The Elbert County tribune., 1920-04-30

senger." She mad drawn out a letter
from her bag; she took 1t out OF the
envelope and handed it to me. remark
ing at the same time. There was fifty
dollars in it," The letter read:
Dear Madame Delario:
II was unable to return according
TO promise because of telegraphic COM
munication notifying me that my wife
-Claire's mother--is probably i'll with
fatal Illness and I am leaving for
California Immediately My child
knows nothing of her mothers illness
and the reason of my so sudden depar-
tare. l am concealing II from her by
saying that 1t is diplomatic business
which calls me away. 1t would be
cruelty to subject her so sensitive na-
ture to anxiety and shock of long jour
ney when she could not hope to see
her mother alive.
II implore you In human kindness
take pity on her once more and shell
ter her for a few days, keeping from
her the knowledge of this calamity
that threatens her. 1 shall commune
cate with you In a few days. My
gratitude" etc.
And Claire followed 1t In an hour ~
Mrs. Delario whispered.
did he bring herr"
| "No-he sent her in a carriage or
course he didn't bring her He didn't
take any chances of my refusing to
keep her for him."
Poor child! I" l exclaimed. "She
was devoted to her mother--it will be
a terrible blow to her.
| Mrs. Delario shifted at me-taking
the letter from my hand and glancing
at 1t before she answered: "You don't
think for minute there's anything the
matter with Claire's mother, do you?"
There isn'tT'
why, of course noti Oh. l
KNOW" she answered the question she
must have read in my face. II psycho-
metrized this note as soon as got 1t.
That man can't deceive mel feel
scheme and plot all over IT."
She held IL a moment in testing
sort of way. running her fingers back
and forth over 1t. then placed IL In my
hand, asking: Cant you feel the oc-
cult infiuences?" and looked as II she
expected me TO reply that | could feel
thing. Which l couldn't. She seemed
I disappointed and put the letter into
its envelope and that into her hand
bag, remarking: ITS part OF scheme
he's working. / haven't made out the
rest OF tim not clenr on II yet.
though know it's something-tricky."
And you think he didn't go to Cali
fornia?"
I'm sure he didn't can't see a
journey for hm-I mean an immediate
journey. There are journeys all around
him-he travels a great deal-but I
don't see anything for today-for to-
morrow; there's nothing like that near
But l do get the word-clairaudient
ly-'Hiding.' That doesn't help things
very much for us, If he lsl'
"Or for Claire %
mo. But please don't think Tn not
willing to do all / can for the child
for her own sake. But having her
thrust on me in this mysterious
way"
She broke off and looked at me help
lessly and ! finished for her: HAS up
set you"
Terribly I'm nearly distracted
And that isn't ALL mean Claire's be-
ing thrust on me; there's new man
come on the scene-Im more troubled
about him than almost anything else"
"a new man? When did he ap-
pearl"
Last night-just after / got back
from here and was waiting for mon
sicur; SO | let him in and she de-
scribed the very man who had just
been to see me, and who was either
thief or Baron Won Follow-up for the
Emperor William, as Billy had called
him. He had reached Mrs. Delario as
he had me. through Claire, saying she
had disappeared.
And what's your impression of this
new MANI" l asked. l was beginning
to take some little stock in her impress
sions, partly because they conceded
with my own; partly because | was
clutching at anything that might help.
"Trouble-trouble for monsieur. /
get the word clairaudiently. You see.
I'm so upset-why, my dear, 1t isn't
any more possible for me to do my
work-get my readings right-in an at.
mosphere of confusion-and fear and
anxiety-than 1t is for you to do your
work-wrlte, and compose beautiful
things. You couldn't, could you? You
couldn't write, If you were all upsetT
| admitted l shouldn't expect to pro
duce much of my own line of goods
under like circumstances and having
won this from me. she laid her hand ON
my arm in an appealing way and said
Its why came to you-I didn't know
what else to do or where TO turn for
advice. What am | to do about Clairef"
| was sure didn't know. but asked