The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-18

what shali DO! monsieur
moaned.
skip! Get down into your
own flat and hide" I answered.
The top OF the dumb waiter
came to the level of the sill.
Get on" | commanded. Hold
her steady-go SLOW count the
doors and don't miss yours" l
whispered as a parting warning,
and he began his descent.
fell asleep that night cogitat-
ing the problem. and / was
dreaming that the dome of the
national capitol was topping over
on all OF us, when | was awak-
ened by the ringing Of the front
bell.
I saw by the dim light It was
early--too early for anything but
a fresh calamity-and | hoped
out of bed and ran to the door.
who's there?" called
through.
BILLY. Open quick"
l dashed to the bedroom for
my kimono and back again and
still pulling It round me l opened
the door.
Billy tumbled I'm. "Claire's
kidnapped" he shouted in my
face.
When finally got a coherent
account out of him. he told me
that Claire had been little
light-headed" through the even
ing and gone early to bed: Mrs.
Delario, herself worn out. had
gone to bed soon afterward and
had slept till six, when she found
Claire's bed empty. She alarmed
Billy, and he reached me a little
after seven.
Then she's just wandered off
In a half-delirious state" af-
firmed positively.
She's Kidnapped" Billy af-
firmed. THE detective has en-
ticed her out on the pretext OF
finding her father, and now he'll
use her as bait to get him."
Don't waste your energies on
the kidnapping idea. spend them
hunting her, for she's not lost"
Iusaid.
| had suggested something to
do and Billy presently rushed off
to do 1t.
dressed. What could I do?
Nothing but stay home and wait.
| hardly expected the detective to
keep his appointment for nine,
but he did. admitted him to
the flat.
What are you after De Rave
mol for?" l demanded.
ITO be frank" answered the
detective, ut appears that De
Ravenol carried off million dol
lars worth of diamonds in Paris
the moment they were returned
from the diamond cutters in
Antwerp where he had induced
the owner to send them for re-
cutting"
Claire found herself at my door
late that afternoon, long after
the detective had gone.
"Claire!" | cried, and at the
same moment she cried, Have
they arrested papa?" and col
lapsed into my arms.
Where have you been, child?
We're all frightened to death
over you"
Trying to find papa" she an
swered artlessly.
"They haven't arrested him -
he's perfectly safe." l assured
her. Nov, come lie down while
| get you some hot milk"
She obeyed like the sick child
she was and she had but Just fin
ished drinking the milk and tell
ing me she had had nothing to
eat all day when the bell rang
and there stood Billy and Mrs.
Delario.
She's here" l whispered,
pointing in the direction of the
study.
Billy stood on no ceremony
he swept both of us aside and
romped through the hall and
heard one glad cry, "Claire!"
and found him on his knees by
the divan.
Later he drew me to one side
while Claire and Mrs. Delario
were burbling together and told
me, SAY think I've made Mrs.
ID. understand about the dia-
monds-I simply had tot was
getting too serious"
Before he could get out anoth-
er word of explanation the bell
rang and the detective came in!
"Well-you've found yourself,
I see," he said pleasantly to
Claire. 1--WE been hunting you
all day; and now, IL you'll be so
good as to tell me where your
father is = / have business of
great Importance to him."
Then he turned to me and said:
"You can't hide him much longer,