The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-12-10

should take any risk. however slight.
Permit me-" and slipped the gauntlet
over her right hand. '..
AS did so, 1 glanced at Godfrey. He
was staring at the yelled lady with
such look OF stupefaction that / near
ly choked with delight. II had not
often been by luck to see Jim Godfrey
mystified, but he was certainly mys-
titled nowi .... ~. ~.
The yelled lady regarded the steel
glove with little laugh.
II am now free to open the drawer?"
she asked
Yes, madame" "
She moved toward the cabinet, God
frey and close behind her. At last
the secret which had defied us was to
be revealed. And with it's revelation
would come the end Of the picturesque
and romantic theory we had been
building up so laboriously.
Instinctively. 1 glanced toward the
shattered window, but the semi-circle
of light was unobscured. ...... .....
The yelled lady bent above the table
and disposed the fingers of her right
hand to fit the metal inlay midway of
the left side ~ -.... ~
ut is little awkward" he said. "T
have always been accustomed to using
the left hand. You will notice that
am pressing on three points; but to
open the drawer, one must press these
points in certain order-first this one
then this one. and then this one"
There was sharp click, and. at the
side of the table, a piece of metal in
lay fell forward.
THAT Is the handle" said the yelled
ton, while my heart stood still, she
grasped il and drew out a shallow
drawer. "Ah!" and, casting aside
the ridiculous gauntlet, she caught up
the packet of papers which lay within.
Ihen, with an effort, she controlled
herself, slipped off the ribbon which
held the packet together, and spread
out before my eyes 10 or IL envelopes.
You will see that they are only letters,
Mr.. Lester" she said In a low voice
and assure you that they belong to
me-"
II believe you. madame 1 said. and
with a sigh Of relief that was almost a
It into the bosom Of her gown. There
Is one thing added, (which madame
can, perhaps, do for me-
snail be most happy!' she breathed
AS have told Mr.. Hornblower,' L
continued, two men died in this room
the DAY before yesterday. Or, rather, 1t
was in the room beyond that they died:
but we believed it was here they
received the wounds which caused
death. 1t seems that we were wrong in
this"
Undoubtedly" she agreed. "There
has never been any such weird mechan-
ism as you described connected with
tnat drawer, Mr.. Lester. At least, not
since have had it. There is a legend,
you know, that the cabinet was made
for Madame de Montespan."
she was talking more freely now; evil
IDENTIFY a great load had been lifted
rom her-perhaps 1 did not guess how
Mr.. Vantine suspected as much" 7
SAID. he was connoisseur of furni-
ture, and there was something about
this cabinet which told him ii had be-
longed to the Montespan. He was ex-
aiming 1t at the time he died. What
the other man was doing, we do not
know, but If we could identify him, IL
might help u.s."
You have not identified him?"
we know nothing whatever about
MIN, except that he was presumably
a Frenchman. and that he arrived on
La Touraine. two days ago."
over"
1T has occurred to me, madame, that
even be known to you"
What was his name?"
The card he sent in to Mr.. Vantine
bore the name of Theophile d'Aurelle."
She shook her head.
Il have never before heard that
name, Mr.. Lester"
I'VE believe it to have been an as
sumed name" 1 said; but perhaps
you Will recognize this photograph"
and 1 drew 1t from my pocket and
handed it to her.
She took 1t, looked at It, and again
shook her head. Then she looked at
1t again, turning aside and raising her
veil In order to see II better
There seems to be something ia
miliar about the face" she said, at
last, "as though might have seen the
man somewhere"
"on the boat, perhaps" suggested.
but l knew very well it was not on the
boat. since the man had crossed in the
steerage.
mo; 1t was not on the boat. I did
not leave my stateroom on the boat
But l am quite sure that have seen
him-and yet l can't say where"
Perhaps" said. in low voice. "he
may have been one Of the friends Of
your husband"
blow. but 1t had to be struck. And she
was brave.
"The same thought occurred to me.
Mr.. Lester" she answered: but
know very few of my husbands
friends; certainly not this one. And
yet Perhaps my maid can
help u.s."
Photograph in hand, she stepped
through the doorway into the outer
room. The maid was sitting on the
chair where we had left her; her hands
| clenched tightly together in her lap,
as though 1t was only by some violent
effort she could maintain her self
control.
Julie" said the yelled lady, in rapid
French. II have here the photograph
Of man who was killed in this room
most mysteriously a few days ago.
These gentlemen wish to identify him.
The face seems to me somehow ia
miliar, but 1 cannot place 1t. Look at
it,"
Julie put forth a shaking hand, took
the photograph. and glanced at it;
then, with a long sigh. slid Imply to
the floor, before either Godfrey or 1
could catch her.
AS she fell, her veil. catching on the
chair-back, was torn away: and, look
ing down at her. great emotion burst
within me. for 1 recognized the mys-
FERROUS woman whose photograph
dAurelle had carried in his watch
case.
CHAPTER XIV.