The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-01-28
The Mystery OF
the Bou1e Cabinet
BUR- TON E. STEVENS
CHAPTER xxI1.-(continued)
Copyright 1918 Burton e. Stevenson.

keeping me informed of the measures
which have been taken TO guard the
cabinet. and which seem to me very
complete and we'll thought out. / have
myself visited the station and inspected
the cell. and find that in every detail
you were correct.
1T is because l so esteem you az
an adversary that tell you. I'm con-
fldence. that II is my intention to re-
gain possession of my property on
Wednesday next and that. having done
so. shall beg you to accept a small
souvenir OF the occasion.
Il am. my dear sir,
Most cordially yours,
Jacques Crochard,
'L'Invincible!"
looked up to find Godfrey regard
ing me with a quizzical smile.
"Of course it's a joke" said. Then
I looked at him again. Surely, Cod
frey. you don't believe this is gem
uine!"
Perhaps we can prove it," he said
quietly. THAT is one reason l came
up. Didn't Armand leave a note for
you the day he failed to see your"
Yes; on this card; 1 have II here
and with trembling fingers, got out
my pocketbook and drew the card from
the compartment in which I had care
fully preserved 1t.
OHS SidIlCS at II WIS eIOuBH' LhS
Penciled line on the back was unques-
tionably written by the same hand
which wrote the letter.
And now you know his name" God
frey added, tapping the signature with
his finger. II have been certain from
the first that it was he!"
I gaZed at the signature without an
swering. 1 had, of course, read in the
papers many times of the Gargantuan
exploits OF Crochard-"The Invincible,"
as he loved to call himself, and with
good reason. But his achievements, at
least as the papers described them,
seemed too fantastic to be true. l had
suspected more than once that he was
merely a Pigment of the Partisan space
writer's. sort of reserve for the duh
season; or else that he was a kind of
scapegoat, saddled by the French police
with every crime which proved too
much for them. Now, however, il
seemed that Crochard really existed: ]
held his letter in my hand; l had even
talked with him-and as I remembered
the fascination, the finish, the distin-
guished culture of NJ. Felix Armand,
understood something Of the reason for
his extraordinary reputation.
There can be no two opinions about
him." said Godfrey, reaching out his
hand for the letter and sinking back
In his chair to contemplate ii. Gro
chard Is one of the greatest GRIM
inals who ever lived. full OF magma
ton and resource. and with a sense of
humor most acute. have followed his
career for years-it was this fact that
gave me my first clue. He killed a
man once before, just as he killed this
last one. The man had betrayed him
to the police. He was never betrayed
again"
What a fiend he must be-" said,
with q Shudder
But Godfrey shook his head quickly.
Don't get that idea OF him." he pro-
tested earnestly. up to the time OF
his arrival in New York he had never
killed any man except that traitor. Him
he had a certain right to kill-accord-
ing to thieves ethics, anyway. His
own life has been in peril scores OF
times. but he has never killed a man
to save himself. Put that down to his
credit"
But Drouet and Vantine," objected.
IAN accident for which he was in no
way responsible" said Godfrey prompt
You mean he didn't kill them?"
Most certainly not. This last man
he did kill was traitor like the first.
Crochard, l think, reasons. like this; to
kill an adversary is too easy; 1t is too
brutal: ii lacks finesse. Besides, 1t re-
moves the adversary. And without ad-
versaries, Orchards life would be OF
no interest to him. After he had killed
his last adversary, he would have to
kill himself"
II can't understand a man like that"
said.
''Well, look at this" said Godfrey,
and tapped the letter again. He hon
ors me by considering me an adver-
sary. Does he seek to remove me? On
the contrary, he gives me a handicap.
He takes off his queen In order that
1t may be a little more difficult to mate
met"
'But. surely, Godfrey" protested,
you don't take that letter seriously!
If he wrote it at all, he wrote IL merely
to throw you off the track II he SAYS
Wednesday. he really intends to try for
the cabinet tomorrow"
II don't think so. I told you he
would think me only tyro And, be-
side him, that is all am. Do you know
where he wrote that letter Lester?
Right in the Record office. That Is a
sheet of our copy paper. He sat down
there. right under my nose, wrote that
letter, dropped II into my box, and
walked out. And all that sometime this
evening when the office was crowded"
But it's absurd for him to write a
You have only to warn the police :"
You'll notice he says it is in con-
fidence."
And you're going to keep it SOP
Certainly 1 am; 1 consider that he
has paid me a high compliment. have
shown it to no one but you-also in
confidence"
1T is not the sort of confidence the
law recognizes" pointed out. ITO
keep confidence like tLot Is practi-
cally to abet a felony"
And yet you will keep it," said God
frey cheerfully. You see am going
to do everything l can to prevent that
felony. And we will see If Crochard is
really invincible!"
''I'n keep It," 1 agreed, because l
think the letter is just a blind. And,
by the way" added, II have a letter
from ArmarL q Son confirming the
fact that til cir books show that the
Boule cabinet was bought by Philip
Vantine. Under the circumstances.
shall have to claim it and hand it over
to the Metropolitan"
Il hope you won't disturb it until af-
ter Wednesday" said Godfrey, quickly.
Il won't have any interest in it after
that"
You really think Crochard will try
FOR 1t Wednesday,
II really do"
1 shrugged my shoulders. What was
the use Of arguing with a man like
that?
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