The Taney County republican., 1920-04-22
Diamond
Cut
Diamond
ny JANE BUNKER

0bppOoG uC nus NIsCut Ahu Natth
added, THAT would DO almost too
good to be true"
"Yes--I feel that way--I kinda
don't seem TO feel that he did--my
hunch doesn't say he did. But say
I've been figuring II out coming up
on tho sub--your 'mosSoo' is laying a
new trap FOR you and Mrs. Delario.
He knows oEe Of you two women has
got the diamonds--ho knows It IN his
boots, no matter what you say-and
anyway you have. He knows you've
got 'em--that you're bound TO keep
'em-and wouldn't dare sell or tell.
SeeH That's where he's got you; and
he knows you're both Of you shaking
in Jour boots"
"Tm shaking. all right Two had
my Oil Of dlamoDdsl" / admitted bit.
terly.
"And that's how he argues He's
only got to give you new scare OF
some sort-and walt. And I bet you,
too. you get your scare inside an
hourT
perhaps I've had 1t already" I
cried, suddenly recollecting my mys.
terious detective, whom l had forgot
ten In this new development Of af-
fairs, and l told Billy the story. But
when came TO my suspicious that It
was Claire the man was nfter Billy
topped down all In a heap on the
dlvan.
Good Lord!" he gasped. TT might
be" and for some minutes he sat
there, squeezing his hands and glar-
ing at the floor. Suddenly Mrs. Thing.
downstairs began rendering her Men
delssohn's "Spring Song" Of a pig on
ice. and Billy Jumped UP In irritation
and paced the floor. I was glad OF
her performsnce---it was a gratuitous
contribution to the safety of conversa.
tlon in my own fat.
Tell me again everything your de-
tecgivo man said" commanded Billy.
Sand you're sure he's a tec.f"
I'm not sure Of anything" / re.
turned. II had nothing TO 90 on but
what he said and what I guessed. He
may have been a fancy burglGr.-a 1T.
crary burglar. after my last novel;
such things have happened" l cav
Billy's Lip curl at this frivolous sug.
geStion, but ran on. Tie may be a
gentleman ctook-someone on the
steamer whom / didn't know but who
noticed l had an interest In the girl
and is using It now to get In here and
map the grounds 80 he can come back
and rob and murder me-"
"0h, don't joke" he begged discon.
solately. This is awfully serious.
Why couldn't this man---you say you
think he's q forelgner--why couldn't
he be the emperor's tollow.upi Now
whyT
"He could"
"Say--that's what he IL! And mos
500 got wind Of him last night and
scooted for the tall timbersi The EN-.
pevor wouldn't iust hand 'mossoo' a
box Of diamonds like that and tell him
Just to take 'em and present 'em with
his compliments-they don't do things
that way over here. He'd send
second man to see that the FIRST man
did his Job according to contract. And
why isn't this the manT
1t did LOOK possible-though I
couldn't still see why he had begun his
acquaintance with me--telling me lie
about Claire. While I was wondering
over It, Billy remarked. Poor De
Rovenol has got bis troubles all right.
He knows the old mans after him and
he's lost the goods. Say, you can az.
ford to pity him now"
A wsye Of utter despair swept over
me. i know OF nothing more unhinE.
Ing than the faeetious nonchalunce Of
the young male In face Of a serious sit.
uation. was rsady to weep. I was
saved from Il By the ringing Of the
front bell.
I put up the chain-bolt before I
opened it--f had sense enough for
that--and then I cried; "Youl" and re.
ceived o sharp, "sahi Let me 10,
quick"
II was Mrs. pelario. When I saw
her, you could have knocked me down
with feather. let her In and
whisked her into my bedroom and shu,
the door on %. My frst thought was
Billy--he had naturally looked down
the hall when ] went to the door
and ] knew he'd guess Immediately
who II was; but though had told her
the part he had already played IN our
adventure she hadn't met him and I
had the presence Of mind not TO spring
him on her ill I'd found out what she
came for. She had caught sight Of
him and now spoke ia a whisper.
You can't guess what's happened I"
"What nezti" ! gaspsd. almost IN q |
whisper.
Monsieur has simply dumped Claire |
back on my hands and decampsd--
without a word Of real explanation I"
"oh. peverp
tits what he's done And I'm In the |
worst pickle! What does II all meant
BE came last evening and told me he'd
Itsat ae.n var, and vn,, 4r,tA hf,.- "a. A |