San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-29

enthusiasm. "And there's a secret
compartment here" As he touched
a spring, a small panel came out
revealing secret drawer beyond.
"Dear, wouldn't that look won-
derful in our dining-room-the cor
ner by the Window. And it would
go beautifully with our Sheraton
sideboard."
Mrs. Curtis is nutty about old
furniture" grunted Warren. IL
she had her way she'd buy you out"
When they moved on Helen turn
ed back to look at the price-S12OO.
1t was more than they could afford
yet she had never wanted any
thing SO much.
That's reproduction Mr..
Rodner Informed her, when in the
next room she paused to admire a
Queen Anne cabinet.
"A reproduction? Why, surely
mott" amazed Helen. for the old,
light mahogany veneer was cracked
and Enthusiastically old.
ITS made of old wood. Pretty
clever work-the handles, even tbs
hinges are old. 1t would fool any
body but an expert. Lot of that
rebuilt stuff is put over as genuine
they can even fake the worm
holes.'
A huge Jacobean cabinet, three
chair-back Queen Anne settee, a
Georgian mirror. James l Court
cupboard. and Eli::abetban buffet,
and a massive Empire bed were only
few Of the treasures in the next
three rooms.
Through another room OF Italian
pieces, the walls lined with old
paintings. and they took the elevator
to the Rodners' bachelor quarters
on the top floor.
Helen marveled at the exquisitely
appointed dinning-room and the din
ner perfectly served. Five delicious
courses with three kinds Of vintage
wine.
With the coffee Mr.. Rodncr
brought out an African cordial.
Rare old Van Der Hum, Capctown,
1852" was the label on the curious
triangular bottle.
1t was almost ten before they rose
from the table, and as Warren had
Il full day ahead Of him, they left
soon afterward.
well, Kitten. how about it?
Wasn't that a ripping good dinncr!'
MS they strolled to their hotel
through the sultry night
Everything was wonderful ~
Helen was aglow with enthusiasm.
How can they do it-just those
two men: They must have 4
French chef"
mo, it's n colored woman-had
her for years" Then as he lit an
other cigar, They've got great
place there. Jove, did you ever see
so much junk-miles of it. Guess
it's all right, too. Did you notice
how careful Joe was to tell us
that piece was phony? They're
not trying to put over any fakes"
Dear, that china closet-Ive
never wanted anything so much.
wistfully. "Of course / know it's
absurd to think of it."
How much was it," briskly.
Twelve hundred dollars"
"Gosh. pretty stiff for a china
closet. But ] tell you what Kitten.
If / can make Griffin compromise
on this Brinker case. III be in for
good fee. Maybe I'll blow you"
"Oh, Warren.' breathlessly. do
you think"
Nov don't count on it. ! may
not be able to bring him around"
'Oh. / know you within going
to believe you will From now
until we get to the hotel I'm going
to take deep breaths, and with ev-
cry one I'm going to know that
you'll win him over"
"All right, go as far as you like
But if you're going to breathe old
Griffin into compromising that
case, you'd better get busy and
pump in all the loose atmosphere
you can hold"
Following her latest New Thought
theory, Helen repeated to herself
with each deep breath: "Mr. Grif-
fin will compromise We will get
that china closet!"
Through the hotel lobby, up in the
elevator. and down the hall TO their
own door, she kept breathing and
willing" this thing.
"By George. that's our tele-
phone!" as Warren fumbled with
the key.
Helen switched on the lights
while he answered the shrilling in
strument on the stand by the bed.
"Hello. Who? Mr.. Griffin =
Yes, we've been ont all evening
I'm going back tomorrow At
ninc-thirty? Very we'll"
When he turned from the tele-
phone, 1t was with a triumphant
grin.
well, Kitten, your chances On
that china closet are going up. Old
Griffin said he'd called me twice
this evcniug-he seems in a pliable
mood. Now just keep up that
breathing stunt till l corner him in
the morning."
"Ob. 7 will Wills Helen
clasped her hands in rapt convic-
ton. "I know it works 1t nj
ways does when you think crca.j
lively Of the thing you want and
then breathe yourself into connect
ton with it." quoting from her fs-
vorite textbook. "It's-it's like an
electric current. You breathe your
self into contact with universal sup
ply"
"That sounds like a lot of bunk.
but il you can pull this off-you'll
get that china closet. Griffin is
tough old customer-so 20 to il
hard,