The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-03-25

ten in this new development of at
fairs, and / told Billy the story. But
when l came to my suspicious that II
was Claire the man was after Billy
Topped down all in a heap on the
divan.
"Good Lord!' he gasped. "It might
be-" and for some minutes he sal
there, squeezing his hands and glar
ing at the floor. Suddenly Mrs. Thing
downstairs began rendering her Men
delssohn's Spring Song" of a pig or
ice. and Billy jumped up in irritation
and paced the floor. was glad OF
her performance-it was gratuitous
contribution to the safety of converse
ton in my own fiat.
'"Tell me again everything your de-
tective man said," commanded Billy
"And you're sure he's tec.?"
I'm not sure of anything" l re-
turned. II had nothing to go on but
what he said and what I guessed. He
may have been fancy burglar-a lit
erary burglar, after my last novel
such things have happened" l saw
Billy's lip curl at this frivolous sug-
gestion, but ran on. HE may be q
gentleman crOok-sOmeone on the
steamer whom / didn't know but who
noticed ! had an interest in the girl
and is using it now to get In here and
map the grounds SO he can come back
and rob and murder me-"
"Oh, don't joke" he begged discon.
solately. "This is awfully serious
Why couldn't this man--you say you
think he's foreigner-why couldn't
he be the emperor's follow-up? Now
whyY'
"He could"
"Say-that's what he is And mos
500 got wind of him last night and
scooted for the tall timbers! The en-
perOr wouldn't lust hand 'mossoo' a
box of diamonds like that and tell him
just to take 'em and present 'em with
his compliments-they don't do things
that way over here. He'd send a
second man to see that the first man
did his job according to contract. And
why isn't this the man?"
1t did look possible-though ]
couldn't still see why he had begun his
acquaintance with me-telling me lie
about Claire. While 1 was wondering
over it, Billy remarked, poor De
Ravenol has got his troubles all right.
He knows the old mans after him and
he's lost the goods. Say, you can af-
ford to pity him now"
A wave of utter despair swept over
me. ] know of nothing more unhing-
ing than the facetious nonchalance of
the young male in face of a serious sit
uation. was ready to weep. I was
saved from 1t by the ringing of the
front bell
/ put up the chain-bolt before /
opened It'll had sense enough for
that--and then / cried: "You I" and re-
ceived sharp. SSH! Let me in,
quick"
1t was Mrs. Delario. When 1 saw
her, you could have knocked me down
with a feather. I let her In and
whisked her into my bedroom and shut
the door on us. My first thought was
Billy--he had naturally looked down
the hall when went to the door
and knew he'd guess Immediately
who it was but though had told her
the part he had already played in our
adventure she hadn't met him and l
had the presence Of mind not to spring
him on her till I'd found out what she
came for. She had caught sight of
him and now spoke in whisper.
"You can't guess what's happened ~
"What next" I gasped, almost in a
whisper.
Monsieur has simply dumped Claire
back on my hands and decamped--
without word of real explanation ~
"Oh, never"
s'It's what he's donel And I'm in the
worst picket! What does it all mean
He came last evening and told me he'd
just seen you and you told him I had
the diamonds
"What a lei" I burst out involun-
tarily. M
'.And then this morning I'm
even out of bed-this comes by a mes
senger." She had drawn out letter
from her bag; she took it out Of the
envelope and handed it to me, remark
ing at the same time, There was fifty
dollars in it." The letter read:
"Dear Madame Delario:
81 was unable to return according