The Elbert County tribune., 1920-02-06

case"
of what are you sinking?"
T-yes. certainly" replied firmly,
following up my advantage; for he
had given 1t away TO me that he didn't
wish the customs house to know about
this little smuggling of ClaIre's. "Since
you have seen fit to accuse me of a
robbery 1 know nothing about, shall
I must-do all 1 can to help Claire
get her Jewels back in order to prove
my own innocence. 1 will go to the
customs house and report the whole
matter tomorrow morning."
"You will do nossing of re sort I" He
fairly hissed the words at me. 'sYou
viii tell nobody Eat re Jewels have
been stolen-nobody. And you will
give me your promise before you leave
zis room"
He turned scarlet. and then deathly
white, but he got control of himself
Immediately.
So that was the way the wind blew
My shot had carried home-I felt
had him, good deal worse than he
had me. / gave him another dose of
the same ammunition-"I certainly
shall-there's nothing else to do. Now,
| then, what were the Jewels Claire was
smuggling iR?"
He kept back retort by biting his
lip and glared at me.
What were the jewels?" repeated
"You must at least tell me that-since
you accuse me of taking them. What
were they? 1 know absolutely nothing
about them. You may believe me or
not as you choose, but it's your own
loss If you don't"
My words seemed to shake his con-
viction for moment-but only for a
moment; what he said next left me no
| doubt as to the gravity of my situation
in the matter.
"And now, madame, we lay all sub
terfuges and evasions to re side Zera
are but two persons who could have re
jewels of my daughter-yourself and
Madame Delario. / have already ques-
toned her. fully--to be quite frank-I
have search re house-yyis her permis-
sion have also search her person by
means of woman detectlve-and she
has convinced me zat she has not re
jewels of my daughter"
"Neither have l." snapped.
He went on as If 1 hadn't spoken.
my evidence is positive, and wis
Madame Delarios denial of all knowl-
edge-her wish Eat / send for you and
give you re opportunity to explain"
"Where is Mrs. Delario-Iet me see
her Immediately" I broke in. 'Do
you mean to say she accuses me of
robbing your child?"
Il do not say she precisely accuses
but she has seen you-and Claire
has seen you-wis re package contain
ing ze Jewels In your hand"
/ burst out hotly. "That's a lie
every word of itl never touched her
jewelry-or the package containing
her jewelry. Never"
He flushed deep red at the insult,
but he was making every effort to con-
troll himself-seelng how enraged I
was, he probably thought I'd use my
hatpin on him next-and I whipped
him on, feeling that I had the upper
hand.
Eyes, monsleur-I shall make you
take this case to court" / went on
rapidly. "After chat I shall sue you
for false arrest-and Imprisonment, If
I'm imprisoned. But meanwhile, I
shall Immediately set the customs
house officials on the hunt for your
daughters jewels and find out wheth-
er they were actually brought into
America or not. If the jewels are in
the least yaluable-as you seem to be
trying to make out-there1I be quite
neat little duty to pay, provided
they're not confscated outright
which is more than likely. Monsieur,
you have overlooked the fact that 1
asked Claire-and 1 heard Mrs. De
lario ask her-if she had anything to
declare and she told me she had not.
SO shall be a witness in the govern
ments case against you"