The Elbert County tribune., 1920-04-16
M Jane Bunker
copynsn-rhs rohhs-ha11H O

what did you have to let him
known
whether it was you or Mrs. Della
RIO
How did you manage that"
81 set my little handbag on top OF
the suitcase-thnt said the box was
there Then l drew Off my glove
that said. in slipper 1t wasn't
very hard to remember"
"And you had given the signal when
picked up the slipperT
"Yes-and / was so frightened.
didn't know but papa would be
killed"
"And you went home with Mrs.
Delario and tried to see il she had the
right slpperf
"Yes-but never found out.
She looked as If she were dying to
ask, Have you found out?"
I was so afraid she would that I
ended the cross-examination hastily by
asking her what she heard from her
mother and slgnaled Billy to chip into
the conversation and make talk as fast
as he could; and after she'd replied
about her mother-that her grandfa-
ther was still dying and her mother
dared not leave-she turned to Billy
as though she had really only just then
become aware of his presence, and
they soon were chattering away like
magpies and the bushes were mostly
on Billy's cheeks. For which he might
be forgiven. He was just twenty-five
and she was just sixteen but in three
years-dear me, what a beauty she
was going to be-what a man-killer:
/ left them to themselves, going to
my bedroom on some pretext or an
other while one quarter of an hour fol-
lowed another, and still monsieur did
not return. AT nine Claire began to
be restless; at quarter after she blurt-
ed out, 'Do you suppose anything has
happened TO papa?"
I had been supposing it for half an
hour-he'd had time TO make twenty
trips TO the telegraph office and back
but l managed to say reassuringly
"Why, what could happen?" and Billy
supported Inc with fine courageous,
Nothing could have happened-he's
a mamie knows how to take care of
look. Even at sixteen Claires looks
We're valuable-Billy wouldn't have
sold that to another fellow for ten
dollar bill.
The elevator rumbled up, and
cried, "There he isl think
George presented me with two
notes and the information that an au-
tomobile was downstairs waiting.
handed one note to Claire, tore
open the one addressed to me, and
read:
I'm sending a car for my daughter
VIII you ask Mr.. Rivers to escort her to
the hotel? 1t is necessary that say some
few words to you alone. 1 beg ;ou to
await me.
1t was signed. III. de Raveno."
1 had barely finished this when
heard Claire give cry, Mamma is
dead!" and l looked up just in time
to see her throw out her arms and
swoon away at my feet.
People faint away in this story like
the heroines OF a mid-Victorian ro-
nance, but / can't help it. Anyway,
1 warned you there was another faint
coming, which faint was. under the
circumstances natural enough.
To be exact. Claire swooned at my
feet via Billy's arms. The intention
was all on his side, however-he
caught her as she was regardlessly 60
ing and let her down. A light bur
den.
Got any smelling salts? Quick If
you have. Some water. II you haven't"
he ordered.
/ couldn't help an inward snort at
the cool way in which he took the pro-
prietorship of the situation in my
house-a snort tempered with good
natured elderly amusement at his i'm
petuosity and its justifiable cause. He
was nearly as pale as Claire and
dreadfully agitated. But l was already
running TO the bathroom for the water
to revive her. as twenty-four hours
previous I'd run for water to assuage
the ammoniacal agonies OF her dear
papa.
Billy was on his knees. From under
one protruded the note that had
caused the damage. / went down on
my knees and applied the wet towel.
Billy fished forth the note and with
out conjunction read It aloud.
Ny child: Qt was in French) Return to
the hotel Immediately. Ask Mr. Rivers to
escort you. VOTRE PERE.
Nothing very nerve-shattering and not
word about her mother; so evident
ly she'd been expecting something and
this had keeled her over on general
principles.
Billy.