The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-04-08
CHAPTER xvII.--Continued.

now, Monsieur Eugene will be arrest
ed and go to prison, and his stay zere
will not be short, for ask 70 have bail
-as re crime is great one-tXeds at
one hundred sousand dollars and his
muzzer is unable to give it. Madame,
if you are her friend, you can save her
now. l give you two hours IN which
to bring me zoze diamonds"
And the diamonds lay on my table
beside him 1 had only to reach out
my hand and say, "Here," and the mat
ter was settled. Yet something in me
kept saying, No - no - no - you
muStn't!''
1 said nothing and monsieur repeat
ed, eff in two hours zoze diamonds are
not in my HANDS will have her son ar
rested" and I sat there looking at the
box and thinking that id two seconds
If l so willed 1.-THE diamonds would
be in his hands
No-I dared not do it without at
least exacting some proviso that
should prevent their use in the treaty
with Mexico-it would be treachery to
my country, cowardice. We. had two
,hours-we could do something in that
time-we'd not, the three. of us, give
up without struggle
"Well?" he asked
'But Just what do you wish me to
do?" asked, finding my tongue again.
81 don't seem to be clear on it."
81 have been telling you," he showed
signs of impatience. 81 wish you to
call upon her Immediately is at
home, for my daughter is wis her"
he smiled at that, remembering how
he'd used Claire to checkmate Billy
and me the night before. Repeat zis
interview Eat you have wis n1e-con-
vince her Eat am ready to have her
son put under arrest'-he drew for
ward to the edge of his chair ind con-
tinued in the tone of one addressing
a partner-"I assure you Eat when you
have communicate zis wis her, she
does one of two sings: If she have al
ready confess to you she have re dia-
monds, she release you instantly from
re obligation to keep her secret; and
if she have not already confessed all
to you, she does So-she is obliged to
do so to protect herself-to ask adj
vice of a friend who comes to warn
her"
By this time had perceived that
my one feasible line of action lay in
pretending to fall in with his plans,
thus gaining time in which to consult
Billy as well as Mrs. Delario, and
said smoothly:
81 appreciate the delicacy with
which you have put the case to me
and relieved me of the necessity of
talking to you about my friend-I
can't tell you how / appreciate it"
and there / stuck!
What did / mean to do?--tell him
I'd go? And if did, was to take the
diamonds or leave them behind in the
house? At that instant Of indecision
and perplexity my eye lighted upon the
note sent up by my recent mysterious
caller-the supposed detective. My
counter-movei ! drew it from the en-
veIope ard with it I made a fresh
start in conversation.
'''I appreciate it so much that treat
you with corresponding confidence
and / ask you to explain one or two lit
tie matters so that / may avoid any
difficulties that may arise while I'm
discussing the matter with Mrs. De-
lario." .
wis pleasure-anysing-"
"Well, this-I should like an expla-
nation of this note"
/ put it in his hand.
He read it, frowned, turned it over
to see if there were anything on the
other side and still frowning said, "Zis
note? ! know Messing of zis note"
And he read aloud" fMademoiselle
Claire de RavenoI has disappeared
My daughter has not disappcared-ex-
cept so far she has disappeared zis
morning to Madame Delario's house"
His words and manner to my mind
at once disposed of the hypotl esis that
the new man was monsierr's accom-
plice; but went on: "The man who
gent this up-and whom ] saw
claimed to be detective in your en-
ploy."
Monsieur gave a start. "a detec-
tiye-in my employ-looks for my
daughter! Impossible! When do you
receive zis note?"
"About two hours ago"
"A detectiye-two hours ago tells
you I employ him to seek for my
daughterl What does it mean? l
have employ no one to seek for my
daughter-no one. He tells you an I'M
truse. What have you sought is his
object to tell you Eat he seeks my
daughter?"
81 thought it was plot against
her."
"a plot against Claire! Mon Dieu !!
Zis / am not prepare for"
He was too genuinely shocked and
astonished for me to doubt his word
and went on, 'Yes-and Mrs. DelariO
thought so, too-and Mr.. Rivers, they
both saw the note and thought it was
a plot against Claire. The same man
was at her house last night looking for
Claire just after you had left to go to
the hotel for her. Perhaps her faint
ing here actual saved her from him, -
/ added, quite IN on the dramatic
side of it all and feeling that it was
an excellente counter-irritant to dia-
nonds.
"AIon Dieul What kind Of plot