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

tIcTe forever, 90 You, Lester
"Since my theory about the Boule
cabinet exploded" / said, II have Civ
en- up hope. BY the way, I'm going to
turn the cabinet over to it's owner to-
morrow"
7 it's owner?' be repeated. his eyes
narrowing. Yes, | thought he'd be
around for it, though / hardly thought
he'd come so 10 Who does it hap
pen to be. Lester"
why L said. a little impatiently.
'"you know as we'll us ] do that it be-
longs to Armand & Som"
You've seen their representative.
them he queried. a little lush of eN-
element, which / could not under
stand. spreading over his face.
"Hc came to see me Yesterday. I'd
like YOU to meet him, Godfrey. He is
Felix Armand, the SON OF the firm,
and of the most finished gentle
men i ever met"
I'D like to meet him. said Godfrey.
smiling queerly. perhaps 1 shall. some
day; hope so. anyway. But how did
he explain the blunder. Lester?"
I'm some way, they shipped the
wrong cabinet to Vantine. The right
will get here on La Provence to-
morrow and l old him in detail the
story which Felix Armand told me He
was quite upset owe it, l added. His
apologies We're almost abject."
Godfrey listened intently to all this,
and he nodded with satisfaction when
| had finished.
Ut is all most interesting" he COM
mented. Did M. Armand happen to
mention where he is staying?"
mo. but he won't be hard to find, if
o want to see him. He's at one of
the big hotels. of CONSEQUENTLY the
Plaza or the ST. Regis. He's too great
q swell for any minor h%ostelry."
"Wnat time do Won avpoCf him to-
morrow?'
Sometime in the afternoon. He's to
call for me as soon as he gets VAN
ines cabinet off the boat. Godfrey"
] added. II felt yesterday when L was
talking with him that perhaps he knew
more about this affair than he would
admit. could see that he guessed in
an instant who the owner of the letters
was. and what they contained. Do YOU
think l ought to hold on to the cab
met a while longer? i could invent some
preteXt for delay, easily enough
why: no; let him have his cabinet"
said Godfrey. with an alacrity that sur
prised me. IF your theory about it
has been exploded, what's the use of
hanging on TO it?"
II don't see any use in doing So" /
admitted. but I thought perhaps O
might want more time to examine it,"
I've examined it all Tn go
ms W SiOuI4CS tllSM3Icu, lJu
! old myself that this was the
first time I had ever known him to
admit himself defeated.
II have q sort Of feeling I explained.
that when we let go OF" the cabinet.
We give up the only clue we have to
this whole affair. 1t is like a confess
sion of defeat"
IF there is nothing more to be learned
from the cabinet, there is no reason to
retain it. 1 should certainly let M. Ar
mand have it. Perhaps I'll see you to-
morrow" he added. and we parted at
the corner.
But 1 did not see him on the NOR
row. i was rather expecting a call from
during the morning, and when
none came l was certain / should find
him awaiting me when l arrived at the
Vantlne house. in company with NJ. Ar
mand. But he was not there and when
/ asked for him. Parks told me that he
a not seen him since the day before.
l confess that Godfrey's Indifference
to the fate of the cabinet surprised me
greatly; besides, l was hoping that he
would wish to meet the fascinating
More fascinating, if pos
sible. than he had been on Monday. and
/ soon found myself completely under
his spell. There had been less delay
he had anticipated in getting the
cabinet off the boat and through the
customs. and it was not yet 8 o'clock
we reached the Vantine house.
II haven't seen Mr.. Godfrey" Parks
repeated. but there's others here as it
fair breaks my heart to see"
He motioned toward the door of the
music room. and. stepping to it, l saw
the inventory was already in progress.
but I did not go in. for the sight was
but q pleasant one
1.-The cabinet is in the room across
the hail." I said to NJ. Armand, and led
the way through the ante-room into
the room beyond.
Parks switched on the lights for us.
and my companion glanced with sur
prise at the heavy shutters covering
windows.
1--WE put those up for a protection
explained. 1--WE had an idea that
one would try to enter. In fact,
one evening we did find a wire con-
Meeting with the burglar alarm cut, and
the hole in that shutter yon-
You did?" NJ. Armand queried quick
~. Would you recognize the man, if
you We're to meet him again?"
Oh. no; o see the hole is quite
small. There was nothing visible ex-
scpt a pair of eyes. Yet I might know
them again. for i never before saw
such eyes-so bright. so burning. 1t was
the night that Godfrey Inc / were try
.ng to find h secret drawer, and those
CLEANED like fire as they watched
u.s."
M. Armand was gazing at the cab
net, apparently only half listening.
"Ah, yes, the secret drawer he said.
viii you show me how 1t is operated,
Lester? I am most curious about
t."
I placed my hand upon the table and
the three points which the
yelled lady had shown US. The first
/ got the order wrong. but at the
second trial. the little handle fell for
yard With a clicE and I na,llod tho L