The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-02-27
CHAPTER xvI.--continued.


way" soothed. "Just tell him again
I'm not at home, and If he says any
thing more repeat it-and keep on re-
peating 1t till he goes, for / won't see
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 allusion-I
always give him a quarter on Sunday
morning when he brings the paper up.
He grinned and departed.
''Now, what new dodge is thisT I
cogitated, carrying the paper to my
study and examining it In the light.
The writing was distinctly foreign
French or Germs n In the "r's." The
"mademoiselle' also suggested for
eigner.
The bell rang. sat down. The bell
rang again. 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 Northumberland the bell rang
again.
At this / thought I'd better show a
sign of life, so I went and called
through without opening.
"Stop that noisep' commanded an
grily. Noise stopped.
Both persons waited for the other
to say something. AS the opposite
side didn't / called through again,
'Who is it?"
"Police detantive"
The words were Kissed through in
a stage whisper, and 1 noticed a for
eign accent on "poIice." I fought I
might as well look at him, anyway
which I did through the crack without
removing the chain-bolt. I saw a
rather short, very slight man Apongee
colored, to be accurate-with an intel
ligent. hOnest-1ooking face, but very
common clothes-cheap ready-made
overcoat and hat. Yet the man had
very much of an air about him.
'Well?' said I in as unwelcoming a
tone as could.
81 wished to see you about Made
moiselle de Ravenol-the young lady
who crossed in the steamer with you"
"Well?" said I.
"She has disappeared"
"Well?" And this last from me left
him quite in the air, as 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"
"Her name is on the passenger list
with yours-I have the list here"-he
produced some papers, but apparently
did not find that he had the list, and
with a gesture of impotence appealed
to met am correct, am not-she
crossed with you on the same
steamer?"
what have I to do with that?" /
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 Mademoiselke
de Ravenol-she crossed in your care,
did she not?"
"She did not"
"She did not2" he asked in sur
prised sort Of way, as if he thought
was lying. "In 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 good deal of
her on the steamer, did you not
talked with her frequently"
/ ignored this last and told him,
But I 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-
lions on board the steamer, or for her
being met or not met or anything
else."
Certainly. I understand" He
gave the door little push as hint
to me. 'But do you not see that you
might furnish me with valuable
clue?" He gave the door a harder
push, and as it clicked ON the chain
bolt he repeated, eff you allow me to
enter that we may discuss this in pri-
vate--"
/ thought / saw, myself letting a
strange man enter with all those dia-
monds loose in box with pens! And
ut the thought of them I saw that this
might be only another plot of mon
sieur'sI
/ looked at him in way that made
him think l was considering my re-
spnusibilities, and then / asked as cas-
ually as I could, "But at what time did
she disappear?"
"Ah, that is the question-when? ~
he cried, giving tragic-or what he
meant to be tragic gesture to show
49,. ..44....lx- l... .r;rI h, a x-nr,irl,nd