The Ordway new era., 1920-05-28
CHAPTER xviI-contInued-

now. Monsieur Eugene will be arrest
ed and go to prison, and his stay zere
will not be short, for ask to have bail
AS re crime is = great one-fxed at
one aundred sousand dollars and his
II you are her friend. you cnn save her
now. give you two hours in which
to bring me zoze diamonds"
And the diamonds lay on my table
beside him! / had only to reach out
nay hand and say, Here" and the mat
ter was settled. Yet something In me
kept saying. No no = no you
mustn't"
I said nothing and monsieur repeat
ed, eff In two hours zoze diamonds are
not In my hands will have her son ar
rested" and sat there looking at the
box and thinking that in two seconds
If so willed 1.-THE diamonds would
be In his hands!
NO. dared not do It without at
least exacting some proviso that
should prevent their use In the treaty
with Mexlco-it would be treachery to
my country. cowardice. We had two
Aours-we could do something In that
time-we'd not, the three Of us. give
up without struggle.
~WeiiT' he asked.
"But Just what do you wish me to
dor I asked. finding my tongue again
II don't seem to be clear on it"
II have been telling you." he showed
signs OF impatIence. 'I wish you to
call upon her immediately-she is at
a. F1r to. -
ne smiled at that. remembering how
ned used Claire to checlimate Billy
and me the night before. Repeat zis
interview zat you have wis me-con-
vince her zat am ready to have her
son put under arrest"-he drew for
ward to the edge of his chair and con-
,tinued In the tone of one addressing
a partner-AI asure you Eat when you
have communicate zis wis her, she
does one OF two sings: II she have al
ready confess 20 you she have re dia-
monds, she release you instantly from
re obligation to keep her secret; and
tf she have not already confessed all
TO you. she does so-she is obliged to
do SO to protect herself-to ask ad-
vice Of q friend who comes to warn
her"
BY this time I had perceived that
my one feasible line Of action lay in
pretending to fall in with his plans,
thns gaining time In which to consult
BILLY as well as Mrs. Delario, and ]
said smoothly:
Il appreciate the delicacy with
which you have put the case to me
and relieved me of the necessity Of
aniking to you about my friend-I
can't tell you how appreciate 1t"
and there stuck!
What did I mean to dof-tell him
I'd got And II did. was I to take the
diamonds or leave them behind In the
house? At that instant Of indecision
and perplexity my eye lighted upon the
note sent up by my recent mysterious
cnlIer-the supposed detective. My
counter-move! / drew 1t from the en-
velope and with It made a fresh
start In conversation.
Il appreciate 1t so much that treat
you with a corresponding confidence
and ask you to explain one or two lit
tie matters so that I may avoid any
difficulties that may arise while I'm
discussing the matter with Mrs De-
lario."
"Wis pleasure-anysing-"
well, this-I should like an expla-
nation of this note"
put It In his hand.
He read It, frowned, turned It over
tn see If there were anything ON the
other side and still frowning said. "Zis
note7 know nossing of zis note"
And he read aloud" 'Mademoiselle
Claire de Ravenol has disappeared =
My daughter hns not disappcared-ex-
cept so far she has disappeared zis
aorning to Madame Delario's house."
His words and manner to my mind
Mt once disposed Of the hypothesis that
the new man was monsierr's accom-
pllce; but went on: "The man who
sent this up-and whom I saw
claimed to be a detective in your en-
p.oy."
Monsieur gave start. "a detec
tive-in my employ-looks for my
daughter! Impossible! When do you
res,,ive els note?"
About two hours agow
"a detective-two hours ago tells
you I employ him to seek for my
einughter! What does 1t mean?
nave employ no one to seek for m,
daughter-no one. He tells you an un
truse. What have you sought is hi
object to tell you Eat he seeks m!
daughterT
Il thought it was a plot agains
her"
"a plot against Claire! Mon Dieu
zts am not prepare for"
He was too genuinely shocked ant
astonished for me to dou'ot his wor'
and L went on, "Yes-and Mrs. Delari'
thought so. too-and Mr.. Rivers, the,
both saw the not.e and thought 1t wa