The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-03-22


fair that ! should do 90. After you
take Nine. K. tp see the cabinet My
client In a meEiber Of a prominent
American family-a most prominent
family. Three years ago she married
French nobleman. You can perhaps
guess her name. but I should prefer
that neither OF us utter &C.
This nobieman has been both prett-
gal and unfaithfuI. H@ has scat
tered my clients fortune with both
hands. am free to confess that
consider her q fool not 10 have left
him long ago. At last her trustees An
terfered. for her father had been wise
enough 30 place a portion Of hin for
tune IN trust They paid her husbands
debts. placed him on an allowance ana
notified his creditors that his debts
would not be paid again"
I had by this time. Of course. guessed
the name Of his client.
1.-The allowance Is a princely one"
Mr. Hornblewer continued. but 1t does
not suffice Monsieur K. No allowance
would suffice him. So he has beccme
O thief. He has taken 20 selling the
objects Of art with which his resi-
dences are Oiled and which are really
the property OF my client since they
were purchased with her money.
About two weeks ago my client TO-
turned 90 Paris from a stay nc her
chateau In Normandy Co dnd that he
had almost depuded the town house.
Among other things which he had Ca
ken was a BouIe cabinet. which bad
been used by my client an her private
writing dssk. The cabinet was a most
valuable one. But Il In not tts none
tary value which makes my client 20
anxious 10 recover It."
He paused an instant and cleared hIn
throat.
"MOnsieur x. had had the decency,"
be went ON. more slowly. ITO. Rs he
thought. retain his wtfe'a private pa
pers. He had caused the contents OF
the various drawers IL be dumped cut
upon q chair. But there was one
drnwer Of which he knew nOthinS-a
secret drawer. known only to my eli
ent That drawer contained a packet
Of letters which my client I'm most anx-
ious to regain. She has given me 30
that their recovery In CO.
senttsl to her peace OF mind"
reflected a faithIess husba nd has
no reason to complain IF his wife re-
pays him In the same coin
My client went 10 work at once TO
regain the ca binet." continued Mr..
plainly relieved that the
ice had been crossed. ''She
found that 1t had been sold to Armand
G. Son. Fastening 10 their Offices. she
learned that IL had been resold by
them to Mr.. Vantine and sent forward
to him here. So she came over ON the
first boat. cstensibly % visit her fani
ly. but really to ask Mr.. Vantines per
TO open the drawer and take
with this. and In despair she came to
me. / need hardly add that-no MEM
Der OF her family knows anything
a bout this matter. and IL ia especially
important that her husband should
never even suspect IT. On her behalf
I apply to you as Mr.. vantine's execu-
tor to restore these letters to their
owner
! sat for d moment turning thia Elk
story over I'm my mind
Surely Mime. Z. weuld scarcely guard
the secret Of that drawer with poison.
Does any one besides Jour client
know OF the existence Of these let
ters?" asked at last
81 think not" answered Mr.. Horn
blower. smiling dryIy. They are not
Of a nature which my client would
care 20 communicate Co any one- We
must get them back nc amy cost"
LAS q matter OF fact" pointed out.
there are always at least two people
who know OF the existence OF every |
person who writes if and |
the person who receives It.
az had thought Of that. but the par
son who wrote these letters Tn dead. |
He was killed In a duel some months |
ago by Monsieur T."
Mr.. HornbloweF rat REGARDING me. |
his lips pursed. an am Indication. per |
aaps. that he would say mo more.
But there was no necessity that no |
] knew enough Of French haw
and Of French habits OF thought co |
realize that IL those letters ever came
INTO possession OF Monsieur K. the |
game would be entirely I'm his hands
His wife would be absolutely nc his
mercy. And the thought flashed
through my mind that perhaps in some
way he had learned Of the exiatence
" the letters. and was trying des-
perately 20 get them. That thought
was enough to swing the balance In
ais wtfe's favor.
"I am sure said. "that Mr.. van
dne would instantly have consented
% your client opening the drawer and
aking out the letters. And. az his
Executor. I also consent But I uaust
warn you. Mr.. Hornblower. that I be-
ieve two men have already been kill
d trying 20 open that drawer" and |
old him the story IL am inclined to
fr1nk~ concluded. that Vantine