Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-11-12
CHAPTER v-contlnued.


Haven't YOU some way Of hiding
thcm1 Really don't see how l can
take the acknowledgements Tn
robbed y
"You won't ye"
But you don't know. l may have
been followed home last night"
"YOu were not--that man was work
Ing alone"
II was on the tip of my tongue to
tell her my real reason was that ]
didn't Ike being mixed up in a SNUG
CLING affair; but out of pity-and com
mon human decency for a woman In
trouble--I refrained, and she hurried
on, "You needn't fear about losing
them--I see the word safe In yellow
letters over your head and | know,
absolutely be safe with you"
To me that wasn't convincing. and
made last effort to rid myself OF
the incubus and suggested, "YOur son.
couldn't he find means To- hide them2"
Eugene :" Her face clOuded with
fear II don't even know where he is
me, or anything, since | telephOned
him last night to hlde-and every time
I think Of him ! get the impression of
trouble There isn't a living soul
] can appeal to now but you. Oh,
please--a day--two days--untiI / can
decide what TO do. Help me now. and
] swear to you that | will explain ey-
erythng--"
The telephone bell suddenly rang
out from the upper hall. Her hands
flew to her heart, as they had the
night before when the house bell rang
but without word ste hastcned up
stairs to answer the call.
While she was gone had few min
utes to think, and | took my stand.
once for all: I'd help her through
thick and thin. therefore slipped the
box back where I'd taken II from. and
was preparing To leave with II as soon
as | could say goodby TO her. when she
reeied into the room. looking as II
shed Ind the shock OF dreadful news.
Eugene. My son ~ she gusped, al
m0sa with scream. He's been kid.
napedl" and with that she tainted.
| caught her as she fell and let her
slide to the floor as gently as nv
strength would allow, and l was con-
sidcring whether to try to nnd the
bathroom upstairs and get some water,
or TO search the lower regions for the
wiId-eyed Swede and send her for the
nearest doctor, when heard Mira.
Delarlo's voice: Save my diamonds
save my son. Coco at oncei"
didn't go--in fact she held me so
l couldn't-and somehow. between us.
abe managed TO get up on the sofa,
where she released my hands, implor-
Ing me to save the diamonds.
Those men are coming" she urged.
''la five minutes II may be too late
you'lt be caught-Ill lose every thing
my future-LiIa's future-you're safe
II you go Instantly
1t was incoherent but rapid; terri
bly, earnest. She gave me feeble
push. and. hardly knowing what / did,
i fed the house-for the second time
in twenty-four hours with a million
dollars worth of diamonds In my
stocking.
had dashed down the steps expect
ing to encounter-and escape from
pair of dark-browed villains; / actu,
ally did encounter delivery boy hop
ping of his wagon. who almost
knocked me over with his basket and
then berated me soundly for getting In
his road and not looking where | was
going.
My humping into the grocery boy
dislocated the alarm In which | had
left Mrs. Delario, and IL didn't seem 10
occur to me on the return trip that
might be followed, or that I shouId
take at least some small precautions
30 elude a possible shadow. NV mind
was SO engrossed with Mrs Delarlc
and what had happened TO her son tina,
really quite forgot had the dia.
monds myself ] bought bunch n,
hyacinths at n florists and left an or
der at the grocer's. and Il wasn't tu
] was inside my fiat that the thought
really struck me. "I'm the one who /,
In danger-I the diamonds - npe
1t was too Ii Or me 70 find out Il
I'd been Swallowed home or not.
However. my depression was pres
emily succeeded by mood of citation
at last | was living things was en-
jOying the game for its own sake. or
with the dance. Mr.. Robbers lets Sc,
IL you can get the diamondsl Which
only goes 10 show what fools som,
women can be, sometimes. For If
meant TO hide the diamonds wher,
they'd be safe. why didn't / take then
Instantly to my bank and put them II
a safe-deposit bOx5 A mere man would
have done II on the spur OF the mo
lnent without stopping to think abouI
it; and the idea never entered my
head. So l let slip my one chance Of
something brilliant and did what
ainety-nine out of a hundred Other
women would have done under tn.
tame circumstances: l HID THEM N
BY FLAT. Aud In that one act / pit
ted myself against the most subtle in
teiligence, amazing complications anC
overwhelming odds that quiet, re