Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-02-11
CHAPTER XIV.
An Important ownershlp.

When l left her house this was my
situation with Mrs. Delario - she'd
given birth to the lncorrigible belief
that million dollars worth of da-
monds had been presented to her by
an unknown lama IN Tibet; sent her
through the air; glued into the toe Of
her slipper, and this In answer to
prayer. And ] had to reckon with 1t
as a fact-a fact that yelled me off
the straightforward course I'd been
about to pursue and bullIed me into
taking devious ways.
"No" | replied to myself ten dozen
times. 1.-THE Emperor william didn't
consult me about what he should do
with his old diamonds; why should he
expect help from me now? He's got
his own machinery to work with-let
him get his diamonds back himself.
I'm no detectiye-Tm not his tool"
Billy was an hour late in reaching
the house and interrupted his petu-
liant explanation as to why he wasn't
two hours late, or three, to commune
cate rapidly-knowlng that monsieur
would be there In a mlnute-my deci-
sion that Mrs. Delarlo was to keep the
diamonds and the Emperor William
might twiddle his thumbs and whistle.
"You took 'em back to herr"
Eyes. and she's to keep them"
"But-what did she say"
The elevator was rumbling, and ]
knew who was coming.
"But what are you going to tell mon
sieur?"
The bell rang-I hadn't decided
what l was going to tell monsieur.
! opened the door. Standing behind
Claire. his glance to me under his OBJ
sequiously lifted hat and across her
head, monsieur rapidly prowled my
face for the sniff of hint that had
everything arranged and my diplo-
macy had been successful. Which hint
I'm positive he didn't get. Claire gave
a little cry on seeing me, flung herself
into my arms and hid her bushes on
my shoulder | ducked my face to hers
and babe my visitors enter. / carried
Claire forward. leaving monsieur to
dispose of his hat and coat in the hall.
presented Billy to Claire, and she
shot him dead with one glance and
brought him back TO life with the next.
AT the sound of her lovely voice ut
tering a thrifty How do you dor"
Billy didn't know his own name-the
only name he could at the moment
have articulated was Claire de Rave
mol.
Claire forgot him as soon as he
stammered out his lawfully glad to
meet you" and dropped her little
hand. was the magnet of those love
ly eyes Being middle-aged and proper
does sometimes have its compensa-
tons
motIoned us to chairs. What was
l TO tell monsieur Claire gave me
a moments respite by hurrledly be-
ginning. Papa says to tell you every
thing know"
She glanced at him and he nodded.
Eyes - everything - from re begin
ming"
1uu IcLltilDcI NtNtN
l nodded and said yes"
"Wel. papa came to see me there
while ! was at school. you know-and
he brought me little box to keep for
hlm-so big"
what was In that little box?" /
questioned.
Claire's eyes mutely appealed to her
father.
Monsieur had evidently been walt
ing for this question and hastily In
terposed. "She does not know--it was
my wish she should know Messing of
Ze contents--tO els day she does not
know" and his whole face was filed
with appeal to Billy and me.
l granted the appeal with a jerk of
my head that l hoped told him. "All