Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-04-30

IL you nave an explanation, God
1rey," l said. "for heavens sake tell
me. Tell mc first how you and Sim
monds came to be following Armand"
"Sfmply because i had found out he
wasn't Armand. Felix Armand is In
Paris at this moment You were too
credulous. Lester.
why, L never had any doubt of his
being Armand" | stammercu. He
knew about my cablegran; he knew
about the firms answer
"Of course he did. because your ca
bic was never received by the Ar
mands, but by Il confederate in this
fellows employ, and it was that con-
federate who answered it."
Then you still believe that the cabi-
net was sent to Yantine Ivy design and
not by a%ccident?"
absolutely. 1t vas sent by the Ar
mandS in good faith because they be-
lieved that it had been purchased by
Vantine, all of which had been arrang-
ed very carefully by the great un-
known"
Tell me how you know all this.
Godfrey" I said.
II cabled our man at Paris to inves-
tigate. Our man went at once to the
elder Armand and learned a number
of very interesting things. One was
that the son. Felix Armand, was in
Paris; another was that nc member
of the firm knew anything about your
cable or the answer to it; a third was
that had the cable been received it
would have been understood, because
the Armands' books show that this
cabinet was bought by Philip Vantine
for the sum of $4,000 francs"
Not this one" I protested.
yes. this one. and it was cheap at
the price"
But Vantine told me himself that
he did not buy that cabinet"
"Nor did he. But somebody bought
it in his name and directed that it be
sent forward to him."
"And paid $4,000 francs for it,"
Certainly. And paid $4,000 francs
to the Armands.'
Rather an expensive present." (
said feebly, for my brain was begin
ming to whirl again.
ooh, 1t wasn't intended as a present.
The purchaser planned to reclaim 1t.
but Vantine's death threw him out"
But what vas his object? Was he
trying to evade the duty"
"The other cabinet is the one which
Vantine really purchased. 1t was, Of
course, sent forward to this other fell
lows address here in New York. His
plan is evident enough-to call upon
Vantine as the representative of the
Armands or perhaps as the owner Of
the Montespan cabinet and make the
exchange. Vantine's death spoiled
that. and he had to make the exchange
through you"
"And he accomplished all this by
means Of a confederate in the employ
of the Armands?"
"No doubt of it. The clerk who made
the supposed sale to Vantine and got
a commission on it resigned suddenly
two days ago-just as 0 0 as he had
intercepted your cable and answered
1t. The Paris police are looking for
him, but l doubt if they'll find him"
That's all clear enough" I said,
but what is there about that Boule
cabinet which makes this unknown
willing to do murder for it? Does he
think those letters are still in it,"
Gle knows they are not in it now
you told him. Before that he knew
nothing about the letters. If he had
known Of them he would have had
them out before the cabinet was ship
ped"
"What is it, then" 1 demanded.
"And, above all, Godfrey, why should
this fellow hide himself in Vantine's
house and kill two menu
81 see no reason to believe that he
was yer inside the Vantine house."
said Godfrey quietly. THAT is, un'il
you took him there yourself this aft,:r-
noon"
"That's nonsense. He must have
been in the house or he couldn't have
killed Vantine and Drouet."
"Who said he killed themT"
"If he didn't kill them, who did,"
WELL" Godfrey answered, now I'm
going to romance a little. We will re-
turn to your fascinating friend, Ar
mand. as we, may as well call him for
the present. He is an extraordinary
man. In my opinion he is the greatest
criminal of modern times"
IF he is a criminal at all he is un-
doubtedly Il great one" l conceded.
But it is hard for me to believe that
he is a criminal. He's the most cuI-
tured man | eyer met"
"Of course he is. That's why he's
so dangerous"