The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-11-28
CHAPTER v--continued.

-~-o-~
sHaven't You some way Of hiding
them7 Really I don't see how Gun
take the responsibility I'm
robbed r.
@You won't be-"
sBut you don't know. 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 like being mixed MP In a SNUG t
Cling affair; but out Of pty--and COM /
mon human decency for a woman In |
trouble-I refralned and she hurried |
on. "You needn't fear about losing
them see the word safe In yellow
letters over your bend and | know,
absolutely they'll 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"
"Eugenep Her face clouded with
fear. ~ don't even know where he is
this morning-he hasn't telephoned
me. or anything, since telephoned
him last night to hideand every time
think OF him get the impression Of
trouble There isn't living soul
can appeal 10 now hut you. oh,
plcnse--a day--two days--untll can
decide what TO do. Help me now, and
swear to you that / will explain ev-
erything"
The telephone bell suddenly rang
out from the upper hall. Her hands
new to her heart. as they had the
night before when the house bell rang (;
hut without word she FASTENED up
stairs to answer the call
While she was gone had few min
utes TO think. and l took my stand,
once for all: I'd help her through
lhick and thin. therefore slipped the
box back where I'd taken 1t from, and
VAS preparing TO leave with It as soon
as could say goodby to her. when she
reeled into the room, looking as II
she'd had the shock Of dreadful news.
Eugene. My son T. she gasped, nl-
most with scream. "He's been kid
napedi' and with that she tainted.
l caught her as she fell and let her
slide to the floor as gently as my
strength would allow. and was con.
xidering whether 10 try to find the
bathroom upstairs and get some water
or To search the lower regions for the
wfld-eyed Swede and send her for the
nearest doctor, when ! heard Mrs
Delarlos voice: "Save my diamonds
save my son. Go--go at oneep
didn't go--in fact she held nae 81
couldn't-and somehow, between us
she managed TO get up ON the sofa
where she released my hands, implor
Ing me to save the diamonds.
ssrhose men are coming" she urged
Elm i've minutes 1t may be too late
you'll be caught--rll lose everything
my future--Lilas future--you're SAT-
II you so instantly
II was incoherent, but rapid; terri
bly, earnest. She gave me feebl
push, and. hardly knowing what did
/ lied the house--for the second tim
In twenty.four hours with millio
dollars worth OF diamonds in m
stocking.
had dashed down the steps expec
sng to eneounter--and escape from
pair Of dark-hrowed villains; actI
ally did encounter delivery boy hol
ping off his wagon, who almo:
Knocked me over with his basket an
then berated me soundly for getting
his road and not looking where WI
going.
My humping into the grocery be
dislocated the alarm In which hG
left Mrs. Delario, and It didn't seem
occur to me on the return trip that
might be followed or that l shou
take at least some small precautioi
to elude possible shadow. My NH
was so engrossed with Mrs. Delar
and what had happened to her son tn
1 really quite forgot l had the di
nonds myself I bought a bunch
hyacinths at a florists and left an {
der at the grocer's, and it wasn't
/ was inside my fiat that the thong
really struck me. "Tm the one who
10 danger-I have the diamonds u a
1t was too late for me to find out
I'd been Swallowed home or not
However, my depression was pr
emily succeeded by a mood of elatior
at last I was living things! / was
joylng the game for it's own sake.
win the dance, Mr.. Robbers-let's /:
il you can get the diamonds! VIII
emily goas 20 show what fools SO