The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-02-06

you or me--ail right--we couldn't ex-
plain, for we didn't know anything"
aAnd do you believe that?' Mrs.
Delari0 demanded, her face picture
of amazement--at mel
With that went through the whole
story Of my experiences with mon
sIeur, adding no comments on her
story, but telling only his and Claire's
land the legend of the diamonds.
It took long time-it took long
nerve. While / talked / did not once
look at her--I would not witness the
defeat of her deep religious convic-
lions and the dissolution of her hopes.
/ ended apologetically, $50 you see. ac-
cordlng to that. the diamonds really
belong to the Emperor William"
could not bring myself to come out
with It flat-footedly and say they posi-
lively did.
"Well?"
Her tone was so peculiar that |
looked up quickly. And her face was
study. She was obviously puzzled,
but amazement still held Its ground
amazement at me; pity at me, too, for
my credulity. And a moment before
l had been almost ready to shed tears
over herl
Hes cleverer than thought" she
commented. much. Oh, very much
cleverer--if he can deceive you like
that,
"And he's much more dangerous
than thought--he must have very
powerful occult influences working
with him, or very remarkable psychics
on the earth plane who can get names
and dates. And 1t all shows how care
full I've got to be. -. I'm glad you
told me. see how must guard my
self"
experienced strong revulsion Of
feeling toward her--her manner of TAX
ing what I'd told her gave me posi-
| tive shock. I'd wasted both my SYM
patty and my reasoning powers on
her. And saw the Vaccinations she'd
be the center of--the wrath Of the
Emperor William, that I'd been
threatened with, bounding her. perhaps
TO death. ! must save her from her
own folly--I must convince her in
spite of herself and for her own good.
1 II ! didn't De Ravenol would before
he got through with her, and hated
to think what he'd do: he had too
/ much at stake himself to care what
happened to her.
"But wait minute" / struck in
boldly; you're forgetting that you
wore the slippers on the steamer--that
knocks Paris: the diamonds could not
have been In the slipper when you
bought it--or while you were in Paris"
"Why, so did," she admitted. And
thought for second that she wa
vered--that / had given her belief a
serious blow. But IL / did it rebound
ed Immediately. "And that makes ii
only the more wonderful she cried
and repeated it with delight at the
clenching discovery, She did not no.
tice my dry and somewhat disguised
sit certainly Does" but dubbed on
sit only goes to show their powers
their all-seeing, all-helping powers
They made me the gift in Paris, anC
then, seeing 1t might be discovered toe
soon--at a time the knowledge / pos
sessed such wealth and was smuggling
it-though l didn't know was SNUG
Cling it-but should have felt / ough
to say something at the customs hous,
If l had known 1t on the steamer"
Lieut. In with positive violence: "Yo,
mean they--whoever they are-put tn,
box in your slipper in Paris, then tool
1t out on the steamer so you coul,
wear the slipper-and then put 1t bacl
after you had worn the slipper? Yol
, mean thatf
Certainly. Why not2" she answere,
calmly.
! declare could almost have sworl
, at her "Why not" | gasped.
Why--notT she repeated, lookin
at me darkly. IF they can put /
there they can take it out--that /
simple everyday reason. Why l-yor
yourself gave me the roofl-you toll
me 1t was once in the other slipper
the one you carried OIL"
In the face of such arguments, SER
ously put, was helpless.
IF they didn't, who didf" she dc
manded. Remember - Claire neve
told you she did-that's what he says
and he's consummate scoundre
capable Of any fabrication Of the trut
TO gain his ends and rob defenseles
, woman"
!, Her question and her face both cha
d lenged me-demanded the blow direct
: but ! dueked the issue in general prt
y test.
e but really, Mrs. Deiario, you kno,
n IA million dollars worth of dI,
L monds don't-just happen"
r That's what makes 1t so wonderf,
e that 1t did happen---and to me!-t
It humble little me. who never could hay
expected It." Her eyes glowed wit
II mystic fire.
ITO suspect would have been /
- doubt Gods proyidence-his nron