Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-03-17

him. But, George"-this said stern
ly-'ff you bring that man up-after
what I've said to you-you needn't
say good morning to me next Sunday"
George understood the aIlusion-I
always give him a quarter on Sunday
morning when he brings the paper up.
He grinned and departed.
'Now, what new dodge is thisY" I
Cogitated, carrying the paper to my
study and examining it in the light.
The writing was distinctly foreign
French or German in the "r's." The
"mademOiselle" also suggested for
eigner.
The bell rang. I sat down. The bell
rang again. I put my feet on a has
sock, turned up my nose slightly,
smiled and sat still. The door was
pounded-not furiously, but with evil
dent determination-and the bell rang
again.
At this 1 thought I'd better show
sign of life, so I went and called
through without opening.
'Stop that noise !" commanded an
griIy. Noise stopped.
Both persons waited for the other
to say something. AS the opposite
side didn't I called through again,
"Who is it?"
"Police detective"
The words were Kissed through in
a stage whisper, and I noticed for
eign accent on 'police." I thought
might as we'll look at him, anyway
which I did through the crack without
removing the chain-bolt. [ saw
rather short, very slight man-pongee
colored, to be accurate-with an intel
ligent, honest-looking face, but very
common clothes-cheap ready-made
Overcoat and hat. Yet the man had
very much of an air about him.
'Wel?" said in as unwelcoming
tone as I could.
''I wished to see you about Made
moiselle de Ravenol-the young lady
who crossed in the steamer with you"
"Wen?" said I.
''She has disappeared"
"Well?" And this last from me left
him quite in the air, as I saw by his
frown. However, he made a fresh
start:
"Mademoiselle de Ravenol crossed
In the same steamer with you about
two weeks ago, did she not?"
"She may have"
"tHer name is on the passenger list
with yours-I have the list here"-he
produced some papers, but apparently
I,o ISc,t nd
with gesture of Impotence appealed
to met am correct, am I not-she
crossed with you on the same
steamer"
.What have I to do with that?" l
asked CURLY, wondering what he was
driving at; for Of course knew Claire
hadn't disappeared since last night,
and if she had he wouldn't be asking
me about the steamer. Dozens of
people crossed on the same steamer
with me-"
Naturally" he admitted, trying to
be pleasant "But this MademOiselte
de Ravenol-she crossed in your care,
did she not?'
"She did not"
"She did not?" he asked in sur
prised sort Of way, as if he thought 1
was lying. "II whose, then, may
ask?"
merely shrugged, as though to tell
him, "Find out for yourself" Seeing
it he did not pursue that line but
tried this: you saw a good deal of
her on the steamer. did you not
talked with her frequently"
ignored this last and told him,
"But 1 have no information to give
you! Nothing at all. She did not
come over with mel had no charge
Of her-no responsibility FOR her ac-
tons on board the steamer, or for her
being met or not met or anything
else"
Certainly. understand" He
gave the door a little push as a hint
to me. 'But do you not see that you
might furnish me with a valuable
clueP" He gave the door harder
push, and as it clicked on the chain
bolt he repeated. IF you allow me to
enter that we may discuss this in pri-
vate-"
l thought | saw myself letting
strange man enter with all those dia-
mouds loose in box with pens! And
at tbs thought of them saw that this
might be only another plot of mon
sieur's!
1 looked at him in way that made
him think I was considering my re-
sponsibilities. and then 1 asked as cas-
ually as could, But at what time did
she disappear?"
"Ah, that is the question-when?"
be cried, giving a tragic-or what he
meant to be tragic-gesture to show
how utterly the girl had vanished.
And he stopped to consider what he
should tell me next, and /, seeing no
rNnnc, nntch q oI,1o Cor rnuSnIf