The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-03-12
CHAPTER xvII.-contlnued.


ed and so to prison, and his stay zere
will not be short, for ask to have bail
las re crime Is great onehxed at
one hundred sousand dollars and his
muzzer Is unable to give II. Madame,
II you are her friend. you can save her
now. ! give you two hours in which
TO bring me zoze diamonds"
And the diamonds lay on my table
beside hint l had only to reach out
my hand and say, Here" and the mat
ter was settled. Yet something in me
kept saying, No no no you
nustn'tln
said nothing and monsieur repeat
ed, IF In two hours zoze diamonds are
not In my hands win have her son ar
rested, and sat there looking at the
box and thinking that In two seconds
---if | SO wllied 1.-THE diamonds would
be In bis handsi
Mol dared not do 1t without at
least exactIng some proviso that
should prevent their use in the treaty
with Mexlco--it would be treachery to
my country, cowardice We had two
hours--we could do something In that
time-we'd not, the three OF us, give
up without struggle.
"Welif" he asked.
"But just what do you wish me to
doi' | asked. finding my tongue again
Il don't seem TO be clear on It,"
Il have been telling you" he showed
signs OF Impotence, II wish you to
call upon her lmmedlately--she is ut
home, for my daughter is wis her"
he smiled at that. remembering how
he'd used Claire to checkmate Billy
and me the night before. Repeat Ills
interview Eat you have wis me-con-
vince her zat = am ready to have her
son put under arrest"-he drew for
ward to the edge of his chair and con-
tinued In the tone of one addressing
a partner-T asure you zat when you
have communicate zis wis her, she
does one of two sings; If she have al
ready confess To you she have re dia-
monds, she release you instantly from
re obligation to keep her secret; and
IL she have not already confessed all
TO you, she does so--she Is obliged to
do so TO protect herself--to ask adj
vice of friend who comes TO warn
her"
BY this time ! had perceived that
my one feasible line of action lay In
pretending to fall in with his plans,
thus gaining time In which to consult
Billy as well as Mrs Delarlo, and I
said smoothly:
II appreciate the delicacy with
which you have put the case to me
and relieved me of the necessity OF
talking to you about my friend--I
cant tell YOU how / appreciate IT.
and there stuck
What did / mean to do?--tell him
I'D go2 And IL did, was to take the
diamonds or leave them behind in the
houseg AT that instant of INDIGESTION
and perplexity my eye lighted upon the
note sent up by my recent mysterious
caller-tae supposed detective. My
eounter.moye ! drew 1t from the en-.
velope and with 1t / made a fresh
start in conversation.
u appreciate II so much that treat
you with O corresponding confidence
and ask you to explain one or two lit.
Tie matters so that l may avoid any
difficulties that may arise while Tn
discussing the matter with Mrs. De-
lario"
wis pleasure-anysing---"
swell. thls--I should like an expla-
nation of this note"
put II in his hand.
He read II, frowned, turned Il over
TO see IL there were anything on the
other side and still frowning said, "Zls
notef know Messing Of bis note"
And he read aloud" 'Mademoiselle
Claire de Ravenol has disappeared =
My daughter has not disappcared--ex-
cept SO far she has disappeared zis
morning to Madame Delnrio's house"
His words and manner to my mind
az once disposed Of the hypothesis that
the new man was monslerr's accom-
pllee; but / went on: "The man who
sent this up-and whom saw.
clalmed to be detective in your en-
p.oy." r.
Monsieur gave a start, "a detec.
uye-in my smploy--looks for my
daughter Imposslblel When do you
receive els nOte2"
About two hours agor'
"A detectiye-twO hours ago tells
you ! employ him to seek for my
daughter! What does It meanP |
have employ no one TO seek for my
daughter-no one. He tells you IN un.
trlse. What have you sought is his
object to tell you Eat he seeks my
daughter7"
y thought II was plot against
her"
"A plot against Clairel Mon Dieu
Iis | am not prepare for"
He was too genuinely shocked and
astonished for me to doubt his word
and went on, "Yes-Tand Mrs. Delaric
thought so. too-and Mr.. Rivers, they
both saw the note and thought It was
plot against Claire. The same mar
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