The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-02-15

what want yOu Ia do is to cable ms
shippers Armand & Son. Rue dn Tenn
pIe. find ont who owns this cabinet
and buy IL for me
PERHAPS the owner won't sell"
''Oh. yes. he will: Anything can- be
bought for price"
''YOu mean you're going TO have this
cabinet. awhatevPr the coSt?''
81 mean Just that"
"At least you'll tell me where 10 be
gin" | said IL don't know anything
Of the value " such things"
well" sa',i vantine. suppose you
begin at 10000 frants We mustn't
seem too eager. It's because I'm SO
eager that want you to carry II
through for me. can't trust myself.
And the other end -
There isn't any other end. or
course. STRICTLY spea king. there is. be-
ca use my money isn't unlimited. but |
don't believe you will have To go over
5OU.OOO francs"
I gasped.
"You mean you're willing to give
100000 for this cabInet?"
Vantine nodded.
MAYBE a little more If the owner
won't accept that sou must let me
know before you break off negOtia-
lions. But come and see it"
He led the way out of the room and
down the stairs. but when we reached
the lower hall he paused
Perhaps I'd better see my visitor
FIRST be said. You'll find II new pic
ture or two over there In the music
room I'll be with you in minute"
started on. and ne turned through
a doorway ut the left
An instant later heard a sharp ex-
clamation; then his voice calling me.
"LeSter. come here," be cried.
] ran back along the hall. into the
room which he had entered He was
standing just inside the door.
Look here" he said. with queer
catch In his voice and pointed with a
trembling hand to dark object OH the
floor.
| moved aside to see II better. Then
my heart gave Il *irkening throb. for
the object on the floor was the body Of
a man.
II needed but glance TO tell me
that the nun was dead There could
be no life i'm that livid fare. in those
CLASSY eyes We stood for moment
shaken as one always IS by sudden and
unexpected contact with death.
'WhO Is hep ! asked at last.
81 don't know" answered Vantine
hoarSely II never saw him before"
Then he strobe to- the hell and rang II
violently. Parks" ne went ON stern
IL aS that worthy aff'earei at the door.
''what has been going on in here?''
"Ioing on. Sir?'' repeated Parks. with
a look Of amazpmenf-
Then his glance fell upon the hud-
died body and he stopped short. bis
eyes staring. his mouth open.
"Why why" be- wtammered. THAT'S
the man who was waiting to aee you.
sir"
''You mean he has been killed IN this
house?'' demanded Vantine
she was certainly alive when he
came in. SIR said Parks. recovering
something of his self possession MAY
be he was just looking for quiet
place where hs. could kill himself. He
seemed kind Of excited"
"Of course" agreed VantinP. with
sigh Of relief. that's the explanation.
Only ! wish he had chosen some place
else l suppose we shall have to call
the police. T.eSter?"
eyes" said ''and the coroner Sup
pose yon leave 1t to me. Well tos.k
up this room. and nobody must leave
the house until the police arrive"
every we'll aSSpnted Vantine. viSi
bly, relieved III see to- that. and
he haStpned away. while went to the
phone. called up police HEADQUARTERS
and told briefly what had happened.
Twenty minutes later there was
ring at the bell. and Parks opened the
door and admitted four men.
why. hello. SimmondS!' ] said req
ognizing in the first one detective