Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-12-23

would. of course, have a secret draw
er; and since it was made in the days
of de Brinvilliers and La Voisin. what
more natural than that it should be-
What more natural, indeed"
breathed my companion, and 1 a n
cied that he looked at me with a new
interest in his eyes. 1T is good rea-
soning, Mr.. Lester"
1T seemed to explain a situation
been found" I said. and it had also
the merit of picturesqueness."
1t is unique" he agreed eagerly, his
eyes burning like two Goals of fire, so
intense was his interest. Il have been
from boyhood," he added, noticing my
They have for me a fascination l can
not explain; there is in my blood
something that responds to them. L
feel sometimes that 1 would have made
a great detective-or a great criminal.
Instead of which 1 am merely a dealer
In curios. You can understand how l
am fascinated by a story so outre as
this"
Perhaps you can assist u.s." 1 sug-
gested, for that theory of mine has
been completely d~isproved."
"Disproved? In what way" he de-
manded.
The secret drawer has been found
y q
Comment" he cried. his voice sharp
with surprise. Found? The secret
drawer has been found?"
Yes. n there was no poisoned
mechanism guarding it,"
He breathed deeply for an instant;
then he pulled himself together with
u little laugh.
REALLY" he said, II must not in
dulge myself in this way. 1t is a kind
of intoxication. But you say that the
ORA war was fn1ln6 and thnt fhorn vyoo
no poison? Was the drawer empty?"
No; there was a packet of letters
in it,"
Delicious! Low letters of a GER
talnty! Billets-doux from the great
Louis to the Montespan, p%erhaps?'
No. unfortunately they were of a
much more recent date. They have
been restored to their owner. 1 hope
that you agree with me that that was
he right thing to do?"
He sat for a moment regarding mo
narrowly, and 1 a an uneasy feel
ing that since he undoubtedly knew of
whom the cabinet had been purchased,
he was r~econstructing 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,
cit is useless to discuss the matter. But
no doubt I should approve if all the
circumstances We're known to me.
Especially if it was to assist Il lady"
lit was" l said, and l saw from his
face that he understood.
"Then you did WE'LL" he said. Has
no other explanation beer found for
the death of Mr.. Vantine and of this
stranger?"
II him no. The coroner will hold his
inquest tomorrow. He has deferred it
in the hope that some new evidence
would be discovered"
"And non has been discovered?"
Il have heard of none.'
you do not ever know who this
stranger was?"
"Oh, yes. we have discovered that.
Drouet."
"A Frenchman?"
Eyes. living in an attic in the Rue
de la Huchette, at Paris
M. Armand had been gazing at me
lntently, but now his look relaxed, and
as a man might do when relieved of a.
burden. At the back of my brain a
vague and shadowy suspicion began to
form-a suspicion that perhaps M.
Armand knew more of this affair than
he had yet acknowledged.
"You Gid not, by chance, know hin 2"
I asked carelessly.
NO. 1 think not. But there is one
thing I do not understand, MIR. Lester.
and you will pardon me if l am in
discreet. But do not understand what
!hls Droue. as Q eau him, was doing
II was trying to get possession of
the letters,' I said.
ooh. so it was that" and my CON-
panion nodded. "And in trying to get
those letters. he vas killed.
Yes. but What none of us under
killed: Who or what killed him? How
was that poison administered? Can Won
suggest an explanation"
He sat for q m staring thought
fully out of the window.
ut is a nice problem he said, "a.
most interesting one. 1 will think it
over. Mr.. Lester. Perhaps 1. may be
able to make a suggestion. I do not
know. But. in any event, I shall see
you again Wednesday,. II it is agree
able to you. we can meet at the house
of Mr.. Vantine and exchange the cabi-
nets"
cat what time?"
II do not know with exactness. There
may be some delay in getting the cabi-
net from the ship. Perhaps it would
Very well,' I assented,
Permit me to express again nv
apologies tina such a mistake should
have been made by Is. Really. we are
most careful; but even we sometimes
suffer from careless servants. 1t deso-
lates me to think that I cannot offer
these apologies to Mr.. vantine in per-
SON; TIL Wednesday. then, Mr.. Lester"
Till Wednesday," I echoed and
watched mis- erect and perfect-sarbed
figure until it vanished through the
doorway. A fascinating man, I told nv
self as I turned back to my desk. and
one whom 1 should like to know more
Intimately; a man with a hobby for
the mysteries of crime, with which I
could fully sympathize: and / smiled
as I thought of the burning interest
with which he had listened to the sfor,,