Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-06-02
CHAPTER XVIII.
Monsieur Explains.


From considerable experience with
the Latin temperament, / long ago
came to the conclusion that 1t works
in a mysterious way its wonders to
perform - and certainly its emotional
reactions are so much more histrionic
than one is accustomed to in Anglo
Saxon life that / was not completely
unhnged when monsieur collapsed in
chair and buried his face in his
hands and began to sob. Even then l
had sneaking suspicion that he was
not without an eye to the main chance
IN its dramatic effect on me; his fate
was i'll my hands and he had to make
every appeal that would work.
said, SSH" and tiptoed back along
the hall, threw open the front door as
wide as l could get it on the chain-bolt
and peeped out to see if the detective
had returned and was eavesdropping.
But though thought l heard a slight
shutting noise on the stairs, l could
see nothing and did not dare to inves-
tigate more intimately and went back
to my study with another "Ssh" to
monsieur, who by this time was alive
again to the case.
at was you he was after-didn't
you hear what he said?"
"Oui-I hear everysing-and it is
my little Claire" He buried his face
in his hands and his shoulders heaved
as If he were weeping.
didn't relish this sort Of scene
with him, and besides, time was press
ing-if this man were trying to find
Claire and kidnap her, something had
to be done Immediately.
do you sink Eat man suspects / am
here" asked monsieur, suddenly look
ing up.
"No-I don't see how he can. But l
think he's trying to find out where you
are"
"Ouii And why does he seek me?
Only Eat he knows If / have my daugh.
ter still wis me-and can protect her
from zoze who have already seek to
steal her from me once before"
"Ohl Then you know who this is?'
II do not see him, but sink to rec.
ognize his voice. 1t is plot against
us-it is a plot on re part of France
to prevent re treaty wis Mexico. Out
Mon Dieu- 1t has in some way be.
come known Eat / am re secret mes
senger of re emperor and spies are
sent out to follow me and if not to kill
me, at least to keep me from going to
Mexico until it is too later
Monsieur put the case tersely. And
tragically.
"And do you not see re plot?" he
cried. "Zey accuse me of some crime
-zey have me puS under arrest and
while am in prison zey get my little
Claire"
But what crime, monsieur? You
have not done anything on this side OF
the water have you, that any one car
get hold off,"
bah! I do nossingl ley bring
forged papers from France-perhaps
zey extradite me before can even say
farewell to my child"
But haven't you got some proofs or
your side?" l ventared. "You can make
it evident to the court"
| "TO-ze-cOurtl he fairly Missed
the words at me- "Mon Dieu-what is
1t you say? Re messenger of re EN-
peror under arrest in American" He
drew out his handkerchief aud wiped
his brow. What does it matter If
| prove Zis or zat--I am under arrest
she is left at re mercy of zoZe seoun
drelS! could kill gem with my naked
hands,"
why not let Mrs. Delario take hel
Immediately to Californian was the
bright suggestion from me.
He met it with scorn. How far doe:
madame get wis her? To ChicagoG To
Pittsburgh? Probably she does no
even leave New York. She gets int
a sleeping-car, and a man-two men
q man and woman, perhaps-step vi
to her and say. You are kidnapping "a
young girl-you are under arrest
come wis us Immediately And Ma
dame Delario-what does she dor Sh'
goes wis zem-naturally: she dare'
not do uzzerwise. She gets in car
rage wis zoze strange people ana re!
take her where zey please-she ane
a young girl can do Messing. lido no
need to be sold how easy II isl nav
| experience In zoze sings--I know nov
easy It win be, even in your boastet
New York and your America be
cause I know re people 1 have to dea
/ wis"
realized that that was the way h
had fixed il for me--the time he sen
me the deeoy telegram-but I did no
remind him of it. Instead, I admit
ted:
"Yes-I see. it could be done. !
wouldn't be safe"