Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-08-18


tine died. That cabinet yOnder was
shipped him by mistake In place OF
one which be had bought. M. 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 wished you to be present
when the exchange was made"
THAT is a very handsome piece
said the Metropolitan man. Il am
sorry the museum is not to get it,
The two men meanwhile. under M.
Armand's direction. had been strip
ping the wrappings from the other cab
met. and it finally stood revealed. 1t,
too, was a beautiful piece of furni-
ture. but even my unframed eye could
see how greatly it fell below the other.
1.-THE other cabinet is yours" / said
to M. Armand.
81 shall hope to see you again, Mr..
Lester" be said. with a cOrdiality
which fiattered me. land 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. II shall GER
tainly remember that invitation. And
meanwhile, since you are here in New
York.
"YOu are most kind" he broke in.
land I was myself hoping that we
might at least dine together. But
am compelled to proceed to Boston
this evening. and from there shall go
on to Quebec"
Then he signed to the two men to
take 20 the cabinet and himself laid
a protecting hand upon it as 1t was
carried through the door and down
the steps to the van which was back
ed ND to the curb. 1t was lifted care
fully inside. the two men clambered
In beside it. the driver spoke to the
horses, and the van rolled slowly away
up the avenue.
Nj. Armand watched it for q moment,
then mounted into the cab which was
waiting, waved a last farewell to me
and followed after the van. We
watched it until 1t turned westward at
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.
II was sure he would be here today"
l added
The next instant | was jumping
down the steps two at a time. for
cab in which. two men were sitting
came down the avenue and rolled slow
Iy 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 a certain vexation of
spirit that | found myself racing after
Godfrey's cab. for | realized that he
had not been entirely frank with me.
Certainly be had dropped no hint OF
his intention to follow Armand.
And it suddenly dawned upon me
that even did not know the cabinets
destination. NJ. Armand had vOlun-
teered no information.
/ reached the corner in time to see
the van turn northward into Sixth av-
enue. At Sixteenth street it turned
westward again. and then northward
into Seventh avenue.
What could Armand be doing in this
part of the town? l asked myself. Did
he propose to leave that priceless cab
met in this dingy quarter? And then
l paused abruptly and slipped into an
archway. for the.van had stopped some
distance ahead and was backing up to
the curb.
Looking out discreetly. saw the cab
containing Armand stop also. and that
gentleman alighted and paid the driv
er. The other cab ratified on at a
good pace and disappeared up the ave-
nut. Then the two porters lifted out
the cabinet and, with Armand show
ing them the way, carried it into the
building before which the van had
stopped.
They were gone perhaps five min
utes, from which l argued that they
were carrying it upstairs; then they
reappeared, with Armand accompany
ing them. He tipped them and went
out also to tip the driver of the van.
Then the porters climbed aboard. and
it ratified away out of sight. Armand
stood for a moment on the step, look
ing up and down the avenue. then dis
appeared indoors.
An instant later l saw Godfrey and
another man whom l recognized as
Simmonds come out Of a shop across