Cheyenne record. (Cheyenne Wells, Cheyenne County, Colo.) 1913-19??, 1920-04-22
CHAPTER XII.
The Capture

least to me but somehow the periods
when nothing happened were more
alarming than when he was boldly at
tacking. You may imagine, If you can,
what went through on Saturday. My
one diversion was to rehide the dia-
monds. This time-after I had taken
them out of the hyacinths and poked
thimble among the stems-I sealed
them in an envelope and thumb-tacked
1t to the bottom Of sideboard drawer.
The drawers sledded in and out on run.
ners deep enough to allow the enve-
lope to pass. All day long kept think
ing. "What will happen If monsieur
| doesn't take the baitT It seems
strange to me now. but I never once
asked myself, "What will happen If he
does7"
The last half hour before Billy came
was positively the longest in my life.
and when the bell did finally ring l
was shot through the heart and ready
to die.
1 came to life Immediately. whis-
pered through the door. "Who's
there? and heard, "Ann Preswick"-
the password we'd agreed on.
"Then he hasn't killed you'll" were
my first words.
"Whof Your 'mossooT No-I
killed hin on the stairs last night
or pretty nearl"
the proprietorship on me-he wasn't
my "mossoo." as reminded Billy while
he was pulling pair of handouts out
of his overcoat pocket.
"A mere detail" he returned. "He
will be your own In an hour" He flung
off his coat. where do we hide these
togs?"
my wardrobe But he won't
come"
"Oh, yes, he will-he told me So"
thought Billy was Joking and made
no reply.
every interesting man." mused Billy.
Not at all the sort Of person you'd
expect to find in n diamond robbery.
Wonderful knowledge Of European pol
ltlcs-and American politics, too"
BILLY, what do you mean" I de-
manded.
"Why, I took your 'mossoo' home
to his hotel last night-and-"
you didn't" l gasped.
"Of course I did! Why not? You
don't suppose I'd go of and leave him
here to murder you, do you?" Billy
was making the most out Of his story.
could see.
But - how - did - you - man.
age ge-it?" 1 was still gasping.
II didn't. He did He wasn't going
to give himself away by going up
stairs; he said he was going down. So
we went down together. and l kept
talking to him. When we got to the
street we just kept on till I'd seen
him home. We were thick as thieves
by that time. I invited him to see
Chinatown tonight and he accepted"
"Billyl You never"
Eyes. didl And It's how know
he's coming tonight-see7 I went
round this morning In time for the
first mall He was waiting for 1t.
Oh, he got the letter all right! And
as soon as he read 1t he came over
and told me he couldn't 60 to China
town tonight-he had diplomatic busi-
ness that might take him to Washing
ton-which means here. Seer"
"Billy, you're the cleverest thing
ever sawW I cried with real admlra-
ton.
"Thanks-coming from you appre-
ciate that" He said 1t In an ofrhand
way. but could see he was feeling
very set up over himself And didn't
blame him. He added. "What the
'mossoo' was really after-why he
wouldn't let me go out in the dark
alone-was to know who was calling
on. told him 1t was the people in
the front fiat and couldn't get In.
told him 1t was their cousin from Bos-
ton I was calling on and maybe they'd
gone to the theater That led to our
talking about plays; that led to an in
splration Of genius and asked him If
he'd seen Chinatown; that led to my
invitation and-the rest you know"
"Bllly. you are positively the clever
est man I know!''
"Didn't think I'd grow up like that,
did you? And that's not all. AS for
the pretty daughter-your little Claire
that you think so much of-don't faint
now-well. she's in it up to the neck
and over her ears. She's his accom-
plice. all right. Here's her cable mes
sage" He drew out a bit of paper
on which he'd copied 1t and read:
Born a girl. Mother and child do
Ing we'll. CLAIRE"
But this is-this isn't" stam-
mered.
-Quite So" agreed Billy. 1T is and
1t isn't! 1t is a code. 1t isn't q piece
Of insanity. I've read it-or think
have. Listen now: 'Born'-the pre-
clous thing that was expected has
come to pass successfully; that Is, the