Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-11-19

! VIII tel NOBODY Eat re Jewels nave
been stolen-nobody. And you will
give me your promise before you leave
zIs room"
He turned scarlet. and then deathly
white. but he got control OF himself
Immediately.
So that was the wayithe wind blew
My shot had carried lhome-I felt ]
had him, a good deal worse than he
had me. I 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 in?"
He kept back retort by biting his
lip and glared at me.
what were the jewels2" repeated.
you must at least tell me that-since
you accuse me of taking them. What
were they7 know absolutely nothing
about them. You may believe me or
not as you choose. but It's your own
loss IL you don't"
My words seemed to shake his con.
victiOn for moment-but only for q
moment; what he said next left me no
doubt az to the gravity OF my situation
! In the matter.
And new. madame. we lay all sub
terfuges and evasIOns to re side. Zere
are but two persons who could have re
jewels of my daughter--yourself and
Madame Delario. have already ques.
toned her. fully-to be quite frank
have search re house--wis her permls-
sion have also search her person by
means Of woman detective-and she
has convinced me Eat she has not re
| Jewels of my daughter"
Neither have l." I snapped.
He went on as II 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-let me SEE
her Immediately" broke In. "Do
you mean TO say she accuses me of
robbing your child7"
II do not say she precisely accuses
but she has seen you--and Claire
has seen you--wis re package contain.
ing ze jewels in your hand"
l burst out hotly. That's lie
every word of ltl I never touched her
jewelry--or the package containing
her jewelry.S Never"
He flushed a deep red at the Insult
but he was making every effort TO con.
troll himself-seelng how enraged
was. he probably thought I'd use my
hatpin on him next-and l whipped
him on. feeling that l had the uppet
hand.
"Yes, monsieur shall make you
take this case to court" l went on
rapidly. After that I shall sue yoI
for false arrest--aDd Imprisonment. II
I'm imprisoned. But meanwhile.
shall Immediately set the customs
house officials on the hunt for your
daughters jewels and find out wheth
er they were actually brought into
America or not. II the Jewels are fir
the least valuable--as you seem TO bt
trying to make out--there'l be quite
a neat little duty to pay, provided
they're not confscated outright
which is more than likely. Monsieur
you have overlooked the fact that
asked Claire-and heard Mrs. De
!ariO ask her--if she had anything Il
declare and she told me she had not
So shall be witness In the govern
ment's case against you"
His expression had changed from
anger to cynical contempt. and hs
sneered: Every clever, n.acame-yer,
credltable to madame's nerve-ha, Ia
Madame is afraid OF Messing but Il
lose zoze so valuable jewels OF IN,
daughter" and with that he steupet
so close thought he was going ola,
hold OF me.
l stepped back. Just out OF immedi
ate reach and took arm grip on IN,
hatpin.
, And now, madame-we-lay-
, Suhterfuges-and evasions-to-ze-
side: Where are re Jewels OF m,
daughterT'
, And now. monsieur" Knocked, "w,
-lay-ali - subterfuges - and - eva
sion-to--the-side: I don't know"
With a quick dive Of his hand int,
his pocket he whipped out small RI
= volver
Perhaps us will refresh madame
memory" he leered.
Well. Ii refreshed madame's some
thIng-for want of better term IN
, call II creative genius. / waved IN
: revolver aside with gesture of cor
tempt and began: "Since monsfeu
has been at all this trouble To obtai
! an Interview With me, may Task Re,
questions? II may be Of importanc
70 both of u.s.
Proceed"