Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-02-03
STEVENSO ON

with II public telephone station. and
TWO minutes later. 1 was asking to be
connected with the city room at the
Record office.
No. said a supercilious voice, Mr.
Godfrey was not there: he had left
some time before: no, the speaker did
not know where he was going, nor when
he would be back.
Look here ! said. this is import
amt. ! want to talk to the city editor
and be quick bou it,"
There was an inStant's %astonished
silence.
"What name?!' asked the voice.
Lester. of Royce e. Lester-and you
might tell your city editor that Godfrey
is II close friend of mine"
The city editor seemed to understand
for ] was switched on to him II mo-
ment later. But he was scarcely more
satisfactory.
I'VE sent Godfrey up into Westches-
ter to see Il man," he said, ''on a tip that
looked pretty good. He started Just as
soon as he got his Pigot story writ
ten. and he ought to be back almost any
time. is there a message | al give
him.
"Ycs-tell him Pigot is at the Twen-
ty-thlrd street station. and that he'd
better come up as soon as he cam"
Very good. I'll give him h mes
sage the moment he cOmeS in."
'Thank you,' 1 said. but the disap-
pointment was a bitter one.
In the street again. I passed hesi-
tatingly at the curb, my eyes on the
red light. of the police station. What
was about to happen there? What
was the sensation NJ. Pigot had up his
sleeve" Had L any Reuse for being
present"
And then. remembering Grady's nod
and his wobbly legs-remembering. too,
tho ~ th~ ,,so ,t 1- $50. a. -.A
me out!-I turned toward the light.
pushed open the door II entered.
There was no one in sight except the
sergeant at my desk.
MY name is Lester" / said. You
have a cabinet here belonging to the
estate of the late Philip Vantine.'
We've got Il cabinet, all right: but
l don't know who it belong S to-"
1T belongs to Mr.. Nantine's estate
Well. what about it ?' he asked, look
ing at me to see If ] vas drunk. You
haven't colne in here at midnight to
tell me that, hope?'
NO: but I'd like to see the cabinet a
minute"
You can't see it tonight. Come
know YOU
Here's my card. Either Mr.. Sim
or Mr.. Grady would know me.
And tomorrow Won't do"
The sergeant took the card, looked at
it. and looked at me.
"Wait q minute" he said. at last. and
disappeared through a door at the far
ther side of the room. He was gone
three or four minutes. and the station
clock struck IL as / stood there. l
counted the sonorous. deliberate
strokes, and then, in the silence that
followed, my hands began to tremble
with the suspense. Suppose Grady
should refuse to see me? But at last
the sergeant came back.
Come along" he said. opening the
gate in the railing and motioning me
through. Straight on through that
door," he added, n sat down again at
his desk.
With Il desperate effort at careless
unconcern, l opened the door and
stopped. Fol- there. in the middle of
the floor. was the Boule cabinet, with
NJ. Pigot standing beside 1t, and Grady
n Simrnonds sitting opposite, flung
carelessly back in their chairs, and puff
fling at black cigars.
They all looked at me as I entered.
Pigot with ar evident contraction Of
the brows which showed how strongly
his unbanity was strained; Simmonds
with an affection of surprise, and Grady
with a bland and somewhat vacant
smile. My heart rose when I saw the
smile.
Well. Mr.. Lester" he said, so you
want to see this cabinet?"
YES" I answered.; 1T really belongs
to the Vantine estate. you know: I'm
going to put in a claim for it-that Is.
IL you are not willing to surrender 1t
without contest"
Did you just happen to think of
this in the middle OF the ntght??" he
inquired Quizzically.
NO." l said boldly, but I saw you
and Mr.. Simmonds and this gentle
man"-with a bow to NJ. Pigot-"turn
n here a moment ago, and 1t occurred
to me that the cabinet might have
something to do with your visit. OF
course, we don't want the cabinet in
jured. 1t 10 cry valuable" /,
Don't worry said Grady, easily.
we're not going to injure 1t. And
think we'll be ready to surrender It
to you at any time after tonight.
MoOsseer Piggott here wants to do a
few tricks with 1t first. / suppose you
have q certain right to be present-so
II you like sletghft. of hand, Sit down"
l hastily sought a chair. my heart
singing within me. Then l attempted
to assume q mask Of Indifference, fol
M. Pigot war obviously annoyed al
my presence. and I feared for q mo-
ment that his Gallo suavity would
be strained to breaking. But Grady
IL he noticed his guests annoyance paid
no heed to 1t, n l began to suspect
n the F1enchman's courtesy and
good breeding had ended by rubbing
Grady the wrong way, they yer In
such painful contrast to his own hob
nailed manners. Whatever the cause,
there was 2 certain malice in the smile
ne turned upon the Frenchman.
And now, Moosseer Piggott." he
said, settling back in his chair a lit
tie farther, we're ready for the show"