>>%@<>>>%>>>>

9$$S%S$SS~Sf+~ Monsieur x. had had the decency," he went on. more slowly. 'to. as he | thought. retain his wife's private pa | pers. He had caused the contents of | the various drawers to be dumped out ! upon chair But there was one | drawer of which he knew nothing-a secret drawer. known only to my ell ! ent That drawer contained n packet ! of letters which my client is most anx- ious to regain. She has given me to 1 understand that their recovery is es- sential to her peace of mind.' 1 reflected a faithless husband has , no reason to complain if his wife re- pays him in the same coin.
 "My client went to work at once to regain the cabinet" continued Mir Hornblower. plainly relieved that the tlinnest ice had been crossed. She found that it had been sold 10 Armand & Son. Fastening 10 their offices, she learned that it had been resold by them to Mir. Vantine and sent forward to him here. So she came over on the first boat. ostensibly to visit her fami- ly. but really to ask Mir Nantine's per mission to open the drawer and take out the letters. His death interfered with this. and in despair she came to me need hardly add that no mem Der of her family knows anything about this matter. and it is especially important that her husband should never even suspect it. On her behalf I apply 10 you as Mir. Vantine's execu- tor to restore these letters to their owner"
 I sat for moment turning this ex- traordinary story over in my mind. Surely Mme x. would scarcely guard the secret of that drawer with poison. Docs any one besides your client know of the existence of these let ters?" asked at last.
 q think not" answered MT. Horn blower. smiling dryly. 'They are not of a nature which my client would care to communicate to any one. We must get them back at any cost"
 "As a matter Of fact" l pointed out. there are always at least two people who know of the existence of every letter-the person who writes 1t and the person who receives it."
 q had thought of that. but the per son who wrote these letters is dead. He was killed in a duel some months ago by Monsieur K"
 Mr. Hornblower sat regarding me, his lips pursed. as an indication. per haps. that he would say no more.
 But there was no necessity that he should. knew enough Of French law and of French habits of thought to realize that if those letters ever came into possession of Monsieur N.. the game would be entirely in his hands His wife would be absolutely at his mercy. And the thought flashed through my mind that perhaps in some way he had learned of the existence of the letters. and was trying des perately to get them. That though was enough to swing the balance 1T bis wifes favor.
 "I am sure." I said. that Mr. Van tine would instantly have consented to your client opening the drawer an' taking out the letters. And. as hi executor I also consent. But l mus warn you. Mr Hornblower, that l be lieve two men have already been kill ed trying to open that drawer" and told him the story. "I am inclined t think" concluded, that Vantin blundered upon the drawer while ex amining the cabinet. but there is n doubt that the other man knew Of tn drawer, and also, presumably. of It contents"
 "Weum exclaimed my companion "I have listened to many astonishin stories in my life. but never one { equal this. And you know nothing c this FrenchmanT
 "Nothlng except that he came fror Havre on La Touraine last Thursda, and drove from the dock direct to Val tines house."
 My client also came on La To' raine, but that, no doubt. was mer coincidence"
 ''That may be-" agreed, but 1t ! scarcely a coincidence that both | and your client were after the col tents of that drawer"
 You mean"-
 "I mean that the mysterious Frencl man may very possibly have been a emissary of Monsieur x. Madame ms have betrayed the secret to him In q unguarded moment"