The Jasper news., 1919-12-25

smile at me. 'I'm hurrying all l can,
] calculate to have your 'mossoo' In
handouts tomorrow night" And he
unfolded his plot and entered into II
with fervor. The truth Is Billy and I
were having the fun of our lives.
| The scheme was to decoy monsieur
to the fiat by letter from Mrs. Deia.
rio indicating where the diamonds
were hidden: we banked on his re-
membering the one place he hadn't
searched--the hyacInths; and II he got
the tip we believed he'd return the mo-
ment went out.
After some discussion Billy and l
decided not to take Mrs. Delario into
our confidence. not knowing how shed
act In the crisis, which necessitated
our Initiating her writing. The only
sample Of her writing we had was her
address In my notebook and some
titles of books on spiritualism shed
wished me to read. But the sample
did us, and the joint literary efforts of
myself and Billy produced the follow
ing-this purporting to be from me to
| her:
My Dear Mrs. Delario: Since he searched
everything but the bunch of hyacinths as I
| told you over the telephone Tue sday-(this
STRUCK me as an exquisitely neat. convincing
touch for his detective must have reported
both tnat telephoned and the number Of
the cal)-l thought the same place would
continue safe In case Of a second invasion.
! GOT fresh bunch, 80 you will know whore
| II anything happens to me. II no. come and
have to.
am going to try to see you Saturday
night for final arrangements II I CT slip
out without being seen. Expect me between
eight and ten. Be sure to be alone 20 we
can talk. 1 still hold to my promise-one-
third to you II you will help me to dispose
OF gum .drops
SCUM drops" was Bllly's touch-he
declared that "mossoo" would read II
diamonds" sure as anything.
And this, purporting to be from her
to him:
Monsieur; I have refused to have anything
to do with this matter since / know the
stances, feel she is foolish to try to hold
| on. Get the hyacinths while she 10 at my
house tonight. and the trouble will be over
for everybody.
typed my own letter with a carbon
copy while Billy laboriously produced
The one from Mrs. Delario.
The decoy letters we sent to the ho-
tel where monsieur was staying. The
rest Of our plan was this: Billy was to
"sneak II" upstairs and get into the
nat; | was then to put on my wraps,
go down In the elevator, telling George
! was going out for the evening-so
he'd report II to monsieur; walt In
the lower hall for a mythical automo-
bile till George went up with the car.
and then creep up the stairs.
"Thls time tomorrow night I'll pre-
sent you with nice 'mossoo' In hand
cuffs" affirmed Bully confidently.
Suppose he doesn't Gomez Or sup
pose he murders me tonight2"
"Oh. the gunsl" He snatched up
his overcoat and dived into the pocket.
He laid two revolyers on the table.
saying cheerfully: "He will come and
he won't murder you-not If you keep
your wits about you. They're loaded"
He slipped the coat ON. He was 60
lng-in high feather; but my heart
sank at the prospect Of another night
and that man lurking In the house.
keep stiff upper lip-heroine of
the greatest diamond robbery Of the
century," he bantered. "Tll be here
at six tomorrow" He picked up his
hat.
"Oh, I'm all right" l returned nom
chalantly. feeling suddenly knock.
kneed yet determined I'd not let Billy
suspect 1t.
! rang for the elevator, and while
the car was rumbling up Billy glided
away In the darkness Of the stairs
back Of 1t. He must have reached only
the first turn when heard him ex.
claim, "Ohl Excuse mel never saw
you'll"
Followed the word, "Pardonp and
/ recognized monsleur's voicel
had the presence of mind to stifie
my curiosity and slip back into my
fiat, noiselessly shutting the door. Waa
he merely coming to lock me In, or
had he been listening7 My forebod.
ings every moment increased, for up
to one o'clock-when l went to bed
he had failed to lock me In.
CTo BE coNTINUEDJ