Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-08-04

ming great FISK"
that this cabinet at one time belonged
to me. You permit me?'' she added
and took step toward it.
zone moment. madame" 1 interpOs-
ed. II must warn you that in touch
ing that cabinet you are running a
great risk"
"a great risk?' she echoed. looking
at me.
rs there not connected with the
dra wer," asked, "a mechanism which
as the drawer is opened plunges two
poisoned fangs into the hand which
opens it,"
mo, Mr. Lester" she answered. as
constituent in her voice, Il assure you
there is no such mechanism"
l clutched at a last straw. and q sOr-
ry one it was.
1.-THE mechanism may have been
placed there since the cabinet passed
from your possession" suggested.
"That is perhaps possible" she
agreed. though saw that she was un-
convinced.
AT any rate. madame" l said, 81
would ask that in opening the drawe<
you wear this gauntlet" and l picked
up Godfrey's gauntlet from the chair
on which 1t lay. 1T is needless that
you should take any risk. however
slight. Permit me-" and 1 slipped the
gauntlet over her right hand.
AS / did so l glanced at Godfrey.
He was staring at the yelled lady with
such look of stupefaction that near
~ choked with delight. 1t had not
often been my luck to see Jim Godfrey
mystified, but he was certainly mysti-
fed now.
She moved toward the cabinet, Gcd-
frey and 1 close behind her. Instinc-
lively / glanced toward the shattered
window, but the semicircle Of light
was unobscured.
The yelled lady bent above the table
and disposed the fingers of her right
hand to fit the metal inlay midway of
the left side.
at is a little awkward" she said.
81 have always been accustomed TO
using the left hand. You will notice
that l am pressing on three points.
But to open the drawer one must press
these points in a certain Order-hrst
this one, then this one and then this
one"
There was a sharp click. and at the
side of the table piece Of the metal
inlay fell forward.
THAT is the handle" said the yelled
lady, and without an instant's hesita-
ton. while my heart stood still, she
grasped it and drew out shallow
drawer. "Ahw And, casting aside the
ridiculous gauntlet, she caught up the
packet of papers which lay within
''You see that they are only letters
Mr.. Lester" she said in a low voice
land / assure you that they belong to
me-"
ST believe you, madame" said, and
with a sigh of relief that was almost
sob. she rebound the packet and
slipped it into the bosom Of her gown
"There is one thing" l added, (which
madame can, perhaps, do for me-"
ST shall be most happyp' she breathed
Gas / have told Mr.. Hornblower,"
continued, 1.-TWO men died in this room
the day before yesterday, or, rather
it was in the room beyond that they
died. but we believe it was here they
received the wounds which caused
death. 1t seems that we were wrong in
this
Undoubtedly" she agreed. There
has never been any such weird mech
anism as you described connected with
that drawer, Mr.. Lester-at least not
since have had it. There is legend
you know, that the cabinet was made
for Nine. de Montespan."
"Mr. Vantine suspected as much"
said. "He was examining it at the
| time he died. What the other man
was doing we do not know. but If we
could identify him it might help US
1t has occurred to me. madame. thai