Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-04-09

Ill WV o"!S III lux NoNlllLtN lpOA
like 80 cents.
He is the confidential attorney Of
most Of our "best families" He has
held that position for years. unG it is
said that no case placed ~nnreservedly
in his hands ever resulted in a public
scandal.
His reputation for tact and GelicacyI
is tremendous. and vet those who have
found themselves opposed to him have
never been long in realizing that there
was a most redoubtabIe mailed fist I'M
der the velvet glove. | had never met
him either professionally or person
that told the office boy to show him
in at once.
he was Il bluff and hearty man of
middle age. rather heavy set. fresh
bright blue eyes.
We shook hands and he sat down
and plunged at nee without an in
stant's hesitation into the business
which had brought him.
Mr.. Lester" he began. Il under
stand that you are the administrator
of the estate Of the late Philip Van
tineT"
':Our firm is" | corrected.
But you. personally. have been at
tending to his business? He was Il col
lector of old furniture. | believes"
Yes
And on his last trip to Europe.
from which he returned only a few
days ago. he purchased Of Armand &
Son of Paris a Boule cabinet?"
| could O repress Il start of aston
ishment.
Are you acting for Armand & SOM"
L queried.
Not at all. am acting for a lady
whom. for the present. we will call
Nine. X"
The thought flashed through my
mind that Nine. X. and the mysterious
Frenchwoman might be n and the
idea as absurd. Serene Hornblower
would never accept such a client.
Mr.. Vantine did buy such a cab
met" | said.
And it is in your ~poSseSsion?"
There is at his residence u Boule
cabinet which was shipped him from
Paris. but. only IL few hours before his
death. Mr.. Vantine assured me that
it was not the one he had purchased"
You mean that a mistake had been
made in the shipment?"
THAT is what we supposed, and a
cablegram from Armand 4 Son has
since confirmed it."
Where is the cabinet which MIR.
vantine did buy?"
Il have no idea. Perhaps it is still
in Paris. But l am expecting a repre-
sentative Of the Armands to call very
soon to straighten things out"
Again my companion fell silent, and
sat rubbing his chin absently.
1T is very strange" he said finally.
IF the cabinet was still at Paris. one
would think it would have been dis
covered before my client made inquiry
about it."
are strange about this whole matter
l supplemented.
Would you have any objection tc
my client seeing this cabinet. MI. Les
ter?"
1t was my turn to hesitate.
Mr.. Hornblower." l said finally, ~
will be frank with you. There is
certain mystery surrounding this cabi
net which we have not been able t.
solve. l suppose you have read of the
mysterious deaths Of Mr.. Vantine ant
Of an unknown IFrenchman. both il
the same room at the Vantine house
and both apparently from the same
cause?'
do you mean that this cabinet is
connected with them in any way?" he
asked quickly.
I'VE believe so, though as yet we
have been able to prove absolutely
nothing. But we are guarding the
cabinet very closely. I should not OBJ
ject to your client seeing it, but l coult
not permit her to touch it-not, a,
least, without knowing why she wish
ed to do SO. You will remember tina,
you have told me nothing Of why she
is interested in it."
II an quite ready to tell you the
story, Mr.. Lester" he said. 1T is only
fair that | should do so. After yol
have heard it. if you agree. we will
take Nine. X. TO see the cabinet. NJ,
client is a mealber Of a prominen'
American family-a most prominen'
family. Three years ago she married
n French nobleman. You can perhap.
guess her name. but l should prefer
that neither Of us utter it.
This nobleman has been 10th prodi
gal and unfaithful. He has scat
tered my clients fortune with boil
hands. l am free to confess that
consider her a fool not to have lief
him long ago. At last her trustees in
terfered, for her father had been wise
enough to place u portion Of his for
tune in trust. They paid her husband.
debts. placed him on an allowance anc
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