Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-12-30

~ NV hiNiNN3 iS SlSCA
have never seen another so We'll con-
cealed. And the idea of opening it only
by q certain combination is most hap
ply and original. Most secret drawers
are secret only in name; Il slight search
reveals them; but this one :"
He pushed ii shut again. and eNam-
lned the INLAY around it.
My friend and l went over the cab
met very carefully and could not find
it / said.
Your friend-I think Won mentioned
his name?"
"Yes-his narne is Godfrey
"A man of the law. like yourself?"
oh. no. n newspaper man. But he
had been a member of the detective
force before that. He is extraordinarily
that drawer, he could. But that COM
bination was too much for him."
NJ. Armand snapped the drawer back
into place with Il little crash
II am glad. at amy rate. that it was
d~iscovered.' he said. II will not con-
not a little to the value of the cabinet"
What is its valuc?' l asked.
MI. Nantine wanted me to
buy it for hira. and named Il
most c~Ntravagant figure as the limit
he was willing to pay"
Really" NJ. Armand answered, aft
CT an inStantS hesitation, Il would not
care to name a figure, Mr.. Lester. with
out further consultation with my father.
The cabinet is quite unique-the most
beautiful, perhaps, that NJ. Boule ever
produced. Did you discover Madame
de MonteSpan'S mOnogram%"
No. Mr.. Vantine said he was sure
1T existed; but Godfrey and did no
look for it,"
Nj. Armand opened the doors which
concealed the central drawers.
"Voila!" he said. N traced with his
finger the arabe:que just under the
%pcdiinent. See how cunningly it has
been blended with the other figures.
And here is the emblem of the giver."
he pointed To II tiny golden sun with
radiating rays on the base of the pedi-
ment, just above the monogram. LIE
lie roi s%oleil!" 1 repeated. "Of
course. We are stupid not to have dis
cerned ii. That tells the whole story,
doesn't ii? What is it, Parks l added,
as thai worthy appeared at the door.
There's a van outside. SIR" he said.
and Il couple of men are unloading Il
piece of furniture. Is it I'LL right, sir8'
Yes" answered" Have them bring
it in here. And ask the man in charge
of the inventory to step over here II
minute. Mr.. Vantine left his COLLEGE
ton of art objects to the Metropolitan
museum" explained to NJ. Armand.
and l SHOULD like the representative of
the meuseum to be present when the
exchange is made"
"Certainly,' he assented. "That is
very just"
Parks was back in a moment, pilot
ing two men WHO carried between them
an object swathed IN burlap, and the
metropolitan man followed them IN.
II am MIR. Lester / said to him, MI.
Vantine's executor; and this is NJ.
Felix Armand, of Armand & Son, of
Paris. We are correcting III. error which
was made inst npfCra Mr. Wanfjnn Hio1
That abine FOUNDER was shipped him
by mistake in place of one which he
had bought. M. Armand has caused
the right one to be sent over, and will
take away the one which belongs to
him. j have already spoken to the
museums attorney abou the matter.
but l wish you to be present when the
exchange was made"
Il have no doubt it is all right, sir"
the museum man FASTENED to assure me.
You, of course. have persona knowl-
edge of all this
Certainly, Mr.. Vantine himself told
me the story"
Very well, sir but his eyes dwclt
lovingly upon thu Boulc cabinet. THAT
is Il very handsome piece" he added.
Il am sorry the museum is not to get it,"
Perhaps you can buy it from NJ.
Armand" l suggested. hut the curator
laughed and shood his head.
No ne said, I'VE couldn't afford it.
But Sir Caspar might persuade Mr..
Morgan To buy it. for us-Iu mention it
to him."
The two men, meanwhile, under NJ.
Alnland's direction, had been stril.-
ping the ~Wranpings from the other
cabinet, and it finally stood revealed.
1t, too, was a beautiful piece of furni
turc, but even my unframed eye could
sec how greatly it fell below the other.
I'VE shall be very pleased to have
MIR. Morgan see it," said NJ. Armand,
with Il smile. II will net conceal from
you that we had already thought of
him us what dealer does not Wen he
acquires something rare and beautifEl?
mcnt with him. Meanwhile = y -"
meanwhile the .apilet is yours /
said.
He made a little depreoating gesture.
and then proceeded to have the cabinet
very carefully wrapped in the burlap
which had been arOund the other one. / \
watched it disappear under the rough
covering with something like regret, for
already my eyes were being opened to its |
beauty. Besides, l told myself again.
with in would disappear the last hope Of
solving the mystery of Phillip Vantine's
death. However my reason might pro-
test, some instinct told me that, in
some way the Boulc cabinet was con-
nectcd with that tragedy.
But at last the packing was done, and
Nj. Armand turned to me and held out
his hand.
II shall hope to see you again, Mr..
Lester" he said, with a cordiality
which flattered me, "a to renew our
Very pleasant acquaintance. When
ever you are in Paris, l trust you will
not fail to honor me by letting me
know. | shall count it a very great
privilege to display for you some of the
beauties of our city not nov to every