Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-02-04
CHAPTER XIV.
THE SECRET OF THE CABINET.

THE SECRET OF TILE CABINET.
Godfrey pade me goodbye at the
dock and FASTENED away to the office
to write his story. which. i could guess,
would be concerned with the ann
or Americans. especially with Grady's.
AS for me. that Whit of salt air a
put an unaccustomed edge to my APP
petite. and | took a cab to Murray's,
deciding to spend the remainder of the
evening there. over a good dinner. Eek
cept in Il certain mood, Murray's does
not appeal to me; the pseudo-Grecian
temple in the corner, with water cas-
cadlng down its steps. the make-believe
clouds which float across the ceiling,
the tables of glass lighted from be-
neath--all this. ordinarily. seems triv-
il and banal; but occasionally in an
e%soteric mood, / like Murray's. and
can even find something picturesque
and romantic in bright gowns, and
cleaning shoulders, and handsome
faces seen amid these bizarre surround
ings. And then. of course, there is al
ways the cooking. which leaves moth
ing to be desired.
l was In the right mood tonight for
the enjoyment OF the place. and |
anbled through the dinner in u fashion
so leisurely. and trified so long over
coffee II cigaret that it was far past
10 O'Clock when I came out again into
Forty-second street. After an in
stant's hesitation. / decided to walk
home. and turned back toward Broad
way. already filling with the after
theater CrOWd.
Often as I have seen 1t, Broadway
at night is still a fascinating place to
me, with it's blazing signs, it's chang
Ing crowds. it's changing street traffic,
It's bright shop windows. Grady was
right in saying that gay Paree' had
nothing like it; nor has any other city
h l know. 1t is. indeed. unique and
thoroughly American; and / walked
along 1t that night in the most leisure
ly fashion, ~savouring 1t to the full;
pausing. now and then. for a glance
at a shop window, and stopping at the
HOFFMAN house-now denuded, alas, OF
it's Bouguereau--to r%eplenish my sup
ply of cigarets.
Reaching Madison square at last,
walked out under the trees, as 1 al
most always do. to have a look at the
Flatiron building, white against the
sky. Then l glanced up at the Met
ropolitan tower. higher but far less
romantic in appearance, and saw by
the big Illuminated clock that it was
nearly 1880.
1 crossed back over Broadway. al
last. and turned down Twenty-third
street in the direction of the Marathon,
when. Just at the corner, / came face
to face with three men as they swung
around the corner in the same direc.
tlon. and, with a little start, l recog.
nized Grady and Simmonds, with NJ,
Pigot between them. Evidently GRADY
had felt it incumbent upon himself TIC
make good his promise in the mos,
liberal manner. and to display the won.
ders of the Great White Way from end
to end-the ceremony no doubt invol
wing h introduction of the stranger
to = number of typical American
drinks-and the result OF an this was
that Grady's legs Wobbled ~perceptibly
As a matter of racial comparison,
glanced at M. Pigot's. but they seemee
In every way normal. M
Hello, Lester" said Simmonds. II
y voice which showed that he had not
wholly escaped the influences of tn,
evenings celebration: and even GradA
conaescended, to nod. from which I in
ferIed that he was feeling very unus
ually happy.
Hello Simmonds,', answered
and. as I turned westward with them
he dropped back and fell INTO step be.
| side me.
"Plggott is certainly a WONDER. HI
said. IA regular ~sport-wanted to Sc,
everything and taste everything. H,
saws Paris amt in the same class Will
this town"
Where are o going now?s 1 asked
We're going round to the station
Piggott says he's got a sensation u,
his sleeve for us---it's got something t
do with that cabinet"
With the cabinet?"
"Yes-that shiny thing Godfrey go
me to lock UP in a cell.
aSfnmonds." I said. seriously, doe,
1 Godfrey know about this?s'
"No." said Simlnonds. looking a littl,
uncomfortable. II told Grady ",
ought to phone him to come up, BIZ
the chief got mad and told me to nfnt
my own business. Godfrey's been aft
er him. you know. for n long time"
Suppose / phone him. I suggested
.There'd be no objection to that, would
there ??'
II won't object. said simmonds
and I don't know who else will, sine,
nobody else will know about it."
A right. And drag out the pre-
linlinaries as long as you can, to Civ,
him q chance to get UP here"
Simmonds nodded.
TIN do what I can" he agreed, "buj
! don't see what good 1t will do. Th,
chief wont let him In. even IL he doe.
come up"
Well have to leave that-to Godfrey
But he ought to be told. He's respon
sible for the cabinet being where 1t is
know he ts, and Piggott says 1t wa,
though I'm blessed II I know why
Hurry Godfrey along as much as "a,
can. Good night and he followed hi,
companions into the station.
There was & drugstore at the corner
with a public telephone station, ant
two minutes later. I was asking to bs
4 rnnnoAtaH &x1tfth the oStv rnOrnNaf FIJI