The Elbert County tribune., 1920-01-23
CHAPTER ~.
The Wicked Flee.

nc "tCHco fiSc-
I confess 1 was frightened when
thought of the diamonds and only two
women alone In the house-appar-
ently-to guard them. but Mrs. Della
rio was terrified.
these stones"-she looked about
the room despairingly- "Where can
hide them7 And we two women alone
In the house"
Again the ring-a long, long rattle !;
whoever 1t was meant to get In. Fol-
lowed a pounding on the door.
Mrs. Delario. though deathly white.
was now composed and ready to meet
the emergency. whatever 1t was. Me-
chanically she slipped the elastic over
the box and rose.
'I'll go to the door" she decided.
''It's better to see who it is, anyway.
Perhaps it's only district messenger.
II it isn't-if 1t should be officers
they might break in the door"
And with that she whisked up her
skirt and tucked the box down into her
stocking.
I had risen and was preparing to
follow her out, feeling she might need
me, but she turned and said for me
to wait behind the door out Of sight
and listen.
She left me. 1 heard the front door
open just as the pounding began again.
She asked, "What is it?" and mans
voice answered, "Does Eugene Delario
live hereT She said he did, and de-
manded what was wanted of him. The
mans voice said, II must see him at
once"
And then, to my amaZement, heard
her tell the man, 'Tm sorry, but you
can't-tonight; he's sick in bed.''
II rather think can see him. then"
was the retort. "And will"
There followed, well, not quite a
scufiie but a very active shuffling of
feet and the man pushed his way into
the house in spite of her. pushing her
aside from the door. which he shut
with a bang and "Now. then" Sem
sations began to trickle down my
spine.
"In which room Is the young man
sick?' demanded the voice.
II tell you you can't see him-I re-
fuse to let you go upstairs. What
right have you forcing yourself into
my house this way and demanding to
see my sick SOM" she asked angrily.
''Now, lady, be reasonable and I'll
show you," he replied In a tone meant
to concillate. 1 heard a rattle of pa
per.
"a warrantl" she gasped.
"That's what" he said. want to
see my badger" There was slight
rustic as l assumed he showed 1t to
her, for she gasped, "An Officers war
rantI" and seemed to sway on the
stair.
Now, lady," he began, still concili-
atlng, you don't want to make any
more trouble for yourself than's nee
essary. 1 got to do my duty-and 1t
: ain't always pleasant-but I got to do
! 1t. 1t amt my fault If 1 got to arrest
your son-I amt doing 1t to spite you.
nor him-he didn't steal any diamonds
off me. you know"
"Steal any diamondsl" she inter-
rupted. "He never stole diamond in
his life. Never"
I fancied the man struggling as he
answered, $50 much the better for him
If he didn't steal them-Pm sure I
hope for your sake he didn't, though
Il looks bad. him trying to sell them
TO the very parties that knew all about
them"
"Oh" and could see her clinging
to the banister. She was evidently at
loss what to do.
understood in a flash what had
happened-this man or an accompIice
was the one who had followed her son
home from the Maiden lane dealers
yesterday. He evidently thought he
was making headway. for he went on.
"Now see here, lady, you take 1t
from me-the parties that are press
ing this case don't care for publicity
any more than you door your son
does. 1t would ruin him If 1t got into
the papers, to say nothing of his serv-
ing time for It"
Serving tImei My Godr broke
from her involuntarily.
"Of course he'll serve time II It's
proved on him." her visitor assured
her.
She gave a sob. was wrought up
1t was all could do to keep my place
and not join her and help defy the
man; but his next words held me lis
tenins.
IF he'll give back the stones he
showed yesterday. or tell where he's
hid them. can get this settled out OF