Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-01-14
The Mystery of.
the Bou1e Cabinet
BURTON E.. STEVENSON
CHAPTER xX-{continued).
Copyright, 1918. |

godfrey" / cried, remembering sud
denly. Did you see his eyes as he
met 2"
Yes; | saw them"
they We're the same eyes,
lhe am eyes"
|, And the laugh-did you hear that
laugh?"
certainly / heard it,"
1 heard it once BEFORE" l said, "anG
you thought it was a case of nerves."
y Iel silent a moment, shivering a
nltie at the remembrance.
But why did Armadn lie there sc
iured?'
Godfrey made a little gesture toward
Go see for yourself" he said.
something lay along the wall, on the
spot Where | had seen that figure, and
Us L pent over it, | saw that it was a
arse net, finely meshed but very
strong.
THAT was dropped over Armand's
aead as he came up the stairs" said
aoafrey, or flung over him as he came
INTO the room. Then the dead man
yonoar jumped upon him and trussed
MN up with ropes.
Fushlng h net aside, | saw upon
me floor a little pie Of severed cords.
Yes l agree; "he would be able to
40 mat. Have YOU noticed his size,
Godfrey? He was almost a giant"
81 couldn't have done 1t if Arm
and hadn't been willing that he should
routed Godfrey, CURLY. You see he had
40 difficulty in getting away" and he
held up the net and pointed to the
great rents in it. He cut his way out
while he was lying there-I ought to
nave Known ought to have known
ne wasn't bound-that he was only
waiting but it was all so sud
den. ="
He threw the net down upon the
tloor with a gesture of disgust and
despair. Then he stopped in front of
the Boule cabinet and looked down at
1t muslngly; and, after a moment, his
lace frightened.
Inc burlap wrappings had ben al
most wholly torn away, and the cab
met stood, more insolently beautiful
than ever, 1t seemed to me, under the
rays OF the sun, which sparkled and
glittered and shimmered as they fell
upon it.
But We'll get him. Simmonds," said
Godfrey, and his lips broke into a
smile. In fact. We've got him now.
We have only to wait, and he'll walk
into our n Simmonds, l 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 u 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?
Wen, lock it up, and give your reasons
to nobody"
tsr'ho+,11 a., o,,,,, ,..-l ~:-
naonds. Il haven't got any reasons"
"oh. yes, you have" and godfrey
upon him a gaze that was posi-
lively hypnotic. You will do it be-
cause want you to, and because l
tell o that, sooner or later, if you
this cabinet safe where no one
can get at it, the man we want will
walk into our hands. And Iii tell you
more tina that. ~Simnonds; if we do
get him: IN have the biggest story l
ever had, and you will be world fam
ous rance will make you a chew
alier of h Legion of Honour, Sim
monds, mark my words. Don't you
think the ribbon would look well in
your button hole?"
Slnmonds was staring at the speak
er as though he thought he had sud-
through my own brain that the
disappointment, The chagrin Of failure,
had been too much for Godfrey.
He burst into laughter as he saw
our faces.
No, I'm not mad" he said soberly;
and I'm not joking. I'm speaking in
deadly earnest, 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. SO finished, so
self poised. so distinguished, in my
mind. and the body Of his latest victim
before my eyes, l nodded gloomily.
But who is he?" asked. DO you
who he is, Godfrey?"
There's the ambulance broke In
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 can do here. Well go
the back way. I've had enough
excitement for the time being-haven't
you?
II certainly have" 1 agreed, and he
LED the way back along the hall to an
stair, down it and SO out through
the laundry.
But Godfrey, who is this MANI" I
repeated. Why did he kill thai 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 q
smile. That is the important question
what is it all about, But we cont
it here in the street. Besides, 1
to think it over, Lester; and /
o to think it over. If 1 can, I'll
drop in tonight to see you, nj we can
thresh it out! Will that suit you?'
Yes" said: IAN for heavens sake.
don't fail to comet