Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-09-08


with a manifest impotence in strong
contrast TO my own absorbed interest.
"Our theory" replied NJ. PigOt. with
out the slightest acceleratiOn of speech.
lis that the MichaelOvitch diamonds
are concealed in this cabinet. Every
thing points TO it, and we shall soon
see''
AS he spoke he drew from his pock-
ct a steel gauntlet, marvelously like
the one Godfrey had used, and Slip
ped it over his right hand
"When one attempts TO fathOm the
secrets of the invincible One," he said
with a smile, tone must go armored.
Already three men have paid with
their lives the penalty of their rash
ness"
s.Three men, repeated Grady, won
deringly.
ssThree." and Pigot checked them
eff upon his fingers. First the man
who gave his name as D'Aurelle but
who was really a blackmailer named
Drouet: second. NJ. Vantine, the con-
noisseur, and third, the creature MOrel.
OF these the only one that really mat
ters is NJ. Vantine. His death was
most unfortunate, and / am sure that
Crochard regrets it exceedingly"
"One moment. monsieur" / said.
bursting in. unable to- femain longer
silent. ''ThiS is all so wOnderful-sO
thrilling-will you not Stel us more?
For what were these three men search
ing-fOr the jewels?"
"Monsieur is as familiar with the
facts as l." he answered in a sarcastic
tone. "He knows that Drouet was
killed while searching for packet of
letters which would have compromis-
ed most seriously great lady. He
knows that NJ. Vantine was killed
while endeavoring to open the drawer
after it's secret had been revealed to
him by the maid of that same great
lady, who was hoping to get reward
for them. Morel met death directly
at the hands of Crochard because he
was q traitor and deserved it,"
More and more fascinated, 1 stared
at him. What secret was safe, l ask
ed myself, from this astonishing man?
But even yet" 1 stammered, 81 do
not understand. We have opened the
secret drawer of the cabinet-there
was no poison. How could it have
killed Drouet and Mr.. Vantine?"
"Very simply" said M. Pigot coldly.
Death came to DrOuet and M. Van
tine because the maid and madame la
| :,
her right. The drawer which contain
ed the letters is at the left of the cab1-
net-see,'' and he pressed the series OF
springs, caught the little handle and
pulled the drawer open. "You will no
tice that the letters are gone. The
drawre which Drouet and NJ. Vantine
opened" and here his voice became a
little strident under the stress of emo
ton, sis on the right side of the cabl-
net, exactly opposite the other and
opened by a similar combination. But
there is one great difference. About
the first drawer there is nothing to
harm any one; the other is guarded
by the deadliest poison the world has
ever known. Observe me, gentlemen"
AS he spoke he bent over the desk
and pressed three fingers along the
right edge. There was a sharp click
and a section of the inlay fell out
ward, forming a handle, just as 1 had
seen it on the other side of the desk.
M .Pigot hesitated an instant. Then
|eatching the handle firmly with his
armored hand, he drew it quickly out.
There was a sharp clash as of steel on
steel and the drawer stood open!
| NJ. Pigot, cool and imperturable,
held out to u.s. with a little smile, a
hand which showed not a culver of
enbtion-his gauntleted hand; and l
saw that on the back of it 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. sis the most power
| full poison ever distilled by man. Those
two tiny drops would kill a score of
people, and kill them instantly. Its
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
tillatiOn was supposed to be one of the
lost arts, but the secret was rediscOv-
cred by this man CrOchard. 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 availed himself of 1t when need
arose.
NJ. Pigot paused, his head bent in
thought.
snow, 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 serpents fangs. There is not the
slightest danger" he added, seeing
that SimmOnds very naturally hest
tated.
Tins assured. SimmondS graSped