Emmons County record., 1920-02-05
Jane Bunker:
oopysialn-The robbs.ltariu Co

10 Paris with you all right, and then
ran on ahead and told papa and said
how kind you'd been, and I said you
were just going to America, and he
said the governess he'd engaged had
been taken sick and couldn't go 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 a shrug as much
as to say. swell, what would youY
Claire went on, "And then papa
asked you to let me go with you, and
you-you-couldn't."
She was too exquisltely polite to re-
mind me Of that stern, uncompromis-
ing refusal.
swell, papa found Mrs. Delario, and
1t was all right"
"And now, Claire, what was pre-
cisely the plan about that little box?
What were you to do with it?"
She blushed and grew so embar-
rassed she could hardly go 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 it 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 If I couldn't get
1t into your baggage I must put it in
one Of Mrs Delario's slippers"
II remember now!" I suddenly ex-
claimed. "That time I caught you in
my cabin-at my suitcase-you were
trying to do it then?"
Tears came to her eyes.
eyes," she almost whispered. II was
going to put it in one of your Slip
pers-1 found you had pair just like
Mrs. Delario's.''
"Oh" said. And at this, mon.
sieur interposed, ut was my plan
ze slipper-if one could be found not
worn on re steamer"
Billy charged monsieur's confession
to private account that was growing
large. Personally felt I liked the
man the better for it-I read it as the
effort to shield the girl and minimize
her part in the affair. And in that
was right; Billy looked at it differ.
emily. "Conceited cuss !" he later con.
fided. "Wanted to take the whole
credit to himself"
"Oui, madame" monsieur went on,
and all the while felt, him searching
my face for sign Of what had &C.
complished with Mrs. Delario. "Nos-
sing can be safer-I argue-zan a
fancy slipper. 1t is not worn on re
steamer in re cold of winter, and mad.
anne have so assure me Eat her bag.
gage, because of her so good cousin,
is pass wisout difficulty. And who
would accuse madame of''-he gave
me knowing look and finished ambig-
uously-"of to smuggle zoze valuable
papers Eat do not concern her? All,
not would be incredible wisout to
see zem-and we have take care Eat
zey are not seen! And to accomplish
zis we have put zem where zey are al.
most but not quite seen. l. have ex.
plain all zis to Claire and she have
understand parfaitement. Out"
The smugness with which he deliv-
cred himself Of this was really anus.
ing, and couldn't help smile, which
encouraged him to add-at the same
time looking piercingly at me-with a
deprecating shrug:
'tAnd just at re moment Of beautiful
completion madame carries of one Of
zoze slippers-we know not which"
All of us laughed and the tension
that had been quite plainly felt in our
little company broke.
Claire went on to tell us how, In
Antwerp, she had occupied a room
communicating with Mrs. Delario's the
day before they sailed, and how papa
had taken Mrs. Delario out to see the
great Rubens In the cathedral and
she-Claire-pleading headache, had
remained behind and had gone through
Mrs. Delario's things so she could tell
her father what there was they could
use; had discovered the slippers and
had taken them to her room and shown
them to her father that night and he
said they "would do admirably" and
she had got them back while Mrs. Del.
ario was asleep.
But it wasn't easy to put the box
into the slipper when it came to the
point. Mrs. Delario keenly felt the
obligations Of her charge and proved
a far too devoted chaperon. At last
the chance arrived and the box was
slowed. What, then, was the poor
child's CONSERVATION to hear me twit.
ting Mrs. Delario into wearing the
slippersl
"She nearly had me then :" Claire
condded with noticeable glee at her
own ability to cope with the situation.
II got the box out just one minute be.
fore she came into our stateroom.
But this fright made me SO i'll /
couldn't stay at table that night"
! II should think So" said Billy, and
raoa . alv s'ance in my direction that