The Taney County republican., 1920-03-25
trying to do 1t thenf"
Tporg I1mn IN hpr nvaq

going to put it in one of your slip
pers-I found you had a pair Just like
Mrs. DelariO's."
"Ohw I said. And at this, mon
sleur interposed, ut was my plan
re slipper-if one could be found not
worn on re steamer"
Billy charged mOnsieur's confession
to a private account that was growing
large. Personally l felt l liked the
man the better for it--l read it as the
effort to shield the girl and minimize
her part in the affair. And in that ]
was right; Billy looked at 1t differ
emily. Connected cussl" he later con.
tlded. "Wanted to take the whole
credit to himself"
"Oui, madame" monsieur went on,
and all the while | felt him searching
my face for sign Of what had ac-
complished with Mrs. DelarlO. Nos
sing can be safer-l argue-Zan q
fancy slipper. 1t Is not worn on ze
steamer in re cold Of winter, and mad
ame have 50 assure me Eat her bag.
gage, because Of her so good cousin,
is pass wisout difficulty. And who
would accuse madame Of''-he gave
me a knowing look and finished ambig-
uOuSly-"Of to Smuggle ZOZe valuable
papers Eat do not concern her? All,
not would be incredible wisout to
see zem--and we have take care zat
zey are not seen! And to accomplish
2s we have put zem where zey are al
most but not quite seen. | have eX-
plain all ziS to Claire and she haze
understand parfaitement. Out"
The smugnesS with which he deliv-
cred himself of this was really anus
ing, and couldn't help smile, which
encouraged him to add-at the same
time looking plercingly at me-with q
deprecating shrug:
"And just at re moment of beautiful
completion madame carries off one of
zoze slippers-we know not which"
All of us laughed and the tension
that had been quite plainly felt In our
little company broke.
Claire went on to tell us how, in
Antwerp, she had occupied room
communicating with Mrs Delario's the
day before they sailed, and how papa
had taken Mrs. Delario out to see the
great Rubens in the cathedral and
She-Clare-pleading headache, had
remained behind and had gone through
Mrs. Delario's things so she could tell
her father what there was they could
use; had discovered the slippers and
had taken them to her room and shown
them to her father that night and he
said they "wOuld do admirably" and
she had got them back while Mrs. Del.
ario was asleep.
But 1t wasn't easy to put the box
into the slipper when 1t came to the
point. Mrs. DelariO keenly felt the
obligations Of her charge and proved
q far too devoted chaperon. At last
the chance arrived and the box was
slowed. What, then, was the poor
childs CONSERVATION to hear me twlt.
ting Mrs. Delarlo into wearing the
slippers
"She nearly had me them Claire
confided with noticeable glee at her
own ability to cope with the situation.
II got the box out just one minute be.
fore she came into our stateroom.
But this fright made me so Ill l
couldn't stay at table that night"
II should think So" said Billy, and
gave a sly glance in my direction that
said II take back all l said about her
last night-she wasn't really In 1t at
all. It was all the old scOundrel Of q
'mOssoO.'"
Claire seemed ready to end here, but
/ wasn't ready to have her. What was
/ to tell monsieur? My turn was com.
Ing In a minute, and what was to
say? l kept on with Claire. "Then so
far as you know, the box came through
the customs house in one of those slip
pers2 And what were you to do after
thnt?"
The words were hardly out of my
mouth when the front bell rang and
George handed in telegram addressed
TO monsieur.
Monsieur tore open the yellow cnve.
lop and rapidly scanned the message;
frowned; hes!tated; started to speak
and stopped; looked at me inqulr-
ingly; asked If there wns a telegraph
office near and when | told him where
It was excused himself from our COM
pany to "send an immediate and ar.
cent reply" and instructed Claire to
answer every question I might care TO
put and with that he hurried off with
.he curt ceremony of one who expects |
o BE- back on the quarter.hour stroke.