JJ 111 M&Ld BfV E .."STEVENSON Copyrljht. 1913. by Burton E. Stevenson that cabinet. .M. Armand?" "We believe It to have been made for Mine, de Mnntespuii by M. Boule himself." h1 answered. "It Is the original of one now hi tlie Louvre which Im knowu to have belonged to the Grand I.ouls." "It was Mr Vnntine'N correct guess at the history of the cabinet," I ex plained, "which gave uie the IiiimIm for my theory A cabinet belonging to Mme de Montespnu would, of course, hare n necret drawer What more nat ural than that It should be guarded by a M)lsoned mechanism?" "What more natural. Indeed! It Is (rood reasoning. .Mr Lester," he agreed eagerly. his ryes burning like two coals of fire, so Intense wan his Interest. have been from boyhood n lover of tales of mystery. I am fascinated. "I'erliapn you can assist us." I sug gested, "for that theory of mine bni been completely disproved." "Disproved? Id what way?" bs de manded. -"The secret drawer has been found. "How?" he cried, his voice sharp with surprise. "Found? The secret drawer ban been found?" "Yes. and there wos do poisoned mechanism guarding It" He breathed deeply for an Instant then he pulled himself together with a little laugh. "Really." he said. "I must not In fl til ire myself In this way. Was the drawer empty?" "No; there was a pucket of letters in it" "Delicious! I,ove letters, of a cer tainty! From the Great Louis to the Mouli'spau. perhaps?" "o, unfortunately, they were of a much more recent date. They have been restored to their owner I hope that yon agree with me that that was tlie right thing to do?" "Since the letters have been return ed." he said at last, a little dryly, "it Is useless to discuss the matter. Has not other explanation been found for the death of Mr. Vantlne and of this stranger? You do not even know who lie was?" "Oil. yes. we have discovered that He was a worthless fellow named Drouet. living lu an attic In the. Rue de la nuchette. In Purls." M. Armand bad been gazing at me Intently, but now his look relaxed, and I fancied that he drew a deep breath as a man might do when relieved of a burden. "You did not, by any chance, know him?" 1 asked carelessly. "No, I think not But I do not un derstand what this Drouet. ns you call him. was doing in the house of Mr. Vantlne." "Ue was trying to get possession of the letters." I said "What none of us understands. M. Armiind. Is how he wag killed. Who or what killed him How was (hat poison administered. Can you suggest an explanation?" "It Is a nice problem." he said, "a most interesting one I will think It over. Mr lister I shall see yon again Wednesday If It Is agreeable to you we can meet at the bouse of Mr. Vnutlne and exchange the cabl nets " "At what time?" "I do not know with exactness. There may lie some delay In getting the cabinet from the ship Perhaps It would be better If I called for you?" "Very well." I assented CHAPTER XI. I Part With the Boul Cabinet THE coroner's Inquest was held liext day. The police had dis covered practically no new evidence, none certaluly which bed any light on the way In which Drouet aud Philip Vuutlne had met leath. Police Commissioner Grady did not go oo the stand He was not at the In quest The case bud been placed In Slmuionds' hands, and It was he who testified ou behalf of the police, admit ting candidly that they were all at sea. Hut he bad not sbaudoned hope aud was still working on the case. The end of the hearing was that the jury brought in a verdht that Philip Vautine aud George Drouet bad died from the effects of a poison adminis tered by a person or iiersons unknown. Godfrey Joined me at the duor as I was leaving I was glad to bear flmmonds con fess that the police are up a tree." ba aald. "Of course Grady Is trying to sneak ont f It I'll see that 81m nionds gets a pinrr deal." "We're all up a tree, aren't we?" I aald. "Since my theory almut the Boule cabinet exploded I have Riven up hope lu the way. I'm golr to turn the cabinet oer to Its owner tomorrow." "To Its owner?" be repeated, his eyes narrowing. "Yes. I thought he'd be around for It. though I hardly thought he'd come so soon. Who does It bapptfii to be. Lester?" "Why." I Bald, a little Impatiently, "you know as well as I do that It be longs to Armand & Son." You ve seen their representative. then?" he queried, with a littlu flush of excitement. "Ue came to see me yesterday. I'd like you to meet him, Godfrey He Is Felix Armand, the 'son' of the firm. and one of the most finished gentle men I ever met" "I'd like to meet him." said Godfrey, lulling queerly. "Perhaps I shall, some day. I hope no. anyway. But how did he explain the blunder, Les ter?" "In some way they shipped the wrong cabinet to Vantlne. The right one will get here on La Provence to morrow." "It Is all most Interesting," Godfrey commented. "Godfrey, I added. "I felt yester day when I was talking with him that perhaps be knew more about this affair than be would admit I could see that be guessed In an Instant who the own er of the letters was. and what they contained. Do you think I ought to hold on to the cabinet a while longer? I could Invent some pretext for delay, easily enough." "Why. no; let him have his cabinet" aald Godfrey, with an alacrity that sur prised me. "If your theory about It baa been exploded, what's the use of hanging on to it?" "I don't see any use in doing; so," I admitted, "but I thought perhaps you might want more time to examine It" "I've examined It all I'm going to,' Godfrey answered, and I told myself that this was the first time I had ever known him to admit himself de feated. "Perhaps I'll see you tomor row." be added, and we parted at the corner. But I did not see him on the morrow I was rather expecting, a call from hlin during the morning, and when none came I was certain I should Bud him awaiting me when I arrived nt the Vnutlne house. In coinpmiy with M Armnud. But he was not there, and when I asked for hlin Pnrks told me that he had not seen him since the duy before.' I confess that Godfrey's Indifference to the fate of the cnbinet surprised me greatly; besides, I was hoping that he would wish to meet the fascinating Frenchman more fascinating. If pos sible, than he had been on Monday There had been less delay than he had anticipated In getting the cabluet off the boat and through The customs, and It was not yet 3 o'clock when we reach ed the Vantlne butise. I haven't seeu Mr. Godfrey." Parks repeated, "but there's others here as it fair breaks my heart to see. lie motioned toward the door of the music room, and, stepping to It I saw that the Inventory whs uirtudy lu prog ress. "Tlie cabinet Is in tlie room across the hall." 1 said to M. Armand, and led the way through the anteroom Into the room beyond. Parks switched on the lights for us, and my companion glnuced with sur prise at the heavy shutters covering the windows. "We put those up for a protection I explained. "We hud an Idea that some oue would try to enter, tn fact, one evening we did tlnd s wire con necting with the burglar alarm cut. and. later on. saw some one peering In through the hole In that shutter yonder." "Yon did?" .M. Armand queried quick ly. "Would you recognize the niau, If you were to meet him agalu?" "Oh, no: you see the bole la quite mall. There was nothing visible ex cept a pair of eyes. Yet I might know them again, for I never before saw such eyes so bright so burning." U. Armand was gazing nt the cab inet apparently only half listening. "Will you show me how the secret drawer U operated. Mr lister?" be aid. "I am must curious about It" I placed my hand upon the table and pressed the three points which the veiled lady had shown us. The little handle fell forward with a click, and I pulled the drawer open. He examined It with tuii'-d Interest: pushed It bark Into pli.e and then opened It himself "Very clever. Indewd." he said. "I have never seen t not her so well etm- cea led." "My friend and I went over the cab inet very carefully and could not find it" 1 said. "Your frleud-J thick you mentioned his iniine?1 I I "Yes. Ills ii.-iiiic is liodriev. "A niau if the law. Hke yourself?" "Oil, no, a uewsiiiperunin. But he had been a member of the detective force before that He is extraordinarily keen. But that t-omhliiiitiou was toe much for him." M. Aruuiud sn.ipin-d the drawer buefe Into place with a little crash. "1 am glad, at an. rale, that It wa discovered." he said. "I will not con ceal from you. Mr Lester, that It adds not a little to the value of the cabi net" "What Is Its valuer I asked. "Mr Vantlne wanted me to buy It for hlin and named a most extravagant figure as the limit he was willing to pay." "Really." M. Armand answered aft er an instant's hesitation. - would ir.it tire to name a ligure. Mr. Lester without further c;usiiltatlou "with my father." "What is It. Parks?" I said as thai worthy appeared nt the door "There's a van outside, sir." be said, "and a couple of men are unloading a piece of furniture. Is It all right, sir?" "Yes." I answered. "II uv? them bring It iu here, and ask the man lu charge of the Inventory to step over here a minute. Mr. Vantlne left his collection of art objects to tile Metro politan .Museum." I explained to M Ariiiiind. "iiml I should like the repre sentative of the museum to be present when the exchange is made." "Certainly," he assented. "That la very Just" Parks was bin k In a moment, pilot Ing two men who carried between them nu object swathed III burlap. and the Metropolitan limn followed them In. "1 am Mr Lester," I said to him. Mr. Vnutlne's executor, and this Is M. I'ellx Armiind of Armand & Hon of Paris We are correcting un error which wiik made Just before Mr. Vnu tlne died. That cnblnct yonder was shipped lilin by mistake In place of one which he had bought. M. Armand has caused the right one to be sent over and will take away the one which belongs to him. I have already spoken to the museum's attorney about the matter, -but I wished you to lie present when the exchange was made" "That Is a very handsome piece. sum me AieiroH)iiuin man "I am sorry the museum is not to get It" The two men menu while, under M Armand'a direction, hud been strip ping the wrappings from the other cab inet and It dually stood revealed. It too. was a beautiful piece of furni ture, hut even my untrained eye could see how greatly it fell below the other "The other cabinet Is yours." I said to M Annum!. I shall hope to see you again. Mr Lester." he said, with a cordiality which dnttered me. "and to renew our very pleasant acquaintance When ever you are lu Purls I trust you will not full to honor me by letting me know " Thank you." I said "I shall cer tut illy remember that Invitation And meanwhile, since you are here in New Vork"- "Yotf are tnost kind." be broke In. 'mid I was myself hoping that we might nt least dine together Hut I am compelled to proceed to Ronton this evening, and from there I shall go on to Queliec." Then he signed to the two men to take up the cabinet anil himself laid a protecting liaml upon It as It was carried through tlie door and down the steps to the van which was hack ed up to the curb It was lifted care fully Inside, the two men da inhered In beside It. the driver spoke to the horses, anil the van rolled slowly away up the avenue M Armiind watched It for a moment. tben mounted Into the cub which was walling, waved n lasl farewell to me and followed after the vim. We watched It until It turned westward at the first cross street Mr. Godfrey's occupation will be gone, sulil Parks, with a lime laugh. He Ii.im fairly lived with that cabinet for the past three or four days. He was here lust night for quite awhile." Last ulght?" I echoed, surprised. I was sure he would be here today." I milled. i The next Instant I was Jumping . down the steps I wo at a time, for a j cub in which two men were sitting , came down the avenue and rolled slow- ! ly around the corner In the direction taken by the van One of Its occu- I pants turned toward me and waved i his hand, and I rwomil.ed .llui (Jod i frey. ! It was wllh a certain vexation of j spirit (lint I found myself racing after I Godfrey's cab. for I realized that he j bad not been etiliri'ly frank with mo Certainly be had dropped no hint of bis intention to follow Annum). And it suddenly dawned upon me that even I did not know the cabinet's destination. M Armand Had vulun leered no In formation. I reached the corner lu time to see the van turn northward Into Sixth av enue. At Slxtii-ritli street it turned westward again, and then northward Into Seventh aieniie. What could Ariiiniid be doing In this part of the town? I asked myself. Did he propose to leave that priceless cab inet In this dingy quarter? And then I paused abruptly and sllppcrf Into an archway, for the van had stopped some distance ahead slid was backing up to the curb liSsklni! out discreetly, I saw the cab containing Armand stop also, and that gentleman ;i lit hied and paid the drlv er Th "fher enh rntteil on st rod pace and disapiieiirel Up the nut. Tbeu Ihe two porters lifted out the cabinet and, with Aniini.d show ing them the way. carried It Into the building before which the van had stopped. Tbey were gone f.erhapM five min utes, from which I argued that they were carrying It iistalrs; then they rpaptxurod. ith Armand ac-nipuny- Ing them He t!i ;.! them mil went out slso to tip the driver of Ihe van Thru the p rti r limbed alwrtrd. ami tt rattled away m;l of rUl AruiatiJ at'Ksl f.r h iiiomcitt on the step. lik ing up nu I down the avenue, then dis- An Instant Inter I saw Godfrey and another mini whom I recoiridml as Sluiinoiuts come out of a shop across f V I Saw tha Cab Containing Stop. Armand the street mid dash over to the house Into which the cabinet had been takeu. They were .standing ou the doorstep wlieu I joined them. It wns u dingy building, entirely typical of the dingy neighborhood. The ground floor was occupied by a laun dry which the sign on the front win dow declared to be French, aud the room which the window lighted ex tended the whole width of the build lug except for a door which opened premium lily on the stairway, leading to the upper stories. Godfrey's face was flaming with ex cltcment as he turned the knob of .this dmir gently-gently. The door was locked. He stooped and applied an eye to Ihe key hula . "The key Is in the lock," he whis pered. Siuimonds took from his pocket a pair of blender tillers and passed them over. Godfrey Inserted the pliers in the keyhole, grasped the end of the key and turned it slowly. "Now!" he siild, softly opened the door aud slipped Inside. I followed, and Slmmonds dime after me like a shadow, closing the door carefully be hind lilm. Then we all stopped, and my heart at least, was In my mouth, for from somewhere overhead came the sound of a man's voice talking excitedly. Even In the aelmdarkness I could see the look of ustoiilshment and alarm on Godfrey's face as he stood for a niouieut motionless, llsteuing to that voire. I also stood with ears u -strain, but I could make nothing of what It was saying. Then suddenly I realized that It was speaking In French. And yet It whs not Armand's voice of that I was certain. Fronting us was a narrow stair mounting steeply to the story over head, and after that moment's amazed hesitation Godfrey sat down on the bottom step and removed his shoes quietly, motioning us to do the same KIuiuioikIs obeyed phlcgimitically, but my hands were trembling. When I looked up Godfrey and 81m- monds were stealing slowly up the stair, revolver In hand. I followed them, but I confess my knees were knnckliiK together, for there was some thing weird and chilling In that voice going ou and on- It sounded like the voire of a inadiiiiin. There was some thing ii bout It nt ouiu ferocious and triumphant. Godfrey paused au Instant at the stair bend, listening Intently. Then he moved cautiously forward toward an open duor. from which the voice seemed to coine. motioning us at the same time to stay where we were. And as 1 knelt, luithcd In perspiration, I caught one word, repeated over aud over: "Revenge, revenge, revenge!" nicker In tiio air uliove llie man's lieud, and he screamed shrilly. "Death!" he shrieked. "Death!" For one dreadful Instant louger be stood there motionless; then, with a strangled cry, he pitched forward heaT lly at Godfrey's feet I have a con fused remeuibrauce of Godfrey stocp. Ing for an Instant above the body, storing nt It aud then, with a sharp cry, hurltng himself through that open doorway. Iu a moment Godfrey was back In the room, crossed It at a bound and dashed to the door opening Into the hall. Just as It was slammed la his face I saw him tear desperately at the knob, tben retreat two steps and hurl himself against It. But It held firm, and from the hall outside came a burst of mocking laughter that fairly froie my blood. Slmmoiids was quicker than I. and together they threw themselves at the door It cracked omlnouslv. hut till held Again they tried, and this tlm It split from top to bottom. Godfrey kicked the pieces) to either side and slipped between them. Slmmouds after him. 1 readied thestulr head lu time to see Godfrey try the front door and then turn along the lower hall leading to the back of the house. Ad Instant later a chorus of frenzied women's shrieks miiile my hair stand on eniL How I got dowu the stairs I do not know. Hut 1, too. turned hack along the lower hall, expecting any Instant to come upon I knew not what horror. 1 reached un open door, passed through. It ant) found myself lu Ihe laundry lu the midst of a group of excited and lu .!.- . . tiiKiiinii women, who greeted my ap pearance with a rresh series of screams. Pliable tu go further, I sat limply down upon a box and looked at them. I was still sitting there wbeu Godfrey came back, breathing heavily, chagrlu and anger lu Ills eyes A crime has been committed up stairs." he said to the manager. "This gentli'iiinn with me Is Mr Klminonds of the detective bureau," and at the words Kimmcmds showed his shield. We shall have to notify headquar ters.' Godfrey went on. "and 1 would ndvlse tbnt you keep your girls at their work I don't suppose you waut to be mixed up in It" Sure not." agreed the manager promptly, and while filmmonds went to the idioiie and culled up police head quarters the ma linger had the girls buck at their work in short order. Godfrey came over to me and laid his hand on my shoulder. "Why, Lester," he said, "you look as though you wore ut your last gaBp." I am. I said. "I'm going to have nervous prostration If this thing keeps up You're not looking particularly happy yourself." 'I'm not happy. I've let that fellow kill a inn n right under my noseliter ally under my nose and then get uway!" Kill a muni" I repeated. "Do you mea n Go upstairs and look at the light hand of the man lying there," said Godfrey curtly, "and you'll see what 1 mean." Slmmoiids Joined us with a twisted smile on his Hps. and I saw that even he was considerably shaken. I got Grady," he said, "and told him what had happened. He says ho's too busy (o come up and that I'm to lake charge of things. The ambu lance will be around at once. We'd better get our shoes on and go hack upstairs mid see If anything ran be one for that fellow." Slmmoiids knelt beside the body and held up the limp right bund for us to see. Just above the knuckles were two tiny Incisions, with a drop or two of blood oozing awny from them, and the flesh about them swollen and discolored Continued next week TIih Monitor can net engra vml visilinjr cards for you Siiinplfs in fctook. Eastern Ojster Shell Chick Food Developing Food Grit $1.25 per hundred 2.50 " 2.60 " 1.00 BUT BY THE HUNDRED AND SAVE MONET 6ET OUR PRICE BEFORE YOU SILL TOUR WOOL HO MOUIR THE INDEPENDENCE SEED AND FEED STORE They Have It Wanted Wool and Mohair I Pay Highest Market Price for Both at INDEPENDENCE MONMOUTH Telephone or write tre at Monmouth if you have either to sell SACKS! SACKS!! I have a supply of both wool and mohairsacks and fleece twine. I have these supplies at Nelson's in Independence and at my store Allen Clark, Monmouth, Oreg. Pianos Knabe, Vose & Sons, Fisher, Bush S Lane. Hobart M. Cable, Koh ler 8 Campbell. An drew Kohler. Player Pianos These are some of the high grade pianos carried by The Savage Music House 135 North Liberty St. Salem, Or. We will take your old piano or organ tn exchange on new pianos and give you terms to suit. Indupendence headquarters BEAVER HOTEL CHAPTER XII. "Death." OliKKKV. on IwiiiiIk and knees, whh pc-crlng Into the room. Then he dri-w bin k and mo tioned iih forward. In the middle of Hit floor utood the Hoiile rnliiiict. and lu foro It. with hl bark t ttio door, stooil a man rlpplin; saviu.'1-ly invaf the lil; of Imrlup in which it had bet-u m.iiipwl. talking to hhnjiflf Ihe wlillt- In m -.ort of anv ijre ulnonu nnd pan from nio meat to moment to kIiiiko at a hml d!i'd bundle lying 011 the Hour ugalnm the oiiisiti wnll. ("or n time I could not in.-iki' out what thi-i lnindle was. Thin. t ruining my eyes. I nan that It ' the liody of a rnn. wrapped and round to torn wabltfc roand fabric. And as I (tared at bin) I caught the glitter of hi eyes as lie wa trued the I mini working at tho cabinet- a (flitter ! not to te mistaken -the same glitter j which bad o frightened toe ome be fore. What nas the moanluK of this ferw'ioiiH scene? j My heart leaperi Into my throat, for ' Godfrey, with a sharp cry of 'Stop!" sprung to tils fr.-t and daxhed Into the room. Hlnimotid.i fit hla heels j I upjKKe two RerondM elaed before ; I reaebfd the tbreabold. and I stopped ; there, staring, clutching at the wull to steady niynelf. ' There wag the cabinet with Its wrap pings torn away, but the figure on the Boor had disappeared, and t-fore an open doorway Into another room stood a num. n giant of a man. his bauds above liis head, his fin e working wltb fear anil rage. bbe Godfrey, his ll8 curiing Into a cii'' king Millie, pressed a M l agnltixt bi hrat. Then, an I Hf'Hd there staring. It seemed to nie that there was a sort of TOM AND FARM PROPERTY wm sai B sF 7 m 1 -El I have 100 ood farms and residences for sale or trade and some of these are fine bargains. Now call and look over our list and let us show you. I make a specialty of renting your property for you and collecting the rent monthly. 004004044m0000m4m00000000004HHM4000m0 100000 0 000000004 If you have a farm to lease I can lease it for you. U000000000r400004 000000 00 00000000000000000000000000000000000000001000 I Mm J. TAYLOR : The Pioneer Real Estate Man of Polk County Independence, Oregon I 000041000000 1 is si s jsje-s tatissa I Your Place Might Interest a Customer of Mine 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 " ivifT""""""""""""""" rrrrmmtMMWMM. i 1