The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-01-14
The Mystery Of
the Bou1e Cabinet
BURTON E.. STEVENSON
Copyright, 1913, by Burton e. eyens
CHAPTER xx-(continued).
Copyright, 1913, by Burton e. Stevenson.

1s -r
Godfrey" I cried, remembering sud-
denly. Did you see his eyes as he
lay there watching the man at the cab
inet?"
Yes; 1 saw them"
They were the same eyes,
The same eyes"
and the laugh-did you hear that
laugh?"
Certainly I heard it."
Il heard 1t once BEFORE" / said, land
you thought it was a case Of newest"
l fell silent a moment, %shivering a
little at the remembrance.
But why did Armadn lie there SO
quietly" l asked at last. WAS he in
jured?"
Godfrey made a little gesture toward
the corner.
G see for yourself" he said.
Something lay along the wall, on the
pot where had seen that figure, and
as l ben over it, I saw that it was a
large net, finely meshed but very
strong.
THAT was dropped over Armand's
mead as he came up the stairs,' said
Godfrey, or flung over him as he came
into the room. Then the dead man
yonder jumped upon him and trussed
him up with ropes.
Pushing the net aside, I saw upon
the floor a little pile Of severed cords.
yes l agree; he would be able to
40 That. Have you noticed his size.
Godfrey? He was almost a giant"
He couldn't have done it If Arm
and hadn't been willing that he should"
routed Godfrey, CURLY. You see he had
no difficulty in getting away" and he
acid up the net and pointed to the
great rents in it. "He cut his way out
while he was lying thera-I ought to
pave ought to have known
NJ rt+ >x,1 AL-A ~.
waiting = but it was all SO sud-
He threw the net down upon the
floor with a gesture of disgust and
despair. Then he stopped in front Of
che Boule cabinet and looked down at
It m%usingly; and, after a moment, his
face frightened,
The burlap wrapp1ngs a ben al
most wholly torn away, m the cab
net stood. more i~nsolently beautiful
han ever, 1t seemed to me, under the
a Of the sun, which sparkled and
upon it.
But we'll get him, Simmonds," said
Godfrey, and his lips broke into a
smile. TN fact, we've got him now.
We have only to wait, and he'll walk
into u arms. Simmonds, 1 want you
to lock this cabinet up in the strongest
cell around at your station; and carry
the key yourself"
Lock it up?" stammered Simmonds,
staring at him.
Yes" said Godfrey. lock it up.
That's our one salvation!" His face
was glowing; he was quite Himself
again alert, confident of victory. You're
in charge Of this case, aren't you?
Well, lock 1t up, and give your reasons
to nobody"
"That'li be easy" laughed Sim
monds. II haven't got any reasons
ooh ,vn,, @x,o ~.1r--
bent upon him a gaze that was posi-
lively hypnotic. You will do it be-
cause l want o to, and because I
tell you that, sooner or later, If you
keep this cabinet safe where no one
can get at it, the man W. wan will
more than that, Simmonds; if we do
get him, I'll have the biggest story 1
ever had. and you will be world fam
GUS. France will make you a chew
alier of the Legion of Honour, Sim
monds, mark my words. Don't you
your button hole?"
Sinmonds was staring at tho speak
er as though he thought he had sud-
denly gone mad. Indeed, the thought
flashed through my own brain that the
disappointment, the chagrin of failure,
had been too much for Godfrey.
He burst into laughter as he saw
u faces.
mo. I'm not mad he said soberly;
and I'm not Joking. I'm speaking in
deadly III Simmonds, when I say
that this fellow is the biggest catch we
could make. He's the greatest criminal
of modern times-I repeat it, Lester,
this time without qualification. And
now, perhaps, you'll agree with me-"
And with Armand. 50 finished, SO
self poised, so distinguished, in my
mind. and the body of his latest victim
| before nv ewes. nodded g1oomj1v
But who is he?" I asked. do you
know who he Is, Godfrey"
There's the ambulance" broke in
Stmmonds, as a knock came at the
street door. and he hurried down to
open it.
Come on. Lester and Godfrey
hooked his arm through mine. There's
nothing more we car do here. Well go
down the back way. I've had enough
excitement for the time being-haven't
you?
Il certainly have" agreed, and he
led the way back along the hall to an
other stair, down 1t and SO out through
the laundry.
"But Godfrey. who is h man.
repeated. Why did he kill that poor
fellow up there? Why did he kill
Drouet and Vantine? How did he get
into the Vantine house? What it it all
about?"
"Ah!" he said. looking at me with a
smile. That Is the important question
what is it all about! But we cont
discuss it here In the street. Besides, I
want to think it over, Lester; and I
want you to think it over. If I can, I'll
! drop in tonight to see you, and we can
thresh it out! VIII that suit you?'
YES" I said: land for heavens sake,
don't all to comet
CHAPTER XXI