The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-04-26

and a section OF the inlay fell out
ward, forming handle, just as had
seen 1t do on the other side Of the
desk
NJ. Pigot hesftated an instant. Then,
catching the handle firmly with his
armored hand. he drew it quickly out
There was sharp clash as Of steel
on steel and the drawer stood openl
NJ. P1got, cool and tmperturbabie,
held out to US. with a little smile, O
hand which showed not a culver Of
emotion-his gauntleted hand; and
saw that on the-back OF 1t were two
tiny depressions. At the bottom Of
each depression lay a drop Of bright
red liquid. What nerves Of steel this
man possessed!
That liquid, gentlemen" he said In
his smooth voice, is the most power
full poison ever distilled by man. Those
two tiny drops would kill a score of
people, and kill them instantly. It's
odor betrays its origin"-and. indeed,
the air was heavy with the scent OF
bitter almonds-"but the poison or
dinarily derived from that source is as
nothing compared with this. It's dis
dllatdon was supposed 30 be one Of the
lost arts, but the secret was redfscov-
cred by this man Orchard. No secret,
indeed, Is safe from him. No man can
stand against him. Even the secret
Of this drawer was known to him, and
he avafled himself Of 1t when need
arose"
NJ. Piget paused. his head bent in
thought.
Nov, NJ. Simmon," he said briskly
in an altered voice, IF you Will have
the kindness to hold the drawer for a
moment in this position, Will draw
the serpent's fangs. There is not the
slightest danger" he added. seeing
that Simmends very naturally hesi-
tated.
Thus assured, Stmmonds grasped
the handle Of the drawer. and held IL
open, while the Frenchman took from
his pocket q tiny flask of crystal.
"a little farther" he said: and as
Simmonds, with evident effort, drew
the drawer out to its full length, a
tiny, two tined prong pushed itself
forward from underneath the cabinet.
There are the fangs," said NJ. Pigot.
He held the mouth Of the flask under
frst one and then the other. passing
his other hand carefully behind and
above them. THE poison is held in
place by what we in French call at
traction capillaire-I do not know the
English; but I drive it out by intro
ducing the air behind tt-ah, you seer
He stood erect and held the TASK up
to the light. 1t was half full OF the
red liquid.
Enough to deeimate France" he
said, screwed the stopper carefully
into place and put the flask into his
pocket Release the drawer, IL you
please, monsieur" he added to Sim
monds.
It sprang back into place on the in
slant, the arabesqued handle swapping
up with little click.
you win observe its ingenuity" said
NJ. Piget cit is really most clever.
For whenever the hand. struck by the
poisoned fangs, loosened its hold on
the drawer, the drawer sprang shut as
you see, and everything was as before
except that one man more had tast-
ed death. Now I open it The fangs
fall again; they strike the gauntlet;
but for that, they would pierce the
hand, but death no longer follows. By
turning this button. | lock the spring,
and the drawer remains open. The
man who devised this mechanism was
so proud of it that he described it In
a secret memoir for the entertainment
Of the Grand Louis. There is a copy
of that memoir among the archives Of
the French National library; the orig
inal is owned by Crochard. It was he
who connected that memoir with this
cabinet, who redfscovered the mech
anism. rewound the spring, and re
newed the poison"
This Croshar-or whatever his name
is-seems to be 'strordinary Teller"
observed Grady. relighting his cigar.
He ts," agreed NJ. Pigot. quietly: "a
NEST extraordinary man. But even he
Is not fnfalifble: for. since the mem
DIR made NO mention OF the other Sc
cret drawer-the one in which mazda me
La duchesse concealed her love letters
-Crochard knew nothing OF 1t. 1t was
that fact which defeated bis cornbi-
nationS-a pure accident which he
could not fersee. And now. gentlemen.
1t shall be my pleasure to display be-
fore you some very beautiful bril-
liantS."