Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-01-14
CHAPTER XII.
The CAPTURE.

when nothing happened were more
alarming than when he was boldly at
lacking. You may imagine, If you can.
what went through on Saturday My
one diversion was to rehide the Ola
monds This time-after had taken
them out of the hyscinths and poked
q thimble among the stems-l sealed
them in an envelope and thumb-tacked
Il to the bottom of a sldeboard drawer.
The drawers sledded In and out on run
ners deep enough to allow the enve-
lope to pass. All day long kept think
ing. "What will happen If monsieur
| doesn't take the baltw II seems
strange to me now, but never once
asked myself, what will happen II be
! does?"
The last half hour before Billy came
was positively the longest in my life,
and when the bell did finally ring
was shot through the heart and ready
TO die
came to life Immediately, whis-
pered through the door. "Who's
therey and heard. "Ann Preswick"--
the password we'd agreed on.
"Then he hasn't killed you'll" were
my first words.
"Who2 Your 'm0ssooT No II
killed him on the stairs last night
or pretty nearl''
didn't see why Billy should bestow
the proprietorshIp on me-he wasn't
my "mossoo." as reminded Billy while
he was pulling pair of handouts out
Of his overcOat pocket
"A mere detail" he returned. "He
viii be your own In an hour" He flung
off his coat. "Where do we hide these
togsG"
MY wardrobe. But he won't
come"
"Oh, yes. he will-he told me So"
thought Billy was joking and made
no reply.
"very interesting man" unused Billy.
"Not at all the sort Of person you'd
expect to find In diamond robbery.
Wonderful knowledge of European pol
itics-and American politics. too"
'Bllly. what do you meanT" de-
manded.
"why. took your 'mossoo' home
TO his hotel last night-and--"
"You didn't" l gasped.
"Of course / did, Why notT You
don't suppose I'd go off and leave him
here TO murder you. do your" Billy
was making the most out of his story,
| could see.
"But how did you man.
age - iti" was still gasplng.
II didn't. He did. He wasn't going
to give himself away by going up
stairs; he said he was going down. Sc
we went down together, and l kept
talking to him. When we got to the
street we Just kept on TIL I'd seer
him home. We were thick as thieves
by that time. / invited him to see
Chinatown tonight and he accepted
"Billyl You never"
"Yes. l did And It's how l know
he's coming tOnight-see7 wen
round this morning IN time for the
first mall. He was waiting for II
| Oh, he got the letter all right AnC
as soon as he read Il he came ovel
and told me he couldn't go to China
town tonlght--he had diplomatic bust
ness that might take him to Washing
| ton-whlch means here. Seer
'Bllly, you're the cleverest thing
| ever saw" ! cried with real admira
ton.
"Thanks-eoming from you l appre
ciate that" lie said IL In an offhan(
way. but l could see he was feellnl
very set up over himself And dldn'
blame him. He added. "What tn,
'mossoo' was really after-why HI
wouldn't let me so out in the darl
alone--was TO know who / was callinl
on. ] told him II was the people il
the front fiat and couldn't get in.
told him IL was their cousin from Bos
| ton was calling on and maybe they e
gone TO the theater. That led 10 oul
talking about plays; that led to an In
| SEPARATION OF genius aud asked him q
he'd seen Chinatown; that led TO mi
invitation and-the rest you know.
"Billy, you are positively the clever
est man l know ~
Didn't think I'd grow up like that
did your And that's not all. As fo
| the pretty daughter-your little Clair,
that you think so much of--don't faIn
now-well, she's In II up to the neci
and over her ears. She's his accom-
pliee, all right. Here's her cable mes
sage" He drew out bit Of papel
on which he'd copied It and read:
"Born girl. Mother and child dc
Ing well. CLAIRE"
But this is--this isn't" | STAN
mered.
"Qulte So" agreed Billy. at Is an,
It isn't II is code. II isn't a piec,
of insanity. I've read it--or think
have. Listen now 'Born'-the pre-
cious thing that was expected ha
come to pass successfully: that is. 'th
diamonds have arrived safe an,
sound.
He glanced at me for approval an,
then puckered up his brow while ad
hitting. 'srhis next-'a girl-puzzie
me 3 bit. It's one of three things
Just filler. TO make It read; or a cod
word with an agreed meaning; or /
refers TO Mrs. Delario-that is. sh
still has the diamonds-she hasn'
passed them on 20 some man. Blu
let that so. The next is too easy
1 s,antbars--thA nXrr,nr nF s.nursas tahsta