Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-03-03
CHAPTER xvI.-continusd.

thing more repeat it--and keep on re-
peatlng 1t till he goes, for l won't see
him. But, George"-this | said stern
ly-'ff you bring that man up-after
what I've said to you-you needn't
say good morning to me next Sunday"
George understood the allusion-I
always give him quarter on Sunday
morning when he brings the paper up.
He grinned and departed.
snow, what new dodge is thisT
cogitated, carrying the paper to my
study and examining IL 10 the light.
The writing was distinctly foreign
French or German in the "r's." The
'mademOiselle" also suggested for
eigner.
The bell rang. / sat down. The bell
rang again. / put my feet on a has
sock. turned up my nose slightly,
smiled and sat stiil. The door was
pounded-not furiously, but with evil
dent Northumberland the bell rang
again.
At this / thought I'd better show a
sign Of life, so went and called
through without opening.
stop that noiser commar led an
griiy. Noise stopped.
Both persons waited for the other
to say something. AS the opposite
side didn't called through again,
"Who Is III"
"Police detective"
The words were Kissed through In
a stage whisper. and l noticed for
eign accent on 'pollce" l thought i
might as well look at him. anyway
which / did through the crack without
removing the chain.bolt. saw a
rather short, very slight man-pongee
colored, TO be accurate-with an intel
llgent, honest-looking face, but very
common clothes-cheap ready-made
overcoat and hat. Yet the man had
very much Of an air about him.
"WellT said in as unwelcomlng a
tone as could.
II wished to see you about Mnde-
molselle de Ravenol--the young lady
who crossed In the steamer with you"
"Well7" said !.
she mas disappeared.
'Wellf" And this last from me left
him quite In the air, as saw by his
frown. However. he made a fresh
start:
"MndemolselIe de Ravenol crossed
In the same steamer with you about
two weeks ago, did she not?"
"She may have"
"Her name Is on the passenger list
with yours--I have the list here"--he
produced some papers. but apparently
did not find that he had the list. and
with a gesture of impatience appealed
20 met am correct, am / not-she
crossed with you on the same
steamerf"
what have l TO do with that?"
asked CURLY. wondering what he was
driving at for Of course knew Claire
hadn't disappeared since last night
and II she had he wouldn't be asking
me about the steamer. Dozens of
people crossed on the same steamer
with me"
Naturally" he admitted. trying TO
be pleasant. "But this MademoiseIle
de RavenS--she crossed in your care,
did she nOtT"
''She did not"
she did not7" he asked In a sur
pr sed sort Of way. as IL he thought !
WIS lying. Elm whose. then. may |
ask3"
merely shrugged, as though to tell
him, Find out for Yourself" Seeing
1t he did not pursue that line but
tried this; "You saw good deal of
her on the steamer, did you not
talked with her frequenuy2"
ignored this last and told him.
But have no information to give
you! Nothing at all. She did moi
come over with mel had no charge
OF her-no responsibility for her &C
tions on board the steamer, or for her
being met or not met or anything
else"
Certainly. understand" He
gave the door little push as a hint
To me. But do you not see that you
might furnish me with valuable
clue2' He gave the door harder
push. and as IL clicked on the chain
bolt he repeated. IF you allow me tC
enter that we may discuss this In pri
vate--"
l thought ! saw myself letting 6
strange man enter with all those tlia
monds loose in q box with pensi Ant
at the thought OF them | saw that thi.
might be only another plot of mon
sieur'sl
looked at him In a way that mad,
him think | was considering my re
sponsibilities and then l asked as cas-
ually as could. "But at what time dit
she disappearT"
"Ah. that Is the question-when 2
he cried. giving traglc--or what h
meant TO be traglc-gesture to shov
how utterly the girl had vanished.
And he stopped to consider what h,
should tell me next. and /. seeing n,
chance to catch clue fol- myself
added, III you are simply free-lancin,
IN the case should not feel justifle,
IN discussing her with you-but |
her father is employing you--if II 4
he who has put the case In you
haHds-that is different matter. ant
see no objection to telling you al
] Snow"
He took the bait. hook aud sinker
at is her father who has placed IN,
matter In my hands," be replied con
| vinciuclV. and M the same time n,