The Jasper news., 1920-02-19
CHAPTER xVI.-contlnued.
IHnH"HnnTETE
BY JANE BUNKER
opyriSht by the BObbs-Merrill compsn,


about monsieur's claims on them and
particularly as he'd gone to her him
self: "Will you take them home with
your"
She recoiled from me. 81 can't
now--how can ~ she gasped. "Oh,
you're going to help me, aren't your
She had caught hold of me and
looked positively frightened as she
spoke, glancing over her shoulder at
the door to see that it was tight shut
and that we could not be overheard.
Il depend on you'll trust you. If
] lose those diamonds-oh, you can't
guess what | shall losel | wouldn't
lie to you'll tell you that man De
Ravenol Is thief. | get 1t clairaudi'
emily every time he comes near me.
see the word, as l told you yesterday,
over his head in white letters. My
spirit guides wouldn't give 1t to me If
IT weren't true"
There was both scorn and appeal In
her tone. l saw the moment was not
ripe for a discussion of the Tibetan
mahatma question. Nor did her re-
newed expressions of confidence in me
and her obvious need of help In the
present difficulties lessen the cOmpli-
cations that now entangled me. Be-
fore ! could think of anything suitable
to say, she burst out: you'll not de-
sert me, will you2-now that / need
you worse than ever!"
And what could say but, "No-Tll
stand by you though the heavens
fall !" and wonder what new bizarre
line Of conduct l was committing my
self tot didn't try to think, but told
her Billy was here and suggested that
she meet him-particularly since he'd
been to the hotel and was oil wrought
up over CIaire's mysterious departure.
Mrs. Delario demurred, but ! Overruled
her and presented Billy.
Bllly's relief and JOY at the redIscov-
cry of Claire were quite touchingly
amusing and he made himself corre-
spondlngly agreeable TO Claire's chap
eron. He seemed conveniently to for
get his dictum of couple of hours ago
that said chaperon was crazy. The
only point we any of us attempted to
elucidate was the new mans connec-
tlon with the case-whlch we felt was
somehow the key to mOnsleur's sudden
dlsappearance-and / was NOT little
surprised to hear Billy ask her seri-
ously: Cant you get something about
him, clairvoyantly?"
She told him she couldn't at the mo.
ment--the conditions weren't right
she was too worried-toO confused.
"Of course" he agreed. "It's like
everything else-takes your best pow
ers."
"Ah--I see you understand" she re
piled gratefully, and it seemed to mt
with a little emphasis on the 'you'
that set him apart from me; and that
have always thought, was the precise
point at which they began to draw to
gether in a friendship that made hin
her warm partisan, even against me
for the next time he saw me alone h,
told me he had decided she had bette
keep the diamonds.
"Of course" he agreed again. "Ant
can see how you couldn't feel equa
to 1t after what you've been thrOugl
this morning" This was artfully hint
ed 10 lead back to Claire.
They might have continued their iT
terchange of opinions on Claire an
her father for the next half-hour-
judging by the way they seemed to b
enjoying it-but ! brought them (
earth with the question: "How ar
we going to protect Claire from tn
new man? He's probably determine
to see her and find out somethin
about her fathers whereabouts"
"The deucei" cried Billy. "I'd fo
gotten him. Don't let him see her,
he comes back. whatever you do
This to Mrs. Delarlo. ut would b
simply too dreadful for her."
II know. Still, l can't keep her
prisoner In her room. You wouldn
suggest that, would your"
"Heavens. no" Billy raped out.
should say not Hasn't she bee
through about enough already2"
"But suppose the man has alread
traced her there and has the hou,
watched-the same as her father didj
flung in.
THAT'S one of the important thlnl
came to see you about" Mrs. d
lari6 turned to me. "If the house
watched-and l feel II is, or will
before the day Is over-Clalre Is vi
tually prisoner. | won't dare to L
hsT 70 ous alone"