The Jasper news., 1920-01-15

and whiried me into the seance room
and locked the door on us before we
exchanged syllable.
We sank into chairs. felt as II
tidal wave had swept from under me
and left me not even hanging up In a
coconut tree but sitting still In peace
ful security. 1t was she who got US
down from the high peaks to the levels
where conversation can go afoot with
out falling of, Sy asking. "And how
are you-after it allf" to which re-
piled, 'But how are you-after It allf"
and we both laughed.
Her laugh died away into an lndig-
nant frown. "You never heard any
thing like It," she crieds "He came
here with q detectlve-and II wasn't
ave minutes after you got out Of the
house, Monday-and accused me-
me i-of stealing Clnire's braceletsi"
"BraceletsT I echoed.
"Yes-me."
I said "Oh," slowly. / hadn't ex-
pected she'd grind the word Jewels
quite so fine.
"DId you ever hear anything quite
1 90 OuIIukCOuOt bnC IuSnCu Ohs AZ
come here and say robbed his child
of jewelry don't believe she had
any jewelry, anyway-it was all
trumped-up story to get something out
Of me; but was 80 Indignant" and
she poured out the whole tate.
swell, It's all over" she concluded.
81 didn't care how much monsieur
searched-I knew hadn't robbed
| Claire, aAd I knew that so long as
you had my diamonds they were safe.
I didn't worry after the FIRST day
or So"
She said my diamonds" and now
had to tell herl
MRS. Delario there seems to be
a Misunderstanding about those dia.
monds." began suavely.
She gave start and asked, How,
misunderstandingf You mean they're
not worth all you said7 Weli--you
didn't tell me positively they were
worth-that." She seemed to hesitate
at "a million dollars" which 10 what
| said.
"Oh, yes--I still stick to that--that's
the worst Of It: they are worth it
that's what made them shining targets
for that thief"
thief" she cried. you say
thief tool Then he was, after ALL"
She was very much excited, and re
peated the word several times with
Eind OF Joy and ran on rapidly: IL
wouldn't tell you what thought about
him, but knew he was a thief. ]
knew 1t In Paris-I knew It In Ant
werp-it was in Antwerp-after I'd
made all the arrangements to bring
Claire over-that heard II clairaudl-
emily, DE RavenOl Is a thief knew
II herein this very rOom-the 6rst
time he came" And then she smiled
at me benlgnantly: "And thanks TO
you he didn't get my diamonds. %
we're safe--Claire's sefe-she'll never
know the truth about her father from
me.
"Claire never had any jewelry-the
whole accusation was trumped up to
get the chance to rob me. But how
under the sun did he know had those
diamondsf'
"Hs Gays he put them there-or at
, least Claire did-in your slipper"
blutted.
} Her hands few to her heart,
, 'Neverl" she cried. "Never in the
. worldi"
. "And he says they're HIS" persist
:. ed. feeling I'd got my opening at last.
! put It that way partly to dlsabuss
, her mind Of the idea that monsieur
was a thief; partly TO save her from
, the too sudden shock OF the Emperor
! William. I saw I'd have to let her
, down gradually.
They're mine." she returned vehe.
; mently. II sw0re to you they were
|, mine. swear to you again-now--
! herein the sight OF God-they are
mine. Consider" her tone was oil
appeal now, "lf they had not beer
> mlne--lf had stolen them from
: Claire-would l have shown them "a
your Would have asked you to helT
me dispose Of themT
l was forced TO admit, "No-Oi
! course not"-I had already taken thai
? Into consideration.
''Yes--I grant you that You honestly
!, believe they're yours" admitted
"But what I've got 10 know Il, how
they came to be yours"
She told me then, hesitating M
. longer, the unbelievable story-unbe
e lievable by every modern standard ant
from every scientific point OF view
!: explaining why she'd preyaricated Il