The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-03-12

NOT TINS one ! protested.
Yes: this one"
But don't understand"
atammered. "Vantlne told me him.
self that he did not buy that
cabinet
| Nor did he but somebody
bought II IN his name and directed
that II be sent forward TO him" ,
Rather an expensive present" |
said. feebly. for my briin was be.
ginning TO whirl again.
"oh. II wasn't intended as n pres.
ent The purchaser planned 10 re-
claim it--but vantine's death threw
him out. II II hadn't been for that
for an accident which no one
could forcaoe everything would
have gone along smoothly and no
one would ever have been the
wiser"
but what was his oblcct7 Was
he trying TO ovade tho duty?'
''Oh. nothing 70 small as that
! Tho clerk who made the supposed
sale 10 Vantino resigned suddenly
/ two days ago-iust az soon as he
/ had intercepted your cable and
answered H."
What IL Il. them" demanded.
Here II IL. THIS NJ Armand r.
great criminal. and has. 81 course.
various followers. upon whom he
must rely for the performance OF
certain details Abject and abso-
/ Lutte obedience Is necessary TO his
success. For disobedicnce. there In
/ but one punishment death. For
traitors are found TO have died. In
eyitably and invariably. from the
effects Of nm Insignificant wound
on tho right hand. just above tho
I knuckles"
I was listening intenuy nov, as
you may we'll believe
1T Is by this secret" Godfrey
, continued. that Armand preserves
/ his absolute supremacy. But oc-
caEionaily tho temptation u too
great. and one OF bis men deserts.
I Armand sends this cabinet to
/ America He knows that In this
case the temptation In very great
indeed. and he arrangcs In the cab
/ met mechanism which viii in.
T fiict death upon tho traitor In pre-
T ciseiy tho same way In which he
E himself inflictn it-by means Of n
I poisoned stab in the right hand"
+ But" questioned. what act
of treachery was II that Armand
I feared"
The opening OF tho Secre,
Z drawer"
Then YOU s,ill believe in the
/ poisoned mechanism"
Il certainly do. The tragedy Of
this afternoon proves the truth OF
tho theory"
Il don't zee IT," said. heiplossiy.
let us reconstruct tho story"
Godfrey went on rapidly. The
traitor discovers The secret OF the
cabinet: he follows Armand 20
New York. shadows him 20 the
house on Seventh ave. waits for
him there. and seires and binds
him. He r. half mad with triumph
he chants n crazy hing'Hong
| about revenge. revenge. revenge
4 And. in order that the triumph may
be complete. he does not XII his
prisoner at once His triumph Will
DO to open the secret drawer be.
/ fore Armand's eyes. And Armand
[ lies there I'm tho corner. his eyes
cleaning. because ~ II really the
moment OF his triumph which ~
NJ hand"
- - T.. s.@ls y
] I repeated. 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 II Was for that that
! Armand waited"
lay back in my chair with n
gasp OF amazement and admira-
! ton.
1T was not until tho last mo
/ mont" Godfrey went on. that !
realized what was about 10 hap
pcn. There was no time for heat.
tation-I sprang into the room.
! Armand vanished In an instant.
and the giant also tried TO es-
cape; but | caught him at the door
/ | had no idea OF his danger. had
no thought that Armand would
| dare linger And yet he did. Now
that e In too late. understand
| Ue had to kin that man to seal
| HIS lips. n we had captured him.
do you suppose Armand's secret
would have been safe for an in
stnnt7 SO he had TO kill him
/ he mad to XIII him with the poison.
ed barb-and he did XIII him. and
got away into the bargain"
Yea" said. but aren't you go
| ing to try 20 capture him.
He won't get away" and God.
/ frey's eyes were cleaning again
We've got our trap. Lester, and
| it's hait~d with n bait he can't re-
sist--the Boule cabinet"
And you really think he will
walk into ~" / asked incredulous.
~.
Il know he will, One Of these
days. he will try to get that cab
| met out OF the steel cell at the
23rd at. station. in which we have
Il locked"
shook my head.
He's no such fool" said. Hell
give It up and 30 quietly back TO
/ Paris"
Not ~ he's the man | think he
Is said Godfrey. and no went
away down the hall. leaving me
staring after him.
CHAPTER XVI.
II seemed for once that Godfrey
was destined to be wrong. for the
days passed and nothing happened