The Ordway new era., 1920-06-11
CHAPTER Xxx.
All Ia EXPLAINED.

All Is Explained.
The credit of Claire's discovery falls
first to her and second to me-she
found herself at my door late in the
afternoon.
"Claire!" cried, and at the same
moment she cried. "Have they arrest
ed pupa?'' und collapsed into my
arms.
'They haven't arrested him-he's
perfectly safe I assured her. LET
me take OFF your coat and then want
you to lie down at once"
"NO-l mustns stop minute-taks
me to papa"
Listen to me, Claire" expostulnt-
ed bit sternly. 81 can't take you to
your father nOw-it isn't possible"
She obeyed like the sick child she
was and then the bell rang and there
white and woebegone. Mrs. Delario
white and distracted
She's here" / whispered. pointing
in the direction of the study.
Billy stood on no ceremony-he
swept both of us aside and romped
through the hall and 1 heard one glad
cry. "Clairel" and found him on his
knees by the divan.
My only comment was maiden
auntie smile that went over his head
or under his feet, perhaps. for he
was in too lofty a state at having
found her to notice such trivial details
as that he found her. in my fiat.
later he drew me to one side while
Claire and Mrs. Deario were bubbling
together and told me: "Say-I think
I've mnde Mrs. d. understand about
those things-I simply had tot was
getting too serious for everybody. But
one funny thing-nOthing I can say
can shake her that our foreign friend
Is thlef-says she sees 1t too plain
ly and she can't be mistaken"
'I'm afraid she's right" whispered
back. 1.-The Great Unknown was here
this mOrning-he says the diamonds
belong to an American millionaire"
Things We're happening that day ex-
actly like a stOry-bOok plot-befOre
could get out another word of explana-
tiOn the bell rnng and the Great I'm
known came in! l was too much as
tonished at having him pop up in an
swer to my speaking his name to keep
him out, and he reached the room and
saw the object of his search reclining
on the divan with Mrs. DelnriO sitting
beside her.
"Well-yOu've found yourself, I see,"
he said pleasantly to Claire after nod.
ding casually to Mrs. Delario and Bill
ly. "Fve been hunting you all day and
now, II you'll be SO good as to tell me
where your father isl have business
of great importance to him."
II don't know where he Isl" Claire
cried, and then appealing to me. she
blurted out: But you do. Oh, tell him
and let him save papa"
Tableau!
The cat was out of the bag! Every
body looked at everybody and th,,
Great Unknown snapped his eyes and
said. "Ah!" staring very hard at me.
IAN accOmplice!" And he gave the
word horrid twist as he said it, and
/ felt / was proving 1t by my cheeks.
"Say-loOk here! Accomplice In
what?" Billy demanded fiercely.
"Accomplice in what? In the great
est diamond robbery of modern times"
he replied imperturbaby.
He sketched the story rapidly: An
impecuniOus Indian rajah visiting
| Paris owned the stones and through
De Itavenol. nm impecunious nobleman
and ex-diplomat who'd run through his
own money and his wife's dowry, sold
them to Pittsburgh millionaire
name not mentiOned-who Intended
them as II gift worthy himself and a
| certain lady Of the operatic stage The
stones were so badly cut that De Raw
enOl induced his friend to send them
to Antwerp for recutting by Van Rou.
ten. On the day of their return they
mysteriously disappeared. as did also
one of the rajahs retinue. who knew
about the stones and had himself
taken them to Antwerp. Suspicion
fell upon him and the case was put in
to the hands of the Great Unknown
ut is true" said Mrs. Delarlo earn
estly, "every word of 1t. see I'll
hear it, know it. We must give bacL
the diamonds at once"
Her 1--WE" gave us away completely
l saw the detectives eyes jump, but hi
said suavely, II shall be thankful fol
your cooperation in recovering tn,
stones-particularly II we can keel
the matter quiet. You see. there is tn,
wife in Pittsburgh"
I'm sorry-very sorry to hear that
1t isn't right" Mrs. Delario interrupt
ed
The Unknown shrugged. "If the gen
tleman can be induced by you ladie
to make voluntary restitution the cas-,
will be dropped. And merely for hi
daughters sake"