The Ordway new era., 1920-05-14
see no objection to telling you all

He took the bait. hook and sinker!
.Tt is her father who has placed the
matter in my hands," he replied con-
vincingly; and at the same time he
gave the door a shove as IL to say.
Now you must let me I" and drop
ping his voice to whisper: "You will
understand also why the greatest Sc
crecy must be maintained !"
"Oh, of course. Now. when did she
disappear|
l got this Off in tone to Indicate
that l was thawing out. Not lost on
himl He answered with quick but
vague, shortly after landing"
"You don't sayl" 1 exclaimed. wish
ing to seem shocked and trying to
keep back laugh at the way he'd
given himself away. But the next mo-
ment l realized that the fellow cOnld
have no possible connection with
monsieur.
1t came over me with n rush that
this was plot against Claire herself
Was 1t to kidnap her and hold her
for ransom? Her California grand
father, now dying. was reputed many
times the millionaire. Or was this the
counterplot 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 detective Immediately. yet
not let him guess what l was now
fairly certain of. so l told him with
affected cordiality, 81 see just how 1t
is-and that you wish to keep this Sc
cret as long as possible. I'm sorry
but it isn't convenient for me to re-
celve you at this moment"
"Can you make 1t this afternoonT'
he asked.
mot very weIl-unless you wish to
meet a reporter from one of the big
dailies." l gave him look that said,
"Thnts what I'm trying to avoid for
you"
He started slightly and hastily
begged me. do not let the press get
hold of this! I have spoken to you
in confidence-I felt 1 might trust
YOU"
"Certalnly. Tomorrow at nine will
be safe think. Shall expect your"
saw he was about to demur at this.
but the rumbling OF the elevator, COM
ing nearer and nearer, had attracted
his attention. The top Of the car
showed up at our door.
"Nlne," he whispered. giving me
signal to be silent; and with that he
slipped noiselessly to the stairs-the
way he had come up-and disap-
penred
The car door opened and Billy
jumped out. hastily undid the chain
bolt and he bounded In with what
do you thinki" and dragged me along
the hall, out of earshot of the door,
and then cried In an excited whisper,
"Your 'mossoo' has flew the cOop!"
Billy flung his hat on the table and
repeated his words-"Your 'mossoo'
has flew the coop-do you hear?" for
I had been too astonished to say any
thing when heard them the first
time.
"Gone-bag and baggage! Evapo-
rated! Took 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 1 haven't m
there already? tell you he's Ia. out
for parts unknown-that's the size Of
1t, and want to know what for! He
LEFT the hotel at seven in the morn
ing-seven, mind you. before anybody
was out of bed. He hadn't registered
at the Waldorf by eleven-and he
hasn't registered at any of the other
big hotels. / got hunch he's got
some new scheme on and there's no
use looking for him in New York. Do
you imagine he would go to Washing
ton on his own hook-with his daugh-
ter and all-and lay the case before
the president? l mean to lay case
before the president-trust little old
'mossoo' to tell only what he wants
known!"
suppose he hasw cried. and then
I added. "That would be almost too
good to be true"
"Yes-I feel that way-I kinda
don't seem to feel that he dld-my
hunch doesn't say he did. But say
I've been figuring 1t out coming up
on the sub-your 'mossoo' Is laying u
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 'eln-that you're bound to keep
ern-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"
I'm shaking. all right I've had
my fill of diamondsW admitted bit
terly.
'And that's hOw he argues. He's