Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1919-10-16
f. Jane Bunker.


swer. and this is what she said: "You
know I'm 30 fond of the child I'd
rather think made mistake than
that she robbed me. I bad two FIVE
dollar bills-a lot of twos and ones and
several tens-and what ! think did
was to take Ave and a two-seven
dollars-and rush downstairs. But
what / might have done was taken the
two fives-a five instead Of a two
and give them to the lady. She didn't
look Mt them. Anyway, the other five
was gone"
1t was this sort Of thing about her
that made me like Mrs. Delario so
much-her willingness to excuse and
to wait for final proofs Of peoples de-.
linquencies. She hadn't even men,
toned her suspicion to Claire; at the
same time the incident decided her
that she could on no account keep the
child longer In the house, the worry
Of looking after her was too great, and
she had told Claire this and that II her
father didn't arrive by Monday Claire
would have to go to boarding school
for safekeeping till he did. Monsieur
lie pere opportunity arrived next
morning and took Claire away. That
was >Thursday-the day before she
called on me-and Claire had been
with Mrs. Delario just since Monday.
Very naturally. then, in all the story
/ never once thought Of the slipper and
that Mrs. Delario might be suspecting
Claire of taking 1t also. But having,
so to speak, settled Claire in saving
that she had left on Thursday after
noon, Mrs. Delario quickly switched
the conversation on the real subject Of
my visit. She introduced 1t by saying
that LIla-who was still in boarding
school near Philadelphia-was break
ing down and might have to be sent
abroad for treatment-she seemed to
be developing spinal trouble, though
the doctors here really didn't seem to
know what allied the child; and then
the sentence clearly remember was,
''Im very greatly in need Of money"
fear I must have drawn back sud-
denly-I actually thought she was try
ing to borrow of me-for she smiled
and answered my unspOken words: II
don't mean Want to borrow anything.
have some property want to dis
pose of. ! want to sell some rubies"
'"Why. Mrs. Delarlo. I'm not a
dealer" replied quickly.
II know you're not-that's why
thought you could help me better than
anyone else. The stones were left me
by a great-uncle in France, and / may
as well confess It now-they came in
duty free"
"Smuggled!" interjected.
"Well, friend brought them over
and they weren't found when the bag
gage was examined. But don't you see
that was why I could sell them at a
bargain?"
81 don't know anybody who deals in
struggled gems"
"Of course-but you needn't tell
that-you don't actually know how
they got in-you nre selling them for
friend It's because you don't know
that that you can sell them better
than can. At least you wouldn't mind
looking at the stones and telling me
what they're worth so I'll have some.
thing to go on? I haven't an idea how
valuable they are"
"Take them to Tiffany's." I sug-
gested.
"I'm afraid to take them anywhere
to tell you the. truth. Eugene took
them to a place on Maiden lane yes
terday and the people acted so queerly
Eugene-he's very psychic-got the
impression that they were going to &C.
cuse him of smuggling them or some
thing of the kind-stealing the rubies
perhaps from them-and he put than
in his pocket and ran out. He thinks
he was followed, but he couldn't make
sure. Don't you see how easy II
would be for anyone to accuse lone
woman of theft
/ "But how would they prove any
thing?" I interrupted. IF the stones
are yours"
She stopped me with bitter laugh
"Can't you see that the mere public
accusation that I'd stolen jewels would
ruin me professionally? 1t would put
me instantly under suspicion Of fraud
IN ail my dealings. Oh, you DOM
know; you haven't a conception Of
what this life means" she went on q
little wildly. "You don't know the
struggle just to make ones daily
bread. A lawsuit would ruin me finan
cially-I have no money to hire q law
yer to defend me-"
Il felt myself give in to her then. q
) a xrlend. Yes. I'd t,elp her in ever,
reasonable way.
"You mustn't labor under any falls
. Impressions about me-" she went or
II have a little property-not enougl
to support two people and what
. earn. live here rent free-they pm,
the rent-the circle that meets her
twice q week. have the house mucl
] % Z minister has his parsonage. ]