Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-01-17
CHAPTER XII.
The canture-

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 dia-
monds. THIS time-after had taken
them out of the byacinths and poked
a thimble among the stems-I sealed
them in an envelope and thumb. tackled
1t to the bottom of a sideboard drawer.
The drawers sledded in and out on run
ners deep enough to allow the enve-
lope to pass. All day long 1 kept think
ing, What will happen If monsieur
doesn't take the baitp 1t seems
strange to me now, but l never once
asked myself, "What will happen if he
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
there?" and heard, "Ann Preswick"-
the password we'd agreed on.
"Then he hasn't killed you'll" were
my first words.
"Who? Your 'mossooY No-I
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 a pair of handouts out
of his Overcoat pocket.
a. mere detail" he returned. "He
will be your own In an hour" He flung
off his coat. Where do we hide these
togs?"
MY wardrobe. But he won't
come"
"Oh, yes, he will-he told me so"
thought Billy was joking and made
no reply.
Every interesting man." unused Billy
mot at all the sort of person you'd
expect to find in a diamond robbery.
Wonderful knowledge of European pol
itics-and American politics, too"
BILLY, what do you mean?" 1 de-
handed
"Why, took your 'mossoo' home
to his he \ last highland"
"You didn't" l gasped.
"Of course did Why not? You
don't suppose I'd 60 off and leave him
here to murder you. 10 your" Billy
was making the most out of his story,
I could see.
"But - how did you man
age -lt?" 1 was still gasplng.
81 didn't. He did. He wasn't going
to give himself away by going up
stairs; he said he was going down. So
we went down together, and I kept
talking to him. When we got to the
street we just kept on till I'd seen
him home. We were thick as thieves
by that the. / invited him to see
Chinatown tonight and he accepted"
"Billy! You never"
"Yes, I did And it's how 1 know
he's conaing tonight-see? went
round this morning in time for the
first mail. He was waiting for it.
Oh, he got the letter all right And
as soon as he read it he came over
and told me he couldn't go to China
town tonight-he had diplomatic bust
ness that might take him to Washing
ton-whieh means here. Seer"
"Billy. you're the cleyerest thing !
ever sawl" l cried with real admira-
ton.
misunderstanding from you I appre-
oFa Ah,% Il 3 In,
way, but could see he was feeling
very set up over himself. And didn
blame him. He added. what the
'mossoO' was really after-why he
wouldn't let me go out in the dark
alone-was to know who l was calling
on. told him 1t was the people in
the front fat and I couldn't get in.
told him it was their cousin from Bos-
ton / was calling on and maybe they'd
gone to the theater. That led 80 our
talking about plays; that led to TN in
splratiou of genius and l asked him if
he'd seen Chinatown; that led to my
invitation and-the rest you know"
BILLY, you are positively the clever
est man / know +"
Didn't think I'd grow up like that,
did you? And that's not all. AS for
the pretty daughter-your little Claire
that you think so much of-don't faint
now-well. she's In 1t up to the neck
and over her ears. She's his accom-
plice. all right. Here's her cable mes
sage" He drew out a bit Of paper
on which he'd copied it and read:
%Born a girl. Mother and child do
Ing well. CLAIRE"
But this is-this isn't" STAN
mered.
"Quite so" agreed Billy. at Is and
It isn't! It is a code. 1t isn't a piece |
Of insanity. I've read tor think
have. Listen now: Born pre-
ciOus thing that was expected has
come to pass successfully; that IS. the
diamonds have arrived safe and |
sound"
He glanced at me for approval and |
hen puckered up his brow wfil1e ad- /
hitting, This next-'a girl'-puzzIes /