The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-12-24
'rrand suddenly grown hateful to he.

errand suddenly grown hateful to hO@
self
But though she sought here and
there hurriedly in the drawers Of the
dresser, here and there in such places
as came to her mind. she found moth
ing-there was no trace Of the miss
ing object.
"Roleau." she exclaimed excitedly. go
ing to the hall, lit will take time
Keep watch have no idea where he
can have left It,"
Puzzled. she turned from one corner
Of the room to the other. examining
the furniture. which showed a strange
mixture of luxury and asceticism
Close by the head Of the little iron
bedstead which seemed sufficient to
content the master Of the place, she
saw delicate cabinet of boule.
The front of this desk was a drop
leaf. which pulled out after 1t was
set In place by a metal hinge Back
OF this. in the interior of the cabinet
below series Of little pigeonholes,
stood a row of three drawers of rose.
wood. all beautifully fitted.
The eye of Kitty caught these as shs
sat deliberately engaged in her dis
tasteful but absorbing task She
drew out all three of these drawers
and put them on the desk lid before
her, examining each in turn, She
wondered why she was glad to find
there were no letters from any other
woman-yes, here was one but the
writing was that of an old woman,
she was sure. And here were certain
rings, seals. trnkets, a miniature on
ivory-even tight curled ring of gray
hair, slken and delicate.
She sat respondent after all her
search. The half coin was not here!
She had failed once more obviously
at her wits end-for now she knew
not where to look further in the room
she sat gazing at the three little
rosewood drawers before her
Suddenly an 'dea came to her mind
She picked up one of the drawers, and
stepping to the side of the cabinet.
measured the depth of the drawer
against that of the upper case which
had contained it. 1t was shallower
than the full depth of the desk by
some three inches
Hurriedly she stopped down in front
OF the desk, dropping her eyes to the
level OF the drawers, which in the
cunning of the maker had been placed
precisely where the level OF the hu'
man eye would not be apt to fall
She peered back into the recess from
which she had drawn the three tight
ftting drawers. Beyond them she saw
three little ivory knobs.
An exclamation escaped her, Not
for nothing, then, had been her own
experience in antiques She knew
something of the cunning the old max
ers put into secret drawers and spaces
in some of their furniture.
She thrust in her hand. grasped one
OF the tiny ivory knobs. and drew 1t
gently toward her. 1t was as she had
thought-there was a row OF three
shallow secret drawers in the back OF
the desk, hidden by the three larger
ones which originally she had drawn
out Not one time in fifty would any
one suspect the presence Of these So
cret compartments. The work Of the
old cabinetmaker was beautifully done
throughout 1t had been master
mind, and a cunning one, which had
designed it and executed 1t.
A strange conviction came to Kitty
that now she was at the end Of her
quest. Hurriedly her fingers turned
over the contents Of the little recepta-
cles. One held yet another miniature
a beautiful thing-of a lady whose
high and aristocratic features remind.
ed her of some face, she could not at
first tell whose. There was nothing
else.
The second was also empty-just an
address or so in faded yellow papers.
treasured for some purpose. she knew
not what and could not ask
The last drawer was filled to the top
with tissue paper which had been
crushed down. Her hands half-trem.
bling, Kitty began to unfold this tissue
All at once she paused. her eyes CLEAN.
ing.
The half of the Gretzhoffen coin lay
in her hands!
She caught at the little silken cord
about her neck, pulled to view tho
little chamois bag thus suspended at
her corsage. From this. her hands
still trembling in her haste, she
brought out the kings half of the coin
that which had given her SO much
trouble to regain.
"They match-tis DONE" exclaimed
Kitty, half aloud. And indeed the
broken edges OF the coin fitted abso-
lutely. Her errand was done-at last
she had succeeded
"Roleau!" she started up now. But
even as she did so she stopped once
more, arrested, the two halves Of the
coin still in her hand.
There was a little window at one