The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-12-25
CHAPTER ~.
The Wicked Flee.

women alone In the hOuSe-appal
ently---to guard them, but Mrs. Della
rio was terrified.
"These stones"-she looked abou
the room despairlngly. "Where can
hide them? And we two women alon,
| in the house."
Again the ring--a long, long rattle
whoever 1t was meant to get In. Fol
lowed pounding on the door.
Mrs, Delario, though deathly white
was now composed and ready to NEE
the emergency, whatever II was. Me
chanically she slipped the elastic owe
the box and rose.
"Tll go to the door," she decided
"It's better to see who It is. anyway
Perhaps it's only district messenger
If Il lsn't--lf II should he officers
they might break In the door"
And with that she whlsked up he,
skirt and tucked the box down into he
stocking
had risen and was preparing t
follow her out feeling she might neet
me, but she turned and said for mt
to wait behind the door out of sigh
| and listen.
She left me. heard the front 900
open just as the pounding began again
She asked, "What Is itf" and u man'
voice answered, Does Eugene Delarit
live hereH" She said he did, and de
manded what was wanted of him. TIL,
mans voice said, II must see him q
once"
And then, to my amazement, heart
her tell the man, 'I'm sorry, but yol
| can't--tohIght; he's sick In bed"
II rather think l can see him, then,'
was the retort "And Will"
There followed, well, not quite
scuflle but very active shulTllng o.
feet, and the man pushed his way int
the house In spite Of her, pushing hel
aside from the door, which he shu
with bang and "NOw, then" Sen
sations began TO trlcBle down mJ
spine.
"In which room Is the young mai
| sicsT" demanded the voice.
~ tell You ycu can't see him--I re
fuse to let you go upstairs. Wha
right have you forcing yourself Int
my hOuse this way and demanding t.
see my sick SOM" she asked angrily.
"Now, lady, be reasonable and III
show you." he replied In a tone mean
to cOncillate, / heard rattle Of pa
per,
"a warrant!" she gasped.
"Thats what" he said. "Want Il
see my badger There was n sligh
rustic as I assumed he showed 1t I,
her, for she gasped, "An Ofilcer--a war
rantw and seemed TO sway on th'
| stair.
"NOw, lady" he began, still conclll
ating, "yOu don't want to make an,
more trouble for yourself thun's nee
essary. I got to do my duty-and
amt always pIeasant--but | got to d.
It. 1t aln't my fault II got to arres
your sOn--I amt doing it to spite you
| nut illH--llt ului SLCdl ubS uiniHohh
off me, you know"
"Steal any diamonds!" she inter
rupted. ale never stole diamond IL
his life. Never"
fancied the man Struggling as h
answered, $50 much the better for hin
IL he didn't steal them--rm sure
hope for your sake he didn't, thougl
It looks bad, him trying TO sell then
to the very parties that knew all abou
them"
"Ohw and could see her clngin
TO the banister. She was evidently a
loss what TO do.
understood In a flash what ha
happened--this man or an accompllc
wns the one who had followed her so
home from the Maiden lane dealer
yesterday. He evidently thought h
was making headway, for he went or
"NOw see here, lady, you take
from me--the parties that are press
Ing this case don't care for publlcit
any more than you door your so
does. II would ruin him If II got Int
the papers, to say nothing Of his ser'
ing time for it"
Serving tinei Ny Godl" brok
from her involuntarlly,
"Of course he'll serve time II It
proved on him." her visitor assure
her.
/
She gave sob. was wrought III
1t was all : could do to keep my plnc
and not Join her and help defy tn
man: but his next words held me lis
tening.
'1f he'll give back the stones Il
showed yesterday, or tell where he
hid them, can get this settled out
court and nobody viii be the WISER
you don't say anything. Seer"
at isn't truel" she cried. my so
never stole cents worth of anythln
] In his lIfe."
"Here's the warrant"
e ARREST him If you will, but the la
e will prove him innocent--if there's la
= in the land, and ! sometimes doubt It
, Ito Be Contlnued)