Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-03-26

up GodtroF'> s&uutlct from the chair
on which it lay 1t is needless that
you should take amy risk, however
slight Permit NE" and | slipped the
gauntlet over err right hand
AS did 50 | glanced nj Godfrey.
He was staring at the yelled lady With
such II look vt stupcfactieu that near
ly choked with delight 1t had not
often been my luck To see Jim Godfrey
mystitied. but he was certainly my>ti-
fed now.
She moved toward the cabinet. God
frey and | close behind her ln>tiuc-
lively glanced toward the suffered
window, but the Semicircle of light
was unobScured
The yelled lady bent above the table
and disposed the fingers of her right
hand to tit the metal inlay midway OF
the left side.
1T is Il little awkward" she said.
Il have always been accustomed 20
using the left hand. You will notice
that | am pressing on three points.
But to open the drawer one must press
these points in certain order first
this one. then this one and then this
one"
There was Il sharp click. and ut the
side of the table Il piece of the metal
inlay fell forward
THAT is the handle" said the velrd
lady. and without an instants heNitn-
ton while my heart stood still. she
~
drawer All" And. casting aside the
ridiculous gauntlet she caught up the
packet of papers which lay within.
You see that they are only letters,
Mr. Lester" she said in Il low voice,
land | assure YOU that they belong to
me-
Il believe you. madame" said. and,
with = sigh Of relief that was almost
sob. she rebound the packet and
slipped it into the bosom of her gown.
There is one thing" | added (which
madame can. perhaps, do for me
Il shall be most happy" she hrrathed
AS | have told Mr. Hornblower,"
continued. 1.-TWO men died in this room
the day before yesterday. or, rather
it was in the room beyond that they
died but we believe it was here they
received the wounds which caused
death. 1t seems that we We're wrong in
this.
Undoubtedly" she agreed. There
has never been any such weird mech
anism as You described connected with
that drawer, Mr.. LeSter-au least not
since | have had it, There is Il legend.
you know, that the cabinet was made
for Nine. de Montespan.'
Mr. Nantine suspected as much"
said. He was examining it ut the
time he died What the other man
was doing we do not know, but if we
could identify him it might help us,
1t has occurred to me. madame, that
YOU may have seen him on La Touraine
that he may even be known to you"
What was his Nance"
The card he sent in to Mr.. Vantine
bore the name of Theophile D'Aurclle."
She shook her head
Il have never before heard that
name, Mr.. Lester"
Perhaps you will recognize this pho
tograph?"
She took it, looked at it and again
shook her head Then she looked at it
again, turning aside and raising her
veil in order to see it better,
There seems to be something famil-
lar about the face" she said at last,
las though | might have seen the man
somewhere"
ION the boat. perhaps" | suggested,
but | knew very well it was not on
the boat, since the man had crossed in
the steerage.
NO; it was not on the boat. ! did
not leave my Stateroom on the boat.
But | am quite sure that | have seen
him. and yet | can't say where. Per
haps my maid can help us" Photo.
graph in hand, she stepped through the
doorway into the outer room.
Julie said she in rapid French. Il
have here the photograph of man
who was killed in this room most mys-
teriously Il few days ago These gen
tlemen wish to identify him, The face
seems to me somehow familiar but
cannot place it, Look at it,
Julie put forth Il shaking hand. took
the photograph and glanced at it:
then, with a long sigh, slid Imply to
the floor before either Godfrey or
could catch her
AS she fell her veil. catching on the
chair back. was torn away. and, look
ing down at her, a great emotion burst
within me. for recognized the mys-
FERROUS woman whose photograph
D'Aurelle had carried in his watch
case
For moment | stood spellbound.
staring down at that iaded and passion
stained countcnance: then Godfrey
sprang forward and lifted the uncon
scious woman to the couch
Bring some water" he said and as
he turned and looked at me saw that
his face was plpViur with excitement