Arizona republican., 1912-03-10
The Vaurigard
 Diamond
 BY HORACE HAzELTiNE.
Copyright, 1910, by the Psarson
 Publishing Co.)
With fist clenebed, Van Braun gave emphasis to his first words.

emphasis to his first words.
 One more cowardly lie like ths
 from you. and therell be nothing lef
 of you to arrest,' he cried. Miss L..
 Fontaine's brother, She has but one
 and he and l have been friends from 1 bOyhood." He turned to the customs
 men. You'll find this persons DOT
 trait and record at Police Headquar
 ters. Those who know him best. I be 1 lieve, call him Billy the Duke He's
 confidence man. grafter. and crook | in general Three years ago he va. working the transatlantic liners. and he seems still engaged in the old game"
 The accused offered no defense. H., simply summoned his valet and re quested that his hat. coat aud walking 1 stick be brought 10 him. Miss Wil
 Hams, meanwhile, was making rapid
 notes on roll of copy paper she had
 extracted from her handbag. The of. ficers were thanking Van Braun. When, & few minutes later. that gen. tleman entered the elevator. Miss Will. Hams, hastily pursuing. became bis fel low passenger. In spite of seeming outward composure, he noted that she was very pale.
 Its turned out a cracking good story" she declared. but there are a lot of details still to be cleared up. Maybe you can tell me where l may find Miss La FOntaine'
 The young man regarded her with an interest that was the reverse of friendly. If l were you" he said, his accents measured. I'd let we'll enough alone. So long as I don't bother about certain details, why need you? So long as l don't ask why you called me up, early this morning, made an en- gasement 10 lunch with me and then chose to ignore that phase of the little anair. why should you bother either Miss La Fontaine or myself further?"
 Edith La Fontaine was alone in the Vestry library when Van Braun came 10 her. The day. thus far. had been for him succession of surprises and bewilderments. Perplexity had fol. lowed perplexitV; but the most dis turbing of all was the connection. so a As alone the secret custody Of the famous Vaurigard red diamond, but so infsm- ous a character as Billy the Duke"
 The cordiality of her greeting this afternoon made, it seemed to him, q clear path to the re-establishment Of their old relations. If there was any thing left to forgive by either, each chose 10 ignore its mention and con cede both confession and pardon.
 And just to think"-she was sitting close beside him, her hand in his that We should both have arrived back in New York on the same day. Never was there for me such a moment of intense delight, Gram, dear, as when saw and recognized you, at two o'clock this morning, sauntering up the avenue If might only arrest your attention, thought. I could not cry out. l was dumb with joy. But how I did it I shall never know-in the briefest instant I had snatched off my slipper and flung it at you. saw it strike you, saw you stand still in amaze. and then, though I craned my neck near to breaking. you were again out of sight
 The revelation, eminently simple, awoke. nevertheless, in the lovers mind, a score of questions; not the least pressing of which was how it came that both Billy the Duke" and Miss Williams could have learned of the incident under these circum- stances.
 You won't mind telling me who was in the car with you, will you?" he asked, promptly.
 Tn the ear with me?" she repeated. in evident surprise. Why, no one"
 Then how did it happen that the fact that you threw the slipper was known to at least two persons?"
 The hand that he held all at once grew tense A startled look came into Edith's wonderful violet eyes. She took a quick breath before she spoke.
 "How-how do you know that?" she almost gasped.
 Because have seen them. Because first one and then the other claimed the slipper
 At his words the last vestige of color fled her face She leaned toward him, tremblingly.
 But you didn't-tell me you didn't give 1t up!"
 And why shouldn't I?" he ques- tioned. There was no way I could know it was yours. A girl claimed it over the telephone, the moment I reached my rooms''