The Ordway new era., 1920-02-13
CHAPTER v-continued.

ChAPTEh N-(ohphucos
Haven't you some way of hiding
them7 Really don't see how 1 can
take the sponsibility-suppose I'm
robbedr -
You won't be-"
But you don't know. / may have
been followed home last night
you were not-that man was work
Ing alone"
1t was on the tip of my tongue to
tell her my real reason vas that /
didn't Ike being mixed up in a SNUG
Cling affair; but out of pity and COM
mon human decency for woman In
trouble-I refrained. and she hurried
on. "You needn't fear about losing
then-I see the word safe in yellow
letters over your head and 1 know,
absolutely-they'l be safe with you"
To me that wasn't convincing. and
I made a fast effort 10 rid myself Of
the Incubus and suggested, Your son
couldn't be find means TO hide fhemf'
-Eueenet" Her face ciouded with
fear. Il don't even know where he is
this morning-he hasn't telephoned
me, or anything, since / telephoned
him last night to hide-and every time
I think of him / get the impression of
trouble There isn't a living soul
I can appeal to now but you Oh.
piease-a day-iwo days-until / can
decide what to do. Help me now. and
I swear to you that 1 viii explain ev-
erything-"
The telephone bell suddenly rang
out from the upper hall. Her hands
flew to her heart. as they had the
night before when the house bell rang:
but without word she FASTENED up
stairs to answer the call
While she was gone / had a few min
utes to think. and I took my stand.
once for all: I'd help her through
thick and thin. I therefore slipped the
box back where I'd taken 1t from, and
was preparing to leave with II as soon
as could say goodby to her. when she
reeled into the room. looking as II
she'd had the shock Of dreadful news.
Eugene. Ny son." she gnsped. al
most with a scream. Hes been kid
naped 70 and with that she tainted
i caught her as she fell and let her
slide to the floor as gently as my
strength would allow, and I was con-
sidering whether 10 try to find the
bathroom upstairs and get some water.
or to search the lower regions for the
wild-eyed Swede and send her for the
nearest doctor, when / heard Mrs.
Delario's voice: "Save my diamonds
save my son. Go-go at onceI"
didn't go-in fact she held me SO
s.Fs
she managed to get up on the sofa,
where she released my hands. implor-
ing me TO save the diamonds.
Those men are coming" she urged.
I'm five minutes 1t may be too late
you'll be caught-I'Il lose everything
my future-Lila's future-you're safe
II you go instantly"
1t was incohcrent, but rapid; terri
bly, earnest. She gave me a feeble
push, and, hardly knowing what did.
j fed the house-for the second time
In twenty-four hours with a million
dollars worth of diamonds In my
stocking.
had dashed down the steps expect.
Ing to encounter-and escape from
pair of dark-browed villains; actu
ditS uAu tHCOuulsr u utilNtTy Doy mop
ping of his wagon, who almos,
knocked me over with his basket and
then berated me soundly for getting In
his road and not looking where was
going.
Ny humping into the grocery boy
dislocated the alarm in which / hat
left Mrs. Delario. and 1t didn't seem tt
occur to me on the return trip that
might be followed. or that I shoulC
take at least some small precaution,
to elude a possible shadow. My minC
wns SO engrossed with Mrs. Delari,
and what had happened to her son tina
really quite forgot / had the dia
monds myself / bought n bunch o
hyacinths at florists and left an or
der at the grocer's. and 1t wasn't til
I was inside my fiat that the though
really struck me. 'Tm the one who 4
in danger! have the diamonds!" an,
Il was too late for me to find out
I'd been shadowed home or not.
However. my depression was pres
emily succeeded by mood Of elation-
at Inst 1 was living thingsl / was en-
Toying the game for Its own sake. o.
with the dance, Mr.. Robbers-let's Sc
II you can get the diamonds Whic
.knu