The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-05-21
CHAPTER xvi.-continusd.


H.
"Oh. well-it doesn't matter any.
way" soothed. "Just tell him again
1m not at home, and II he says any
thing more repeat it-and keep on re-
peating it till he goes, for won't see
him. But, George"-this said stern
ly-'if 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--1
always give him a quarter on Sunday
morning when he brings the paper UP.
He grinned and departed.
Now, what new dodge is thisw I
co-ifated. carrying the paper to my
study and examining it in the light.
The writing was distinctly foreigii-
French or German in the FPS" The
''lnademoiselle" also suggested for
eiyner.
The bell rang. sat down. The bell
rang again. put my feet on has
sock. turned up my nose slightly.
smiled and sat still. The door was
p"unded-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
shreugh without opening.
stop that noise!" commanded an.
grily. Noise stopped.
Both persons waited. for the other
80 say something. AS the opposite
side didn't called through again.
+'Who is it?"
police detective"
The words were Kissed through in
eign accent on "police." thought 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-pongee
colored. to be accurate-with an intel
'igent. honest-looking 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.
II 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 me-"I am correct, am I not-she
crossed with you on the same
steamerr'
what have I to do with that?"
asked CURLY. wondering what he was
driving at /: for of course I knew Claire
hadn't disappeared since last night
and II she had he wouldn't be asking
me about the steamer. "D0zens Of
people crossed on the same steamer
with me-"
Naturally" he admitted, trying to
he pleasant. "But this Madem0iselle
de Ravenol-she crossed in your care,
did she nOt?"
"She did not"
"She did mott" he asked in a sur
prised sort of way, as If he thought
was lying. I'm whose, then, may
ask?'.
I merely shrugged, as though to tell
him. ''Find out for yourself" Seeing
1t 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 l have no information to give
you! Nothing at all. She did not
come over with mel had no charge
Ut her-no responsibility for her &C.
tiOns on board the steamer, or for her
being met or not met or anything
else"
Certainly. ] understand" He
gave the door little push as q hint
TO me. 'But do you not see that you
might furnish me with q valuable
clue" He gave the door a harder
push. and as it clicked on the chain.
holt he repeated, III you allow me to
enter that we may discuss this in pri-
vate-"
l thought I saw myself letting a
strange man enter with all those dia.
inOnds loose In box with pens! And
At the thought of them l saw that this
might be only another plot Of mon.
sieur's!
l looked at him In q way that made
him think l was considering my re.
sponsibilities. and then I asked as cas-
1ally as could. "But at what time did
she disappearT'
"Ah. that Is the question-when3 p
he cried. giving tragic-or what he
meant to be tragic-gesture to show
how utterly the girl had vanished.
And he stoned to COnai(ler what he