Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-25

Certainly" he assented- That is
very just
Parks was back in moment. pilot
/ ing two men who carried between
them an object Swathed in burlap,
and the Metropolitan man followed
them in.
Il am Mr.. Lester" I said to him.
MT. Vantine's executor. and this is
! VI. Felix Armand OF Armand & Son OF
Paris. We are correcting an error
which was made just before Mr.. Van
tine died. That cabinet yonder was
shipped him by mistake in place of
one which he had bought. NJ. Armand
has caused the right one to be sent
over and viii take away the one which
belongs 10 him. have already spoken
to the museums attorney about the
matter. but I wished you to be present
when the exchange was made"
That Is a very handsome piece.
said the Metropolitan man. Il am
sorry the museum is not to get it
The two men meanwhile. under NJ.
Armand's direction. had been strip
ping the wrappings from the other cab
met. and it finally stood revealed. 1t.
too. was q beautiful piece OF furni-
NIAN g huA even my eye NOuih
see how greatly il fell below the other
The other cabinet is yours ! said
TO NJ. Armand.
II shall hope to see you again. Mr..
Lester" he said. with a cordiality
which fiattered me. "and to renew our
very pleasant acquaintance. When
ever you are in Paris I trust you will
not fail to honor me 10y letting me
know"
Thank you ! said. II shall GER
tainly remember that invitation. And
meanwhile. since you are here in New
York
You are most kind" he broke in.
"and was myself hoping that we
might ut least dine together But I
am compelled TO proceed To Boston
this evening. aud from there shall 20
on TO Quebec"
Then he signed to the two men To
take M the cabinet and himself laid
n protecting hand upon it as 1t was
carried through the door and down
the steps to the van which was back
ed up TO the curb. IL was lifted care
fully inside. the two men clamhercd
in beside It. the driver spoke to the
horses and the van rolled slowly away /
up the avenue.
NJ Armand watched II for a moment. /
then mounted into the cab which was /
waiting. waved last farewell To me I
and followed after the van. We !
watched it until ii turned westward N I
the first cross street.
Mr. Godfrey'S occupation will be- 4
gone" said Parks. with Il little laugh. 4
He has fairly lived with that cabinet /
for the past three or four days. He
was here last night for quite awhile"
Last uiGht:" echoed. surprised.
Il was sure lie would be here today
added.
The next instant was jumping
down the steps Two NJ time. for i
cab in which TWO men were sitting
came down the avenue and rolled slow
~ around the corner i'm the direction
taken by the van one OF it's occu.
pants turned toward me and waved
his hand. and I recognized lin God
frey.
II was with n certail veSation of
spirit that | found myself racing after
Godfrey'S cab. for | allied that lie
had not been entirely flank with me.
Certainly ne had dropped no hint of
his intention to follow Armand.
And IL suddenly dawned upon me
that even did not know the cabinets
destination. VI. Armand had volun
feered no information.
] reached the corner in time to sec
the van turn northward into Sixth av-
nnue. At Sixteenth street IL turned
westward nE'iin. = nj then northward
nto Seventh avenue.
What could Armand he doing I'm this
part OF the town. I asked myself Did
ne propose ~ leave that priceless cab {
net In this dinGy quarter: And then
paused abruptly and slipped into an
lrchwIy. for the van had stopped some.
distance ahead and was hacking up to
he curb.
Looking ont discreetly ] saw the cab
containing Armand stop also. and that
aliGhted and paid the driv-
r. The other cab rattied on at
.ood pace and disappeared up the ave
int. Then the two porters lifted out
he cabinet and. with Armand show ]
n= them the way. carried II into the
uilding before which the van had ]
topped. I
They were gone perhaps Eve min
ties. from which I argued that they
-ere carrying It upstairs: then they r
with Armand accompany Q
~ them. He tipped them and went o
mt also TO tip the driver OF the van. a
hen the porters climbed aboard. and a
ratified away out OF sight. Armand 4
TODD for a moment on the step. look c
* up and down the avenue. then dis a
ppeared indoors.
An instant later I saw Godfrey and 81
unfhRr H-bnu \ 7 n
immondS come out OF a shop across a
he street and dash over to the house
Ito which the cabinet had been taken.
hey were standing on the doorstep 9,
hen Joined them. 6,
IL was dinGy building. entirely n
Tpicai OF the dinGy neighborhood. The 2,
round floor was occupied by n Iaun- r.
~ which the sign on the front win :.
ow declared 10 he French and the y