Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-01-20
CHAPTER xxI-(Continued,.

"Why, Lester" protested Godfrey,
its as plain as day. Who was that
bearded giant Who was killed? The
traitor. of course. We will find that
he was "a member of Armand's gang.
He followed Armand to America, lay
IN wait for him. caught him in the
act and bound him hand and foot. Do
You suppose for an instant that Ar
mand was ignorant of his presence in
h a house? Do you ppo he would
have been able to AXE Armand pris-
oncr If Armand a not been willing
that he should"
II don't see how Armand could help
himself after that fellow got his hands
on him.
You don't? And yet you saw your
tina he had cut himself %loose!"
"That is true l said. thoughtfully.
Lei us reconstruct the story" God
frey went on rapidly. The traitor dis
covers the secret of the cabinet: he
follows Armand to New York, shad-
ows him to the house on Seventh ave-
nue. waits for him there, and seizes
and binds him. He is half mad
with triumph--he chants a crazy
sing-song about revenge revenge. re-
venge! And. in order hat the triumph
may be complete. ne does not kill his
prisoner at once. He rolls him into
a. corner M proceeds to rip away the
A4s'' AiiiR ""k NC W ORShk
the secret drawer before Armand's
eyes. And Armand lies there in the
corner. his eyes cleaning. because it is
really the momen of his triumph
which is at hand!'
THE m of his triumph?" re-
peated. What do you mean by that,
Godfrey"
Il mean that. the instant the traitor
opened the drawer, he would be stabbed
by the poisoned mechanism! 1t kas for
THAI that Armand waited!"
lay back in my chair with a gasp
been blind not to see it. Armand had
merely to lie still and permit the traitor
to walk into the trap prepared for
him. No wonder his eyes had glowed
as he law there Watching that frenxied
figure at the cabinet!
1T was not until the last moment
Godfrey went on. when the traitor
was bending above the cabinet feeling
FOR the spring, that i realized what was
about to happen. There was no time
for hesitationIl sprang into the room.
Amman vanished in an instant, and the
him at the door. l had no idea of his
danger; had no thought that Armand
would dare linger. And yet he did.
Now that it is too late. understand.
He had TO kill that man: there were
nc Two ways about it. Whatever the
ANns Ac CIV w NIL III
But why?" l asked. "Why?"
L seal his lips. Ii we a cap
tured him. do you suppose Armand's
secret would have been safe for an in
slant? So he had to kill him-he had
to Kill him with the poisoned barb--
the bargain! Never in my life have I
felt so like a fool as when that door
was slammed in my facet"
Perhaps he had that prepared,
too" I suggested timidly, ready to be-
lieve anything of this extraordinary
there all the time"
of course he did assented Godfrey
grimly. why else would there be a
snap lock on the outside Of the door?
And to think ! did't see it! To think
that was fool enough to suppose that
New York without his knowing it! He
knew from the first that he might be
followed. and prepared for it,"
But it's incredible!" protested
feebly. It's incredible!'
Nothing is incredible in onn
ton with that mani"
But the r~isk-think of the risk he
rant"
What goes he care for risks? He
despises them-and rightly. He got
away. didn't i1e?'
Yes I said. he get away; there's
no question of that, I guess"
We'll, that is the story of this after !
moons tragedy. as l understand it,"
proceed I'd Godfrey, more calmly. And |
now I'm going to leave you. l want |
you to think 1t I'VE If it doesn't hold
together. show me where 1t doesn't.
But It will hold together-it has to-
because it's true!"
But how about Armand?" / pro-
tested. Aren't you going to try to
capture him? Are you going to let him
get awsy?"
H Won't get away" and Godfrey's
eyes were cleaning again. we don't
nave to search for him; for we've got |
our trap. Lester. and it's baited with a
bait he can't resist-the Boule cab |
inet!"
but he knows it's a trap"
o course he knows it,"
And you really think he will walk /
into it?" I asked incredulously.
II know he will! One OF these days,
he will try to get that cabinet out Of the
steel cell at the Twenty-third Street
l shook my head.
He's no such fool" ! said. M man
is such q fool as that. He'll give it up
and 60 quietly back to Paris"
Not II he's the nan I think he is"
said Godfrey, his hand on the door.
H will never give up! Just wait,
Lester; we shall know in q day or
two which OF us IL a true prophet. |
The only thing I am afraid Of" he
added. his face clOuding, lis that he'll
away with the cabinet, in spite Of
us!"
And he went away down the hall,
leaving me staring after him.
CHAPTER yvvr