The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-05-21
1 see no objection to telling you all

l know"
He took the bait. hook and sinker
1T is her father who has placed the
matter in my hands," he replied CON
| vincingly; and ut the same time he
gave the door shove as if to say.
'NOw you must let me i'm" and drop
ping his voice to a whisper: 'You will
understand also why the greatest Sc
| crecy must he maintained:
"Oh. of course. Now, when did she
disappear?"
l got this off in a tone to indicate
that l was thawing out Not lost on
him! He answered with II quick but
vague, "Shortly after landing"
"You don't say!" I exclaimed. wish
ing to seem shocked and trying to
keep back laugh ut the way he'd
given himself away. But the next mo-
ment l realized that the fellow could
have no possible connection with
monsieur.
It came over me with rush that
this was plot against Claire herself
Was IL to kidnap her and hold her
for ransom? Her California grand
father, now dying, was reputed many
times the millionaire. Or was this the
counterpart of some other nation
against Germany for the possession Of
MexicO?-an effort to strike at De
Ravenol. the emperor's messenger,
through his daughter and put spoke
in the treaty?
I experienced positive shock as
this situation burst on me. l must get
rid of this detectiv" immediately, yet
not let him guess shat I was now
affected cordiality, II see just how it
is-and that you wish to keep this Sc.
cret as long as possible. I'm sorry
hut 1t isn't convenient for me to re-
ceive you at this moment"
'Can you make it this afternoon?"
he asked.
mot very well-unless you wish to
dailies." I gave him look that said,
"That's what I'm trying to avoid for
YOU"
He started slightly and hastily
begged me, do not let the press get
hold of this! l have spoken to you
in CONFIDENCE felt might trust
you.'
certainly. Tomorrow at nine will
be safe think. Shall l expect your
saw he was about to demur at this.
but the rumbling of the elevator. CON-
ing nearer and nearer. had attracted
his attention. The top Of the car
showed up at our door.
"Nine." he whispered. giving me q
signal to be silent; and with that he
slipped noiselessly to the stairs-the
way he had come up-and disap.
peared.
The car door opened and Billy
jumped out. hastily undid the chain
bolt and he bounded In with 4 "What
do you think?" and dragged me along
the hall. out of earshot of the door.
and then cried in an excited whisper,
"YOur 'mossoo' has few the Coop"
Billy flung his hat on the table and
repeated his words-"YOur 'lMOssOO'
has few the coOp-do you hear?" for
) had been too astonished to say any.
thing when I heard them the first
time.
"GOne-bag and baggage! Evapo.
rated! Took a carriage and told the
driver the Waldorf"
'Then he's not gone very far" re.
marked. without thinking, only to
have Billy ask scornfully:
"DO you suppose l haven't been
there already? l tell you he's lit out
for parts unknOwn-that's the size of
it. and l want to know what for! He
left the hotel at seven in the morn
ing-seven, mind you. before anybody
was out Of he'd. He hadn't registered
at the Waldorf by eleven-and he
hasn't registered at any Of the other
big hotels. got a bunch he's got
some new scheme on and there's M
use looking for him in New York. Do
you imagine he would 80 to Washing
ton on his own loOk-with his daugh-
ter and all-and lay the case before
the president? I mean to lay case
before the president-trust little old
'mOssOO' to tell only what he wants
kn0wn:"
Suppose he has !" I cried, aud then
added. ''That would be almost too
good to be true"
"Yes-I feel that way-I kinda
don't seem to feel that he did-my
hunch doesn't say he did. But say
I've been figuring 1t out coming up
ON the sub-yOur 'm0ssoO' Is laying q
new trap for you and Mrs. Delario.
He knows one Of you two women has
got the diamonds-he knows 1t in his
boots. no matter what you say-and
anyway you have. He knows you've
got 'em-that you're bound to keep
'em-and wouldn't dare sell or tell.
See? That's where he's got you; and
he knows you're both Of you shaking
in your boots"
TIN shaking. all right-Tve had
my I'LL Of diamOnds!" admitted Bit
terly.
~And thnf,a h0uv ha aroma. uo,o