Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-04-09

cealed
My r,iead .N won't over the cab
met very e"usul! atu ,uuId not md
it." | said
Your frieud-I thiuk you mentioned
his Nance"
Yes, His name is Godfrey"
"a ulu OF the law. like your>elf:"
ION. no. 4 uew>papevman Eut he
had been a member of the detective
force before that. He is extraordinarily
keen. Eut that combination WAS toe
much for him
NJ. Armand snapped the drawer back
into place with Il little crash
Il am glad. ut any rate, that it was
discovered" he said. Il will not con
ceal from you, Mr. Lester, that it adds
not little to the value OF the rubi-
net"
What is its value$" | asked Mr.
Nantine wanted me TO buy it for him
and named Il most cNtravagaut figure
As the limit he was willing to pay"
Really" VI. Armand answered aft
er an inStant's hesitation. Il would not
care to name figure. Mr.. Lester.
without further consultation with my
father"
What is it, Parks?" said aS that
worthy appeared ut the door.
There's van outside, sir" ha said,
and a couple of men are unloading
piece of furniture Is it all right. siy:"
Yes" | answered. "Have them
bring it in here, and ask the man ia
charge Of the inventory to step over
here Il minute. Mr. Vantine left his
collection of art objects to the Metro
politan Museum" explained to NJ
Armand. aud should like the repre-
sentative of the museum to be present
when the exchange is made"
"CertainIy,' he assentcd That is
very just"
Parks was back in moment. pilot
ing two men who carried hetWcnu
them an object sWathcd in hulG,p.
and the Metropolitan man followed
them in.
Il am Mr. Lester" said to him.
Mr. Nuutine'S executor. and this is
NJ. Felix Armand of Armand x 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 will take away the one which
belongs to HIM have already spoken
to the museums attorney about the
matter, but l wished You to be present
when the exchange was made"
That is Il very handsome piece"
said the Metropolitan man. Il am
sorry the museum is not to get it
The two men meanwhile under NJ
Armands direction, had been strip
ping the wrappngs from the other cab
met. and it finally stood revealed, It,
too, was a beautiful piece of furni-
ture, but even my unframed eye could
see how greatly it 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 Il cOrdiality
which battered me. and to renew our
very pleasant acquaintance When
ever you are in Paris | trust you will
not fail to honor me by letting me
know"
Thank you" | said. Il 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 at least dine together. But
am compelled to proceed to Boston
this evening. and from there ! shall 90
on to Quebec"
Then he signed to the two men to
take up the cabinet and himself laid
a protecting hand upon it as it was
carried through the door and down
the steps to the van which was back
ed up to the curb, 1t was lifted care
fully inside. the two men clambercd
in beside it. the driver spoke to the
horses. and the van rolled slowly away
up the avenue.
NJ Armand watched it for n moment,
then mounted into the cab which was
waiting. waved a last farewell to me
and followed after the van. We
watched it until it turned westward ut
the first cross street
Mr. Godfrey's occupation will be
gone" said Parks, with little laugh.
He has fairly lived with that cabinet
for the past three or four days. He
was here last night for quite awhile :
Last night" echoed, surprised.
Il was sure he would be here today,
| added
The next instant | was jumping
down the steps two at time. for .
cab in which two men were sitting
came down the avenue and rolled slow
y around the corner in the direction
taken by the van. One Of its occu-
pants turned toward me and waved
his hand. and | recognized Jim God
frey.
1t WAS with certain veXation of
spirit that | found myself racing after
Godfrpv's cab for | realized that he