The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-12-05

toms house officials to take up the
case"
Your Your Madame,
Of what are you sinklngT
"I-yes, certainly" ] replied firmly.
following up my advantage; for he
had given II away TO me that he didn't
wish the customs house TO know about
this little smuggling Of Claire's. "Sinee
you have seen fit to accuse me of
robbery know nothing about, shall
ri must--do all | can TO help Claire
get her jewels back In order to prove
my own innocence. l will go to the
customs house and report the whole
matter tomorrow morning."
"You Will do Messing Of re sort !" He
fairly Kissed the words at me. 'You
viii tell nobody Eat re jewels have
been stolen-nobody. And you will
give me your promise before you leave
Ills ROOM"
He turned scarlet. and then deathly
white, but he got control of himself
Immediately.
So that was the way the wind blew
My shot had carried home--I felt I
had him, good deal worse than he
had me. / gave him another dose of
the same ammunition-'T certainly
shall--there's nothing else to do. Now,
then, what were the jewels Claire was
smuggling Int"
He kept back retort by biting his
lip and glared at me.
"What were the jewels7' / repeated.
''You must at least tell me that-since
you accuse me of taking them. What
were they? know absolutely nothing
about them. You may believe me or
not as you choose, but it's your own
loss II you don't"
My words seemed to shake his con-
| viction for moment-but only for a
moment; what he said next left me no
doubt as to the gravity OF my situation
In the matter.
"And now, madame, we lay all sub
terfuges and evasIons TO 10 side. Zere
are but two persons who could have re
| Jewels of my daughter-yourself and
Madame Delarlo. have already ques-
toned her. fully--to be quite frank--I
have search 70 house-wls her permits
sion have also search her person by
means OF woman detectlve--nnd she
has convinced me Eat she has not re
Jewels Of my daughter
Neither have l.. snapped.
He went on as II l hadn't spoken.
"My evidence is positive, and wis
Madame Delario's denial of all knowl-
edge--her wish Eat send for you and
give you re opportunity to explain"
"Where Is Mrs. Delario--Iet me see
her Immediately" 1 broke In. 'Do
you mean to say. she accuses me Of
robbing your child"
II do not say she precisely accuses
but she has seen you-and Claire
has seen you-wis re package contain
ing re. jewels in your hand"
burst out holly. "That's lie
every word of I'll Inever touched her
jewelry-or the package containing
her jewelry. Never"
He flushed deep red Mt the insult,
but he was making every effort to con-
troll himself-seeing how enraged ]
was, he probably thought I'd use my
hatpin on him next--and ! whipped
him on, feeling that had the upper
hand.
Eyes, monsleur-I shall make you
take this case to court" 1 went on
rapidly. "After that shall sue yor
for false arrest--and Imprisonment, II
I'm imprisoned. But meanwhile,
shall Immediately set the custom:
E house officials on the hunt for YOU
: daughters jewels and find out wheth
; er they were actually brought int
America or not. II the Jewels are II
!, the least yaluable-as you seem to b
J trying TO make out-thereTl be quit
neat little duty to pay, provided
they're not eonfscated outright
e which Is more than likely. Monsieur
! you have overlooked the fact that
Z asked CIaire-and / heard Mrs. De
$ lario ask her-if she had anything I,
d declare and she told me she had MOI
SO shall be witness in the govern
3 ment's case against you"