The Jasper news., 1920-03-11
CHAPTER xIx.-contInued.
By JANE BUNKER
cSpyrisht By tho Bobbs-Msrrin cOmpanl


"As soon MS the baron asked me
where De Ravenol was l saw the
chance to get rid of him so he
wouldn't be Fostering around any
more. said yes-I knew about
where he was-on the train-he went
to California In the morning"
California ~ l gurgled. ION the
train Not for a milel He's down.
stairs in this house, hiding-he was
here when your baron came with
warrant to arrest himW And punctu'
ated with Billy's astonished exclama-
tions, / poured out my own tale OF
woe and romance and wound up Win
monsieur's explanation-that 1t was O.
plot of the French government to hold
up the Mexican deal by keeping
ClaIre's father from going to Mexico
and putting it through,
Don't believe It," cried Billy. Mon
sieur's made q mistake-he didn't see
the man. Why, old Follow-up admit
ted to me he was working for the EN-
peror william De Ravenors got the
wrong scent. But say-we must see
him right Off and put him wise to this.
Say-it's awful tough-her father In
such a hole. 1t most looks as If we
ought to give him back the dia-
mOndS."
Before we could discuss 1t and how to
communicate with the gentleman him.
self, he appeared at the front door.
He'd gotten out in the basement, In
stead Of his own fiat, because he'd
heard voices and had taken his chances
on slipping upstairs unobserved.
l hurried him in, chastened spirit,
and Billy plunged into the recital OF
his interview with Baron Won Follow
up and the clever way he thought he
had got rid of him by saying monsieur
had gone to California.
/ thought had seen monsieur at the
top notch Of emotionalism already, but
/ was mistaken. He actually tore his
hair-not Il great DEAL but enough to
see.
MY life is ruin wis Zis revelation"
he walled. "Wisout to obtain zose dia'
mOnds mmediately-wisout to be able
to return zem to zeir owner when he
sens for zem-I am lost. Mon Dleu
am regarded ze same as a rObber.
And how do ! tell him zey get lost
1t is my young beautiful daughter
Claire who let's get lost zoze diamonds
God forbid l tell him Eat.
But how does he answer when
tell him re truse? Does he say, DE
RavenOl, am sorry you lose zoze mos
precious diamonds, but accidents viii
happen and l know you are q goot
manT"
He paused for a bitter laugh and t
wipe his face with his handkerchief.
perhaps you sink he says Eat. Non
He tells me-'De Ravenol, ] know yOv
steal zose diamonds while you preten,
zey are lost. Sings like Eat don't com
lost so easy as you say. So l punis
you for a robber and see Eat you gall
nossing from stealing my Jewels"
Monsieur heaved a great sigh. "Zl
morning, If ! have zoze diamonds,
am already on my way to Mexico, bu
now"
"Hide man, hide for q couple G
days." urged Billy, trying to cheer hiT
up. "We'll help you. ! think 20
ought to be down In your den now
I'm afraid every minute that man ma
turn up here again."
Later, / remembered the alacrit
with which monsieur accepted the O
fer, assuring us fervently. "Only {
hide saves me and my child from di
grace. l srow myself on. your merC
Il trust you wis my honaire-w
what is dearest to nevis my life."
Billy was deeply affected, / cou
Zee, and hurried monsieur off, retur
ing in about half an hour to repor
"All serene"
tell asleep and was dreaming thi
the dome of the national capitol WI
toppling over on all of us, when WI
awakened by the ringing of the frol
bell.
saw by the dim light II was ear
too early for anything but q frel
calamity-and hoped out of bed al
ran to the door.
"Whos there?" called through.
BILLY. Open quick"
Billy tumbled in. "Claire's kidna
adj" he shouted in my face.
don't know whether l put my arm
around him, or he put his around m
Both, probably; but the next mlnu
we were clinging together and Il
chest was heaving with hard dry sol
When ! finally got coherent accou
out of him he told me that Claire HI
been a 'llttle light'headed" throui
ha auanIna