The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-01-22

Wen. papa came 10 zee me there.
while ] was at school. you know--and
hc brought me little box to keep for
hins-so big"
what was in that little bOxr i
questioned.
Ciaire's eyes mutely appealed to her
father.
Monsieur had evidently been watt
ing for this question and hastily In
terposed, "Ehe does not know--it was
my wish she should know nossing OF
xe contents--to zis day she does not
know" and his whole face was alled
with appeal to Billy and me.
granted the appeal with Jerk Of
my head that hoped told him. "All
right--rn keep your secret from her"
and he replied to this with. "Tres
bien," and a relieved look. But that
didn't mean was through with my
questions to Claire.
what did you think was In the
boxT l went on.
'Papers--very valuable papers"
valuable In what wayf Title deeds
to property, for instancef Or a willf
Anything Of that kindP' I wanted 10
know what sort of a yarn he'd told
her.
"Oh, no-much more valuable than
thatI A cipher on tissue paper. Papa
said his life depended on it-and the
life Of the emperor OF Russia" she
hastily added, and blushed and cnst
down her eyes.
'"Ze emperor of Germany" corrected
monsieur quietly.
"Yes-I forgot thought 1t was the
emperor Of Russia"
1T is Of no conseQuence--continue
my child, wis re narrative"
She seemed little OF the track and
/ helped her on with another question:
what were you to do with those pa
pers?"
II was to help papa get them to
America-so they wouldn't be found.
So l hid the papers while l was at
SCHOOL, wore them In a little bag
around my neck that papa bought for
me, and Il was all arranged with mad
anne that she was to bring me to Paris
when papa telegraphed. And she
couldn't you know. 80 you brought
me-"
$50 that was why you were 20
afraid Of being searched at the Gus
toms house on the frontierf"
Eyes. Papa told me they might
and II they found the papers he would
be handed over 70 the government.
But they didn't find themi' She
smiled In childish delight. II got them
to Paris with you all right, and then
I ran on ahead and told papa and said
how kind you'd been. and said you
were just going to America, and he
said the governess he'd engaged had
been taken sick and couldn't 70 to
America. but the Russian spies were
after him and he was afraid he'd be
killed, and perhaps you would take me
with you"
Billy glared at monsieur. Monsieur
answered him with shrug as much
as to say, "Well. what would your
Claire went on, "And then papa
asked you to let me go with you. and
yOu-yOu-c0uldnt
She was too exQuisitely polite to re-
mind me Of that stern. uncompromis-
ing refusal.
swell, papa found Mrs. Delario. and
It was ell right"
"And now, Claire. what was pre-
cisely the plan about that little boxf
What were you to do with itT'
She blushed and grew so embar-
-assed she could hardly 60 on, but her
father helped her by telling her, "Con-
ceal nossing, my child--you have done
only what your fazer have commanded
you to-" Thus encouraged. she con.
fessed, II was to put 1t In your slip
per-if you had one you weren't wear
ing. because you know you told papa
that your baggage wasn't examined
your cousin was an Inspector, or some
thing like that. And II couldn't get
It into- your baggage l must put II In
one Of Mrs Delario's slippers"
II remember now" / suddenly ex-
"That time / caught you In
my cabin--at my suitcase--you weno
trying to DO It thenr
Tears came to her eyes.
"Yes," she almost whispered. II was
going to put It In one Of your slip.
pers--I found You bad q pair Just IKE
Mrs. DelariO's."
'Ohp ] said. And at this. mon
sIeur interposed, 1T was ms PLAN
ze slipper-lf one could be found not
worn on ze steamer"
C1o BE coNTINUEp.J