Newspaper Page Text
The Hand of fate deals
strange cards in a game in
which the poison of the Me
dici and the seventeenth
century cabinet of Mme. de
Montespan play a tragic
part in twentieth century
New York.
The mysiery of the Boule Cabinet
By Burton E. Stevenson
Copyrighted 1913 by Button E. Steve
Duel of wits between a
clever reporter and the
greatest criminal of modern
times the theme of this re
markable romance. Com
missioner Grady of New
York and “Crochard the In
vincible” of Paris.
otje plthefi Vaptfjjt* sSSres* was -tell me, Lester.” said Vauu,,;.
written ia pencil. he looked at me earnestly -e '
There were no letter!, no papers, no tUln |, tllHt p, Jur dert | caill( , , a >'w
written document* of any kind In the t0 eet n chance to kill himself ,, uj
pocket*, the remainder of whoa* con- "No, | don't” I said.
tent* consisted of »ueb odd* and end* j , Tb{n wbat dld he come , n (
PROLOGUE.
If a literary miner mere to ap
praise this story he would say
of it:
"It pans oat a big percentage
of thrills."
There’s "pay dirt" in this mys
tery story for every lover of an
exciting tale and an interesting
plot. It is one of the master
pieces of its author, who is a rec
ognized leader in the field of the
detective story.
L Round a beautifully inlaid cab-
et dating from the days of
J,ouis XTV. which stands in a
iFifth avenue mansion weaves a
ptory of plot and counterplot,
|'mystery, suspense and surprise.
[rim Godfrey, shrewdest of re
porters, and the detective ba
teaus of New York and Paris are
trying to unravel the intricately
untangled clews. And the read
me, too, wilt go along with them,
Breathless and absorbed, getting
now a hint, again coming up
) mgainst a blank wall, until, like
them; fie comes to the amusing
explanation. And the one who
baffles reporters; detectives and
readers is Crochard, the invinci-
' ble. n creation in detective fic-
I tic
H
CHAPTER I.
The Flrat Tragedy.
ELLOI” I said as I took down
the receiver of my desk
phone la answer to the call.
"Is that you, Lea ter 7” ask
M Philip Vantlne’* voice.
"Tea. So you're back again!”
"Got in yesterday. Can yon come
tip to the bouse and Innch with me to
day?”
"Til be glad to," I said and meant
It, for I liked PhUlp Vantlne.
I "I’ll look for you, then, about 1:30.”
1 And that Is bow It happened that an
hour later I wan walking over toward
Washington square. Just above which,
on the avenue, the old Vantlne man-
lion stood. It wa* almost the last sur
rival of the old regime, tor the tide of
business bad long since overflowed
fmm the neighboring street* Into the
s • ••line.
■ 'tiillp Vantlne had bee* bon In tbo
«e where be still lived and declared
i he would die then Be bad no
. * nut himself to please in the matter.
Mine be was unmarried and Uved
same. and he mitigated the Increasing
roar and dust of the neighborhood by
long absence* abroad.
Vantlne was about fifty years at age,
the possessor of a comfortable fortune,
something of a connoisseur In art mat-
tan, a collector *f old furniture. His
reasons for remaining single In no way
concerned his lawyers, a posltloa
Which our Arm had held for many
years, and the active work of which
bad come gradually Into my hands.
Ba game forward to meet me, and
|ra shook band* heartily.
I "If* plain to see that the trip did
pen good.” I said.
"Yes,” be agreed; '1 never felt mere
Bt. Bnt come along; we can talk at
^able. There's a little difficulty I want
yen to untangle for me.”
| I followed him upstairs to hi* study,
yrbere a table laid for two bad bees
placed near a low window.
"I had lunch served up hers,” Van
tlne espleiued, as we sat down, “be
cause ibis Is the only really pleasant
loom left In the bouse.”
Be paused and glanced about the
room. Every piece of furaltnr* la It
|ras the work ef a master.
“I suppose you found some new
things while you were sway?” I said.
"Yes—and It’s that I wanted to talk
to yon about I brought back six or
tight pieces. I'll show them to you
presently. They are all pretty good,
te l> s thing of beauty. It's
than that—it's an absolutely
ilqu* work of art Only, usforto-
aately. It Isn't mine.”
"It Isn’t yours?"
; . “No. and I don’t know whose It Is.
It I did. I’d go buy it That's what 1
want you to do for me. It's a Boule
cabinet—the most exquisite I ever saw.
It came from Paris, and It was ad-
Brassed to me. The only explanation
I can think of Is that my shippers at
Fails made a mistake, sent me a cabi
net belonging to some one els* and
pent mine to the other person.”
“You had bought one, then?”
"Toe, and It hasn't turned up. But I
beside this one if* a mere daub. My
man Parks got It through the customs
yesterday. As there was s Boule
cabinet on my manifest, the mistake
wasn’t discovered until the whole lot
waa brought up here and uncratsd
this morning.”
"Weren't they uncratsd in the cos-
l “No. 1 I’to been bringing things la
fur a good many year*, and the cus
toms people know I'm not a thief,
dome In.” he added, answering a tap
at the door.
The door opened and Vaatloe’a aaa
cam# la.
“A gentleman to tee yea. air." he
•aid and banded Vantlne a card.
presen
|A*E<i o
^hatalT
VuiiUlie i.m-ucu .u U »» little tiiunkl^
"I don’t know him,” he said. 'What
does he want?"
“He wanta to see you, sir—very bad.
I should aay. I think he's a French
man, sir. Anyway, he don’t know
much English. Shall 1 show him out,
sir?"
“No," said Vantlne, after an instant's
hesitation. “Tell him to wait.”
“I tell you. Lester.” he went on as
Parks withdrew, “when I went down-
stain this morning and saw that cab
lnet I could hardly believe my eyes. 1
thought I knew furniture, but I hadn’t
any Idea such a cabinet existed. The
most beautiful I bad ever seen Is at
the Louvre. It stands In the Salle
Lonls XIV,, to the left as you enter.
It belonged to Louis himself. Of
course I can’t be certain without n
careful examination, but I believe that
cabinet beautiful as it Is, Is merely
the counterpart of this one.’*
He paused and looked at me, his
•yes bright with the enthusiasm of the
connoisseur.
“Boule furniture.” ho continued, “Is
usually of ebony Inin id with tortoise
shell and lucrustod with arabesques In
metals of various kinds. The lncrus
tation had to be very exnrt and to
get It ao the artist clamped together
two plates of equal size and thickness,
one of metal, the other of tortoise shell,
traced his design on the top one and
then cut t.hbm both out together The
result waa two combinations, the orlg
Inal, with a tortoise shell ground and
metal applications, and the counter
part applique metal with tortoise shell
arabesques. The original was really
the one which the artist designed und
whose efTecta be studied. The conn
terpart was merely a resultant, acci
dent with which he was not especially
concerned. Understand?”
“Yes, I think so.” I said.
“Well, it’s t^e original which has the
real nrtlstlc value. Of course the coun
terpart Is often beautiful, too, but In a
much lower degree.”
“I can understand that” I said.
“And now. Lester.’’ Vantlne went on,
his eyes shining more and more. “If
my supposition Is correct if the Grand
Louis was content with the counter
part of this cabinet for the long gal
lery at Versailles who do you suppose
owned the original?"
I saw what be was driving at
“1 believe It belonged to Mme. de
Montespan," he said.
"Really, Vantlne." I exclaimed. "1
didn’t know you were so romantic
You quite take my breath away!”
He flushed a little at the words, and
I saw how deeply in earnest he waa
“The craze of the collector takes him
a long way sometimes." he said.
"What I want you to do is to cable my
shippers. Armand & Son. Uue du Tem
ple, find out who owns this cabinet
and buy It for me.’’
“Porbaps the owner won't tell."
“Oh, yes. be will! Anything can be
bought—for a price."
“You mean you’re going to have this
cabinet, wbntever the cost?"
“I mean Just that”
"At least you’ll tell me where to be
gin," I aald. “I don’t know anything
of the value of such things.”
“Well," said Vantlne, “suppotM you
begin at 10,000 francs. Wo mustn’t
seem too eager. It's because I’m ao
eager that I waut you to carry It
through for me. 1 can't trust myself."
“And the other end?”
“There Isn't any other end. Of
course, strictly speaking, there Is. be
cause my money isn’t unlimited, but 1
don't believe you will have to go over
600,000 {fanes.”
I gasped.
“You mean you’re willing to give
§100,000 for this cabinet?”
Vantlne nodded.
“Maybe a little more. If the owner
won't accept that you must let me
know before you break off negotia
tions. But come and see It”
He led the wny out of the room and
down the stairs, but when we reached
the lower hqll he paused.
“Perhaps I’d better see my visitor
first" he aald. “You’ll And a new pic
ture or two over there in the music
room. I’ll be with you in a minute.”
I started on, und be turned through
a doorway at the left
An instant later I beard s sharp ex
clamation; then his voice calling me.
“Lester,.come here!" he cried.
I ran back along the hall. Into the
room which he had entered. He was
standing Just Inside the door.
"Look here,” he said, with a queer
catch In hi* voice and pointed with a
trembling hand to a dark object on the
floor.
I moved aside to see It better. Then
my heart gave a sickening throb, for
the object on the floor was the body of
a man.
It needed but a glance to tell me
that the man was dead. There could
be no life In that livid face. In those
glassy eyea We stood for a moment
•baken as one alwny* Is by sudden and
unexpected contact with death.
“Who I* he?” 1 asked at last
“I don’t knnw." answered Vantlne
hoarsely. “1 never saw hitn before."
Then be strode to the bell and rang It
violently. “Parks." he went on stern
ly as that worthy appeHre*fcat*the door,
••wbnt has been going on in hero?"
“Going on. sir?’’ repented Parks, with
• look of amazement.
Then hie glance fell upon the bud-
pad body, and he stopped short, his
•yes staring, bin mouth open.
“Why—why," he stammered, "that’s
the man who was waiting to see you,
sir.”
“You mean he has been killed In this
house?” demanded Vantlne.
“He was certainly alive when he
came in. utr,” said Parks, recovering
something of his self possession. “May
be he was Just looking for a quiet
place where he could kill himself. He
seemed kind of excited."
“Of course,” agreed Vantlne, with a
sigh of relief, “that’s the explanation.
Only I wish he hod chosen some place
else. I suppose we shall have to call
the police. Lester?”
“Yes.” I said, "and the coroner. Sup
pose you leave It to me. We’ll lock
up this room, and nobody must leave
the house until the police arrive.”
“Very well.” assented Vantlne. visi
bly relieved. “I'll see to that,” and
he hastened away, while I went to the
phone, called up police headquarters
and told briefly what had happened.
— Twenty minutes later there was a
ring at the bell, and Porks opened the
door and admitted four men.
“Why. hello. SlmmondsI” I said, rec
ognizing In the first one a detective
were appuieui ail over him.
“Do you know this man?” Gold
berger asked, with a gesture toward
the body.
“No, air,” said Parks; “I never sa
him till about an hour ago. when
Rogers called me downstairs and said
there was a man to see Mr. Vantlne."
“Who Is Rogers?”
"He's the'footman, sir. He answer
ed the door when the mao rang."
“Well, and thon what happened?"
“I took hts card up to Mr Vantlne.
sir.”
“Did Mr. Vantlne know him?"
“No, air; he wanted to know what
he wanted."
“What did he want?”
“I don’t know, sir He couldn't
speak English hardly at all He was
French. I think He was so excited
that he couldn’t remember what little
English be did know ”
“What made you think he was ex
cited?”
“The way be stuttered anVf the way
his eyes glinted After Mr.' Vantlne
snM be would see him presently Rog
ers and me went hack to our lunch ’’
"Do you uieon to say that you and
Rogers went nwny and left this
str|nger here by himself?”
“The servnnte d’limg room is right
at the end of the Inti *lr We left the
door often If he’d none out into the
hall we’d have neen him "
"And he didn’t come out into the
hall while you were there?"
“No. sir '*
“Did anyiwxly come In?” *
“Oh. no. sir: the front door has a
snap lock It can't be opened from the
outside without n key."
“So you are perfectly sure that no
one either entered or loft the house
by the front door while you and Rog
era were sitting there?"
as any man might carry about with
bim-a cheap watch, a penknife, a
half empty packet of French tobacco,
a sbeaf of cigarette paper, fnjir or five ~ Mk'heip’und *blle“b»
I think Goldberger'* theory
ty good one-that he had heard
as a generous fellow and came l n h a
keys on a ring, a silk banJkercblef. ^ dd enl7gave'7t up"- WalU “ !
and perhaps some other articles which ,. And U1|ed blmself?" Vamin.
I have forgotten, bnt not a thing to p | eted . co »-
asslMt ln establishing his Identity. , h „ lta . w > ,
••This proves that he's French.” said „ th# back ' of my
Godfrey.
“His best girl?"
For answer. Godfrey held up the
watch, which be had been examining.
doubt
"See here. Lester," Vantlne dem»M
ed. “If he didn't kill himself, Ttul
watch, whlcn ne naa Deen examining.
full lip* and oval face, a face so typl- ° u . t . . flndlo 8 *
rally French that It was not to be mis
taken.
*Seo thera* said Simmonds.
thing bit him.”
The Man Waa Dead.
ergeant Back of him was Coroner
Goldberger. whom 1 had met ln two
previous case*, while the third counte
nance. looking at me with a quizzical
smile, was that of Jim Godfrey, the
Record's star reporter. Tha fourth
man was a policeman In uniform, who
at a word from Simmonds took his
•tation at the door.
“What Is It?*' asked Godfrey.
“JiiHt a suicide, 1 think," and I nn
locked the door Into the room where
tbe dead man lay.
Simmonds, Goldberger and Godfrey
stepped inside. I followed asd closed
the door.
“Nothing has been disturbed," I aald.
“No one has touched the bedy.”
Simmonds nodded and glanced In
quiringly nbout the room, but God
frey’s eyes. I noticed, were on the face
of the dead mnn. Goldberger dropped
to his knees beside the body, looked
.into the eyes nnd touched his fingers
to the left wrist Theu he stood erect
again and looked down at the body,
and as I followed his gaze I noted Its
attitude more accurately than 1 bad
done in the first shock of discover
ing It
It was lying on its right side, half
on Its stomach, with its right arm dou
bled under it and Its left hand clutch
ing nt the floor above Its head. The
fcuees were drawn up as though lu a
convulsion, and the face was horribly
coutorted, with a sort of purple tinge
under the skin, hh though the blood bad
been suddenly congealed. The eyes
were wide open, and their glassy stare
added not u little to the apparent ter
ror and suffering of the face.
The coroner glanced at Simmonds.
“Not much question ns to the cause.”
he said. “Poison, of course.”
“Of course,’’ nodded Simmonds.
“But what kind?” asked Godfrey.
“It will take a postmortem to tell
that,” and Goldberger beut for another
close look nt the distorted face. “I’m
free to admit the symptoms aren't the
usual ones."
I told nil I knew—bow Parks had
announced a man's arrival, how Van
tlne and I had come downstairs to
gether. how Vantlne had called me
and finally how Parks bad Identified
the body as that of the strange caller
“now long a time elapsed after
Parks announced the roan before you
and Mr. Vantlne came downstairs?”
asked Goldberger
"Half an hour perbapa.”
Goldberger nodded.
"Let's have Parks In.” he said.
I opened the door And called to
Parks, who was sitting on the bottom
step of the stnlr.
Goldbcrgpr looked him over careful
ly ax he stepped into the room, but
there could be no two opinions about
Parks. He had beeu wltb Vantlne for
eight or ten .rears, and the earmarks
«f the competent and faithful servant I
Godfrey, “and not snake poison ”
fell silent n moment, his eyes on the
swollen hand. ”lt might, of course,
have been self inflicted." he added,
quite to himself
”A man doesn't usually comihlt sul-
Nor by the back'door either, sir; to dd * by sticking himself in the band
tvlt 1 H friPL' " CnlilliufrrAP cmi Ill
get out the back way, you have to pass
through the room where we were.”
“Where were the other servants?"
“The cook was In the kitchen, sir.
This la the housemaid's afternoon out"
The coroner paused. Godfrey and
Slpamonds bad both listened to this in
torrogatlon.
“What Is the room yonder used for?"
asked Godfrey, pointing to the connect
ing door.
“It’s a sort of storeroom Just now.
sir.” said Parks. “Mr. Vantlne Is Just
back from Europe, and we’ve been un
packing ln there some of the thing*
he bought while abroad.”
“Send In Mr. Vantlne, please," said
Goldberger. 1
Parks went out, and Vantlne came In
a moment later. He corroborated ex
actly the story told by Parka and my
self, but he added one detail.
“Here is the man's card,” be aald.
and held out a square of pasteboard.
It contained a single engraved line:
"M. Theopblle D'Aurelia.”
"He's French, as Parka suggested.”
aald Godfrey. “That's evident, too.
from the cut of hts clothes."
“Yes, and from tba cut of his hair,”
added Goldberger. "You aay you didn't
know him. Mr. Vantlnef"
“I nerer before saw him. to my
knowledge.” answered Vantlne. “The
name la wholly unknown to me."
“Well," aald Goldberger. taking pos
session of the card and slipping It Into
his pocket "suppose we lift him on to
that couch by tba window and take
a look through bis clothes."
The man was slightly built, to that
Simmonds and Goldberger raised the
body between them without difficulty
and placed It on the couch. I saw God- j
fray's eyes searching the carpet. j
"What I should like to know.” he !
■aid after a moment. “Is this: If this
fellow took poison what did be take It
out of? Where's the paper or bottle
or whatever It was?”
“Maybe It's In hla hand.” suggested
Blmmonds. nnd lifted tba right hand,
which hung trailing over the side of
the couch.
Then as he raised It Into the light a
sharp cry hurst from him.
Look here”' he sstd. and held the
hgod so that w* all conld see.
CHAPTER II.
The Wounded Hand.
T was swollen and darkly discol
ored.
“See there!” said Simmonds.
"Something bit him.” And he
pointed to two deep Incision* on the
back of the hand Just above the
knuckles, from which a few drops of
blood had ooxed nnd dried.
With a little exclamation of surprise
and excitement Godfrey bent for an
Instant above the Injured band. Then
he turned nnd looked at us.
“This man didn't take poison,” be
■aid In a low vole*. "He was killed!"
At the words we drew together a
little, with a shiver of repulsion.
Goldberger. taking a deep breath,
voiced the thought which bad sprung
Into my own brain.
“Why. It looks Ilk* a snake bite!" he
aald, bis voice aharp with astonish
ment
The quick glance which all ef ns cart
about the room wa*. or coarse, as In
voluntary as tba chill which ran np
enr spines.
"No; I don't think It waa a snake."
aald Godfrey and again bent rloau
above tb* hand. "Small It, Mr. Gold-
berger." he added.
The coroner put bis nose does to th*
hand and sniffed.
"Bitter almondar he said.
Which means prussic add,” aald
I
with a fork.” Goldberger said,
“No,” agreed Godfrey blandly, “but
I would point out that we don't know
as yet that It is a case of suicide, and
I’m quite sure that, whatever It may
be. It Isn’t usual.”
“Did any reporter for the Record
•ver find a case that waa usual?”
queried the coroner.
It was a shrewd thrust and one that
Godfrey might well have winced under.
He himself hod been accused more than
once of a too luxuriant imagination. It
was perhaps a realization of this which
had persuaded him years before to
quit the detective force and take serv
ice with the Record. What might
have been a weakness in the first post
tlon was a mighty asset ln the latter
•ne, and he had won an immense suc
cess.
Please understand that I set this
down ln no spirit of criticism. 1 had
known Godfrey intimately. I admired
sincerely hla ready wit hla quick in
sight and his unshakable aplomb. His
former connection with the police and
hla careful maintenance of the friend
ships formed at that time gave him an
entree to places denied to less fortu
nate reporters. 1 had never known
him to do a dishonorable thing. More
over, a lively sense of humor made him
an admirable companion.
“We’ve got our living to make, you
know," he aald. “We make it ns hon
estly as we can. What do you think.
81mmonda?”
“I think." anld Slmraonda. who. if
he possessed nn imagination, never
permitted tt to be suspected. ”thnt
those little cuts on the hand are mere
ly an accident. They might have been
caused in half a dozen ways. Maybe
he hit his hand on something when he
fell: maybe he jabbed it on a buckle;
maybe he bad n boll on his hand nnd
lanced It with his knife.
I answered
reasonable answer to It Rut if
body can see through It Jim Godfrey
"A lady’s maid. I should say.” added ca °’
Godfrey, looking at It again. “There De 'J 6 ® 10 ,, deep, J Perturbed.
“ -Tie fact which we have apparently m ®* he said, M do V01J
looked, but it proves beyond the theory of Godfrey’s—that
shadow of a doubt that this fellow t,,nl insignificant wound on the hand
didn’t tlrift in h*rc by accident He caused death.
came here of intention, nnd the inten- * * HaBd Myself the same question
tlon w:,Hi, t to kill himself, either” before 1 answered.
••now do you know that?” demanded 1 1 ® 0, 1 * a,d Anally.
Goldberger Incredulously. Lester, J have a queer feeling that
Godfr*»\ picked op the purse, open- bnsinesa which brought this man
ed it and fo<* out one of the cards her * ,n Bom< * wg 7 concerned the Bonle
-R\ this' he s lid nnd held It op. c *blnet I was telling you about p er .
“You have already Men what In writ- baps it belonged to him."
f It—Mr. Vantlne’s “Hardly." I protested, recallinj
of this house, shabby appearance
that this fel- “At any rate. 1 remember a« i
York expresNly to , looking at hla card that some such
thought occurred to me. It was for
TerhnpK voq think Mr. Vantlne kill- that reason 1 told Parks to ask him
er) him.” suggested Goldberger NHrca** wait ’*
ti< iilj. | “It** fHMudble. of course.” 1 aim*
•Wo. said Godfrey. “He didn’t ted. “But that wouldn't explain i.
ha\e time * | excitement. And that reminds me."
"Thanks.” said Vnntine drily. added. “I haven't sent off that cable’
“I xuppose. then, you think It waa “Any time tonight will do. It win
Parks.” said Goldberger. be delivered ln the morning. But you
“it may quite posxihly have been haven’t seen the cabinet yet Coma
Parks." agreed Godfrey gravely. down and look at It"
“Nonsense.’” broke in Vantlne imps- j He led the way down the stair,
tiently. Parka met ua in the lower hall.
“Of course It’s nonsense," assented “There's a delegation of reporters
Goldbcrgek “It’s nonsense to say that outside, air," be said. ’They «hj
he whs killed by anybody. He killed they’ve got to see you."
himself." Vantlne made a movement of impa-
’i’ll cnble to Paris.” said Simmonds. tience.
“If he belongs there we’ll soon find out i ‘Tell them." he aald, “that I post-
who he Is.” tlvely refuse to ace them or to allow
"You’d better call nn ambulnnce and my servants to see them. Let them
hove him taken to the morgue.” went get their Information from the police"
on Goldberger. “Somebody may iden “Very well, sir," aald Parka and turn-
tlt’y him there. There’ll be a crowd ed away, grinning,
tomorrow, for, of course, the papers | Vantlne passed on through the ante-
will be full of this affair”— room ln which we bad found the bod;
“The Record at least will have a very C f the unfortunate Frenchman and
full accouut," Godfrey assured him. Into the room beyond. Five or sir
“And I’ll call the Inquest for the day pieces of furniture, evidently Just
after, Goldberger continued, ’i’ll packed, stood there; but. Ignorant .n
send my physician down to make n j 0 f gucb things, he did not have
post mortem right away. If there’n to point out to me the Bonle cabinet,
any poison in this fellow’s stomach t | looked at It for some moment#, for
we’ll find it”
Godfrey did not speak, but I knew
whnt was In his mind. He waa think
ing that If such poison existed the res
It was certainly a beautiful piece of
work, with a wealth of inlay and in
crustation little short of marvelous.
But I may an well aay here that l
cold.
“You don’t seem to care for it" be
f 1 wh ' ch U * d ™““ lucd 11 b » d " ot J nerer really appreciated It The Oorld
been found. The same thought no „ of „„ fourteenth and fifteenth
doubt occurred o Simmonds for after . „ „ ot to ta>te . , M
ordering the policeman In the hall to a ,^ d that VantJn(1 fouad me , llttl ,
call the ambulance be returned and
began a careful search of the room,
using his electric torch to Illumine, .. , ,,
every shadowed corner. Godfrey do- me.
voted himself to a similar search, but! . Tbnt * ' a ” rt .f ' * ^
both were without result Then God-1 of th ® c,b “ et ' 1 P 0 ^Inted on
frey made a minute Inspection of tbo j Bot educated up to It I'm too little of
injured hand, while Goldberger looked, ,n perhaps.”
on wltb ill concealed Impatience, and He w *» duxbed. as a man might t>
finally Godfrey moved toward the ! abould another make a disparaging re
door. I mark about bis wife, and he led the
"I think I’ll be going,” t > said. "But. way from tbs room at once.
I’m Interested Id what your physician I "Remember, Lester,” he said a Ltt.e
will find. Mr. Coroner. Will you bo at »ternly, pausing with hla baud on tin
front door, "there Is to be no foo l.b-
ness about securing that cabinet for
me. Don't, you let It got away. In
In deadly earnest. Let me know «t
borne tonight Lester?'
"Yes, 1 expect to be." I answered.
“You’re still at the Marathon?”
“Yes." I said; "suit H."
"Perhaps I’ll drop around Jto seo soon as you have any news.”
you," he said. And a moment later j Wes Vantlne quite normal? I wonder-
we heard the door close behind him as ed on my way home. Could any nun
Parks let him out | be normal who was willing to pay
"Godfrey's a good man,” said Gold- : $100,000 for a piece of furniture, espe
berger, "but he's too romantic. Take dally a man who could not afford such
this case. Here's a mnn kills himself, eitravagance? I knew the size of Van-
arid Godfrey wants us to believe that tine's fortune. It was large, but Slot-
death resulted from a scratch on tb* 000 represented more than u y rar ‘
hand. Why, there’s no poison on earth lucomo. And then I smiled to mysel ■
'•What killed him, then?” Godfrey I would kill a man us quick as that for Of conrae Vantlne was merely Jesting
demanded. 1 he must have dropped dead before be when be named that limit. The caw-
“Poison, and It's In hla stomach. ; could get out ofThe room to ummon net conld be bought for a tenth ot It.
Wo'll find It there.’’ i help. If It was prussic acid ho swal- at tha most.
“How about the odor?” Godfrey per- lowed It" | It eras nbout 8 o’clock that evenlns
•Died. I “How do yon explain the address on that Godfrey tapped at my door. 5jl
"He spilled some of the poison on his tbo curd. Mr. Goldberger?” I asked. when I let him In 1 could tell by tb*
band as he lifted It to his mouth. May- j "My theory It that this fellow really way hla eyes were shining that ho t» J
be he bad those cuta on hla band and j had some business with Mr. Vantlne. some news
the poison Inflamed them. Or may- Probably be wanted to borrow aome "I can't stay long.” he snld
be he's got some kind of blood dls- 1 money or ask for help, and then while got to got down to the oMre and pot
eaao." | he was waiting he suddenly gave the the finishing touches on that story"
Goldberger nodded his approval, and . thing up nnd killed blmself. The ad- But nevertheless he took the oik'" 1 1
Godfrey smiled as he looked ot him. dress has no bearing whatever, that I proffered him and sank Into the chair
"I suppose you think this fellow waa cnn s °e- on the question of suicide, opposite my own.
murdered?’ said the coroner. "That’s And I’ll say this. Mr. Lester, If this , „j wgJ)t M §a _ th | a poster," he sail
what you said a minute ago " | llir k't suicide- Here's the ambulance." I ,, h , , ,. ^ ca « e 's 1 ever had not
"Perhaps I was a little hasty,” God- j The hearers entered wltb the stretch-1 on# bajJ proml;ied better ttia o thU on*
frey sdmltted. nnd I suspected that. er. placed the body on It and carried doeA Tba coron0 r'i physician tinHf 1
whatever his thoughts, he nnd made It away. Goldberger paused to gather bla postmortem half un hour er **
np his mind to keep them to hlmsdf. I up the articles he bad taken from tha ago. 1 -
"I’m not going to tbeorlxo until I've dead man's pockets. j “Well?' I Slid,
got something to start with. The facts "You gentlemen will have to give I “The stomach was absolutely n°b
seem to point to suicide, but If he Y our testimony at the Inquest,” he ma |_ p, glowed no trace of poison o-
•wallowed prussic acid where’s the " ,0 w * 11 Parks and Rogers, It aQ j |j| Dd Rather * £»cer for
bottle? He didn't swallow that. too. w111 be d »Y » f te r tomorrow, probably (rlend Goldberger."
did he?" 1 >0 o'clock, but I'll notify you of the “What's the matter with Goldt*rs«
"Maybe we'll find It In his clothes," t hour."
suggested Simmonds. | "Very well.” 1 said; "weU be there."
Thus reminded. Goldberger fell to and Goldberger bad* ns goodby and
work looking through the dead man's left the house. “And now,” I added
pockets. The clothes were of a cheap to Vantlne, "I must be getting back to
material and not very new, so that, in the office. They'll be asking tbs police
life, he must have presented un np- to look for me next Man alive"—and
pearance somewhat shabby There i gmuced at my watch—"It's after «
was a purse tn the Inside coat pocket o'clock?'
containing two bills, one for ten dot- 'Too late for the office,” aald Van-
nuoiB iud uiauci •* ^
Be seemed rather peeved wltb yc“
afternoon." „
“Ho wonder. He'a * Grady man.»«
we’re after Grudy. Grady l»nt
bead the detective bureau. Be e* 1
Job through hi. pull, he's «"P‘ d *"
I inspect he’a crooked. Tb * u
says be ha* got to go. Once h«
everything will be serene *g«‘" ,
“Look here. Godfrey." I saw. ^ '
lire and one for five, and there were tine. "Better come upstairs and have > wasn't poison wbat was it?'
two or three dollars In silver and fonr
five-centime pieces In a small coin
purse which be carried In bis trousers'
pockel. The large purse bad four or
tve calling cards In one of Its com
partments, each bearing a different
name, none of them hla. On the buck
a drink. Besides, 1 want to talk with
you.”
“At least I’ll let them know I'm still
alive." I aald, and 1 called np the of
fice and allayed any anxiety that may
have been felt there concerning me. 1
must admit that it did not seem acuta.
'Bnt It wa* poison '
-Inserted et the hand'/*
He nodded. , „
"Goldberger says there's no
known which coaid tw a*fd
and whMt a„v<s -■! «<•
(To be Continued Tomorrow-)