The Ordway new era., 1920-04-30
UT DIAMOND
Y Jane Bunker
copyrig,f -Ths boshs-hesr1n O.

| what did you have TO let him
known"
"whether 1t was you or Mrs. Della
rio."
How did you manage thatT
81 set my little handbag on top of
the suitcase-that said the box was
there. Then drew OF my glove
that said. in slipper 1t wasn't
very hard to remember"
"And you had given the signal when
picked up the sllpperT
"Yes-and I was SO frightened. !
didn't know but papa would be
killed"
"And you went home with Mrs.
Delario and tried to see IL she had the
right slIpper?"
"Yes-but never found out"
She looked as II she were dying to
ask, Have you found out7"
i was SO afraid she would that /
ended the cross-examination hastily by
asking her what she heard from her
mother and signaled Billy to chip into
the conversation and make talk as fast
as he could; and after she'd replied
about her mother-that her grandfa-
ther was still dying and her mother
dared not leaye-she turned to Billy
as though she had really only just then
become aware Of his presence. and
they soon were chatterlng away like
magples and the bushes were mostly
on Bllly's cheeks. For which he might
be forgiven. He wns Just twenty-five
and she wns Just sixteen; but in three
years-dear me, what n beauty she
was going TO be-what a man-killer!
left them to themselves. going to
my bedroom on some pretext or an
other while one quarter of an hour fol-
lowed another. and still monsieur did
not return. At nine Claire began to
be restless: at quarter after she blurt-
ed out. "Do you suppose anything has
happened to papal'
had been supposing it for half an
hour-hed had time to make twenty
trips to the telegraph Office and back
but l managed to say reassuringly,
"Why, what could happen?" and Billy
| supported me with fine courageous,
| Nothing could have happened-he's
| a mnn--he knows how to take care of
himself" and was rewarded with
| look. Even ut sixteen Claire's looks
were valuable-Billy wouldn't have
sold that to another fellow for ten
dollar bill.
The elevator rumbled up, and /
cried. "There he Isl think"
George presented me with two
notes and the information that an au-
tomoblle was downstairs waiting.
| handed one note to Claire. tore
open the one addressed to inc, and
read:
I'm sending q car for my daughter
the hotel? 1t IL necessary that say some
| few words to you alone. I beg you to
| await me.
1t was signed, III. de Ravenol."
had barely finished this when /
heard Claire give IA cry. Mamma is
dcad'' and looked up Just in time
to see her throw out her arms and
swoon away at my feet.
People faint away In this story like
the herolnes OF mid-victorian ro-
nance. but I can't help 1t. Anyway.
warned you there was another faint
coming. which faint was. under the
circumstances, natural enough.
To be exact. Claire swooned at my
feet via Bllly's arms. The intention
was all on his side, however-he
caught her MS she was regardlessly go
ing andslet her down. A light bur
den.
Got any smelling salts? Quick IL
YOU have. Some water. II you haven't"
he ordered.
Ipst hnI,
the cool way In which he took the pro-
prietorship of the situation in my
house-a snort tempered with good
natured elderly amusement Mt his i'm
pctuosity and Its justliiable cause. He
was nearly as pale us Claire and
drcadfully agitated But was already
running to the bathroom for the water
to revive her, as twenty-four hours
, previous I'd run for water to assuage
, the ammoniacal agonies of her dear
, papa.
, Billy was on his knees. From under
one protruded the note that had
, caused the damage. went down on
/ my knees and applied the wet towel
r Billy fshed forth the note and with
i out compunction read 1t aloud.
My child; Ut was in French) Return to
: the hotel Immediately. Ask Mr.. Rivers tc
escort you. VOrRE PERE.
+ Nothing very nerve-shatterlng and not
4 n word about her mother; so evident
. ly she'd been expecting something and
= this had keeled her over on general
. principles.
l what was In yours2" demanded
Billy.
l reached out and got 1t OF the tn
r BILE where I'd thrown It and gave l,
to him. Nothing about her mother,
: said l. "This getting her away Is jus