Newspapers / The Monroe Journal (Monroe, … / March 17, 1914, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of The Monroe Journal (Monroe, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
EYENSON Copyright. 1913. by Burton E. Steventon PROLOGUE. If a literary miner were to ap praise ihis story he would say of it: "It pans out 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. , Round a beautifully inlaid cab inet dating from the days of Louis XIV. which stands in a Fifth avenue mansion weaves a story of plot and counterplot, mystery, suspense and surprise. Jim Godfrey, shrewdest of re porters, and the detective bu reaus of New York and Paris are trying to unravel the intricately entangled clews. And the read er, too, will go along with them, breathless and absorbed, getting now a hint, again coming up against a blank wall, until, like them, he comes to the amasing explanation. And the one who baffles reporters, detectives and readers is Crochard, the invinci ble, a creation in detective fiction. H i CHAPTER I. Tht First Tragedy. ELLO!" 1 fiuid as 1 took down the receiver of my desk 'phone lu answer to the cull. "Is thnt you, LesterT ask ed I'lilllp Van tine's voice. "Yes. So you're buck nunlnt" "Got lu yecterdiiy. Cut) you come tip to the house nod lunch with me to- duy" "I'll he clad to," I mi Id and meant it, for I liked rhlllp Vnntlne. "I'll look for ymi, then, about 130." And that la bow It happened that an hour Inter 1 waa walking over towurd Washington aquiire, Just above which, on the avenue, the old Vuntine man Blou stood. It was almost the last sur vival of the old regime, for the tide of business had long since overflowed from the neighboring xtreets Into the avenue. Philip Vantlne had been born in the house where bo Rtlll lived and declared that he would die there. He had no one but himself to please in the matter, since be was unmarried and lived alone, and be mitigated the Increasing roar and dust of the neighborhood by Ions absences abroad. Vantlne was about fifty years af age, the possessor of a comfortable fortune, something of a runuoisxeur in art mat ters, a collector of old furniture. Ills reasons for remaining single in no way concerned bis lawyers, a position chloh our firm had held for many years, and the active work of which i had come gradually into my bands. I He came forward to meet me. and ; we shook hands) beartlly. i "It's plain to see that the trip did you good." 1 said. I "Yes," he agreed: "1 never felt more fit But come along; we can talk at table. There's a little dUBculty 1 want , you to untangle for me." ; I followed him upstairs to his study. where a table laid for two bad been placed near a low window. "1 b;:d lunch served up here," Van tlne explained, as we sat down, "be cause this Is the only really pleasant room left in the bouse" He paused and flawed about the room. Every piece of furniture in It wag the work of a master. "1 suppose you found some new things while you were awayT I said. ! "Yes-and It's that I wanted to talk to you about 1 brought back six or eight pieces. I'll show them to you presently. They are all pretty good, and one la a thing of beauty. It's mora than that-Ifs an absolutely unique work of art Only, unfortu nately. It Isn't mine." I "It Isn't yours r I "No, and I doat know wboet It la. If I did, I'd go buy it That's what I want you to do for Die. It's a Boule cabinet the most exquisite I ever saw. It came from Paris, and it was ad dressed to me. The only explanation I can think of is that my shippers at Paris made a mistake, sent me a cabi net belonging to some oue else and sent mine to the other person." "You hud bought oue, theu?" "Yes, and it husu't turned up. But beside this oue it's a mere daub. My man Parks got it through the customs yesterday. As there was a Boule cabinet on my manifest, the mistake wasn't discovered until the whole lot was brought up here and uncrated this morning." "Weren't they nncrnted In the cus toms?" "No. I've been bringing things In for a good many years, and the cus toms people know I'm not a thief. Come in." be added, answering a tap at the door. The door opened and Vantlne's man came in. "A gentleman to see you. sir," he said and banded Vantlne a card. Vantlne looked ut it a little blankly. "I don't know him." be said. "What does be wantT "lie wants to see you. sir very bad, I should say. 1 think be's a French man, sir. Anyway, be don't know much English. Shall 1 show him out Blr?" "No," said Vantiue, after an Instant's hesitation. "Tell him to wnlt " "1 tell you, Lester," be went on as Parks withdrew, "when 1 went down stairs this morning and saw that cab inet I could hardly believe my eyes. I thought I knew furniture, but I hndu't any Idea such a ca bluet existed. The most beautiful I had ever seen Ih at the Louvre, It stands In the Salle Louis XIV., to the left as you enter. It belonged to Louis himself. Of course 1 can't be certain without a cureful examination, but I believe thnt cabinet, beautiful as It Is. Is merely the counterpart of this one." He paused and looked at me, his eyes bright with the enthusiasm of the connoisseur. "Boule furniture." be continued, "Is usually of ebony inlaid with tortoise shell and lncrusted with arabesques in metals of various kinds. The Incrus tation bad to be very exact and to get It so the artist clamped together two plates of equal size and thickness, oue of metal, the other of tortoNe shell, traced his design ou the top one and then cut them both out together. The result was two combinations, the orig inal, with n tortoise shell ground and metul applications, and the counter part, applique metal with tortoise shell arabesques. The original was really the one which the artist designed and whose effects he studied. The coun terpart was merely a resultant acci dent with which he was not especially concerned. Understand?" "Yes. I think so." I said. "Well, it's the original which has the real artistic 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, bis 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 wbut he was driving at. "I believe It belonged to Mme. de Montespnn," be said. "Really, Vantlne." I exclaimed. "I didn't know you were so romantic. You quite take my brenth away!" He flushed a little at the words, and I saw how deeply In earnest he was. "The craze of the collector tnkea him a long way sometimes," be said. "What I want you to do Is to cable my shippers. Armand & Son. Rue du Tem ple, find out who owns this cabinet and buy It for me." "Perhaps the owner won't sell" "Oh. yes. be will! Anything can be hought-for a price." "You mean you're going to have this cabinet whatever the cost?" "I mean Just that" "At least you'll tell me where to be gin," I said. "I don't know anything of the value of such things." "Well," said Vantlne, "suppose 70a begin at 10.000 fr.uu-s. We mustn't seem too vager. It ln-au I'm m eager that I want Jou t" carry it through for me. I ran t iru-J ui v -tf. "And the oilier riidV" "There lu"t any ther eud. Of course, fctrii-tly there U. he- ram- biy luoiiey i:i't imiiiiiiu-U. but I don't U-lieve mi will Iwvj l go over 5tXUj francs." I gael. "You mean yu'n wiUivg to give I10U.CH) for this :iliiiu ir" I Vain tine nml.loil "Maybe a Utile more. If the ownf won't accept that yu mut let nie ; know before you break otT uegotia- Itlons. But come and stv It" He led the way out of the mom and j down the wtalrs. but hdi we reached the lower hull be paused. "Perhaps I'd letter see my visitor flrst," be said. "You'll Cud a new pic ture or two over there In the music room. I'll be with you In a minute." j I ist.iite.1 on. and he turned through 1 a doorway at the left An Instant later I heard a sharp ex clamation, then his voice calling niu. ! "Lester, come berer he cried. I ran back along the ball. Into the j room which he had entered. lie was standing Just iuside the door, j "Look here." he said, with a queer j catch In bis voice and ointed with a trembling hand to a dark object'ou the floor. I moved aside to see It better. Then my heart gave a slckeulns throb, for the object on the floor was the body or a man. I It needed but a glance to tell me that the man wa Vad. There could , be no life in that livid face. In those glassy eyes. We stood for a moment shaken as one nlwnys is by sndden and unexpected contact with death. I "Who Is he?" I asked at last ! "I don't know," answered Vantlne hoarsely. "I never saw him before." i Then be strode to the bell and rang It ' violently. "Parks," he went on stern ly as that worthy appeared at the door, what bus been going ou in here?" ) "Oolng on, sir?" repeated Parks, with a look of amazement Then his glance fell upon the hud dled body, and be stopped short, hla eyes staring, his mouth open. I "Why-why." he stammered, "tbat'a tbe man wbo was waiting to see you. I air." ' "You mean he has been killed In this house?" demnnded Vantlne. I "He was certainly alive when he came In. sir," said Parks, recovering something of bis self possessloa "May be he was Just looking for a quiet place where he could kill himself. He aeemed kind of excited." I "Of course." agreed Vantlne. with a sigh of relief, "that's the explanation. Only I wish he bad chosen some place ; else. I suppose we shall have to call the police. Lester?" ; "Yes." I said, "and the coroner. Sup nose vou 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 Parks opened the door and admitted four men. "Whv. hello. Slinmonds!" 1 said, rec ognizing In the first one a detective Th Man Was Dead. sergeant. Back of blin was Coroner Goldberger. whom 1 had met in two previous cases, while the third counto- nance, looking at me with a quizzical smile, was thnt of Jim Godfrey, the Record's star reporter. The fourth man was a policeman In uniform, who at a word from Siuimonds took bis 1 station at the door. "What is It?" asked Godfrey. , "Just n suicide, I think," oud I un- 1 locked the door Into the room where the dead man lay. Sltumonds, Goldberger and Godfrey stepped Inside. I followed and closed the door. "Nothing has been disturbed." I said. "Xo one has touched the body." ' Siuimonds nodded and glanced In t qulrlngly about tbe room, but God 1 frey's eyes. I noticed, were on the face of the dead man. Goldberger dropped to his knees beside the body, looked ' Into the eyes and touched his Angers to tbe left wrist Then be atood erect again and looked down at the bodv, and aa 1 followed his gaze I noted its attitude more accurately than I had done iu the first khwk of discover ing it. It wa Ivisii a it right i-ie. turf ou it s(i Ii. v .ili its riht arm dou l.iel iimk-r it ::i. I its le.'l baud cluti b lug at I Ik- i!'t Mute Its be:nL The Lint- we.v il.-nnii as tbot:gu in a uNinx ai j f.i.-e was hirrilly .;:! .:n1. U!i a uf purple tinje Uii.'.i-r t!ie kUu. as thi:uh the l.l.mj h;itl livu Miilileiily i-oiniMied. The eye Here ttidf inn. and their glasy :arv uMi-d i.t a lilile to the apKirent ter ror ai.d nutVcrii:- of the face. The i-ori t.i-r glun. e l at SiaiiuoniN "Not uiii h :'!ciii.ii n to the cause." beMi.d "i'oi'ij.ii. of -iiirse." "Of course." lied -led Simwud. "I'.ut what l:i:id" nskel Godfrey. It will ;:!e a puMKHirteli) to tell that." anil :i!!!.erger bent for uuothiM" iliise l.k :.t tile distorted face. "I'r.l frt t admit t!ie k.viii;Iuii:m aren't the usual oiu"." I tol.l all I knew-how Parks ti a 11:1011 need a isn:i' arrival. I:c.v V;i:i tin and I lunl couie Uowui:iirs to gelhiT, hmv Viintiue had called n-e and filially hw I'arUs had Mentillcd the body as that of the strange caller "IIov long a time elapsed alter Parks aimoiiuivd the uiati Ueiore yo:: and Jir. Vamhie came downstair" asked Goldberger. "Half an hour perhaps." tiol.lnerzer ixnliled. "Let's have Parks in." he said. I oeiieii the door and called to Parks, who was sitting ou tbe bottom step of the stair. Goldberger looked him over enreful ly as be stepped Into the room, but there could le no two oplnlous about Parks. He had been with Vantlne for eight or ten years, and the earmarks of the competent and faithful servant were apparent all over him. "Do you kuow this man?" Gold berger asked, with a gesture toward the Iwdy. "No. sir," said Pnrks; "I never saw him till aliout an hour ago, when Rogers called me downstairs and said there was a man to see Mr. Vantlne." "Wbo Is Rogers?" "ne's the footman, sir. ne answer ed the door wlien the man rang." "Well, and then what bapiwned?" "I took his card up to Mr. VantJne, sir." "Did .Mr. Vantlne kuow blin?" "No, sir; 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 thnt he couldn't rememlier what little English be did know." "What made you think he was ex cited?" "Tbe way he stuttered and the way his eyes glinted. After Mr. Vantlne said he would see hlra presently Rog ers and me went back to our lunch." "Do yon mean to say thnt you and Rogers went 11 way and left this stranger here by himself?" "The servants' dining room Is right at the end of the hall. sir. We left the door open. If he'd come out into the hall we'd htive seen him." "And he didn't come out Into the hall while you were there?" "No, sir." "Did anybody come In?" "Oh. no. sir; the front door has a snap lock. It can't be opened from the outside without a key." So you are perfectly sure that no one either entered or left the house by the front door while you und Rog ers were sitting there?" "Nor by the back door either, sir; to get out the buck way, you have to pass thromm the room where we were." "Where were the other servants?" The cook was In the kitchen, sir. This Is the housemaid's afternoon out." The coroner paused. Godfrey and Slmmends bad both listened to this in terrogation. "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 In there some of the things he bought while abroad." "Send In Mr. Vantlne, please." said Goldberger. Parks went out and Vantlne came In n moment luter. He corroborated ex actly the story told by Parks and my self, but be added one detail. Here Is the man's card," he said, and held out a square of pasteboard. It contained a single engraved line: "M. Theophlle D'Aurelle." "He's French, ns Parks suggested." snld Godfrey. "That's evident, too. from the cut of bis clothes." "Yes, und from tho cut of his hair." added Goldberger. "You say you didn't . know til 111. Mr. Vnntlne?" i "I never before saw him. to my know ledce." answered Vantlne. "The name is wholly unknown to tnu." "Well." Miilil Goldberger. taking pos session of the card ami slipping it Into his tiocket "suppose we lift lilm on to timt eoneh hr the window and take I a look through bis clothes." Th,. iiimi was sllditlv built, so that ' ?iimnnnds and Goldberger raised the Ixidy between them without difficulty ( and placed It on the couch. I saw God frey's eves searching the carpet 'winif I should like to know," he ! unlit nfter n moment. "Is this: If this fellow took poison what did he take It I out of? Where's the paper or bottle ! nr n-lmfwrnr It wnsV j "Maybe It's In his hand." suggested simr.iond. mid lifted the tlgnt nana wblrh hung trailing over tho aide of th.. pouch. Then as he raised It Into the light a ih'irn prv hurst from him. "Look here!" he said, and held th band so that we all could sea. I (To be continued.) Seasonable Offerings -AT- Crow Brothers Cash Store. aciie s Dress Goods. In Dress Goods and Waistings we have choice patterns in Brocade Crcpe-de-Chinc, Plain and Fla kola Crepe, Linens in all shades, and large assort ment of patterns in Red Seal Ginghams. Oxford Shoes. We have received large lots of Oxfords for Men and Women, all ready for the mild weather that is at hand. Spring Suits. A fine line of new Spring Suits in blues, browns, tans, and grays, all shades and new stlyes. Come to the Big General Store for all your needs. Grow Bros. Gash Store. Blount's True Blue f"58 Plows. dpL Lightest draft and easiest running of any plow; points made of the best steel to be had. Here's a few of the many satisfied customers, given for reference: R. W. Elliott, Monroe, N. C, Route 4; J. A. Deal, Monroe, N. C., Route 5; P. C. Stinson, Monroe, N. C, Route 6; M. C. Reid, Monroe, N. C, Route 5; B. R. Clark, Monroe, N. C, Route 5; R. S. Howie, Monrce, N. C, Route 5. For sale only by H. L. PRICE, Monroe, N. C, Route 5. Hundreds of helpful ideas for the woman who sews at home will be found in the New Spring McCALL Fashion Publications and Patterns McCall Book of Fashions filled with the entire Spring rason' advance atylc. only 5 cents when bought with any 15-cent McCall pattern. McCall'a Magazine is the recognized style authority; a home entertainer; a house keeping guide; a family money-saver. Only 50 cents a year with any 15-cent McCall Pattern free. McCall Patterns are supreme in style, accuracy, fit and simplicity. Easy to under, stand and easy to make. All that is best in paper patterns for 10 cents and 15 cents. S717 S701 THE LEE & LEE CO., Monroe, N. C. v
The Monroe Journal (Monroe, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 17, 1914, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75