The Jasper news., 1920-02-12
But at what time did

"Ah, that Is tha Question--whenf
he cried, giving tragic--or what he
meant to be tragIc--gesture to show
how utterly the girl had vanished.
And he stopped to consider what he
should tell me next, and 1, seeing no
chance to catch a clue fol- myself.
added, "If you are simply free-l0ncing
In the case | should not feel justified
In discussing her with you-but II
her father is employing you-if It ls
he who has put the case In your
hnnds-that is a different matter, and
see no objection to telling you all
l know"
He took the bait, nook and sinker
at is her father who has placed the
matter In my hands," he replied con-
vincingly; and at the same time he.
gave The door q shove as II to say,
"Now you must let me in !" and drop.
ping his voice to whisper: "You will
understand also why the greatest Sc
crecy must be maintained !"
"Oh. of course. Now. when did she
dlsuppear1"
got this of In q tone to indicate
that ] was 'thawing out Not lost on
hlml He answered with quick but
vague. "ShortIy after landing"
"You don't say" exclaimed, wish
ing to seem shocked and trying to
keep back a laugh at the way he'd
given himself away. But the next mo-
ment realized that the fellow could
have no possible connection with
monsieur.
II came over me with a rush that
this was q plot against Claire herself |
Was II to kidnap her and hold her
for ransom2 Her California grand
father. now dying. was reputed many
times the millionaire. Or was this the
counterplot of some other nation
against Germany for the possession Of
Mexico1-an effort to strike at De
Ravenol. the emperor's messenger,
through his daughter and put spoke
In the treaty.
l experienced q positive shock as
this situation burst on me. l must get
rid of this detective Immediately, yet
not let him guess what was now
fairly certain of, so ! told him with
affected cordlallty, 81 see just how it
ls-and that you wish to keep this Sc
cret as long as possible. I'm sorry
but Il isn't convenient for me to re-
ceive you at this moment"
Scan you make 1t this afternoonT
he asked.
"NOt very well-unless you wish 10
meet a reporter from one OF the big
dailies." l gave him a look that said.
That's what I'm trying to avoid for
you"
He started slightly ami hastily
begged me, do not let the press get
hold of thlsi have spoken to you
In cOnfdence-I felt might trust
you."
Certainly. Tomorrow at nine will
be safe I think. Shall expect your
saw he was about TO demur at this.
but the rumbling of the elevator, COM
ing nearer and nearer, had attracted
his attention. The top of the car
showed up at our door.
"Nine," he whispered, giving me a
signal to be silent; and with that he
slipped nolselessly to the stairs-the
way he had come up-and disap'
peared.
The car door opened and Billy
jumped out. ! hastily undid the chain.
bolt and he bounded in with a "What
do you thinkf" and dragged me along
the hall, out of earshot Of the door
/ md thon oFlad In nm avoitad ,rhtc,,o.
"Your 'mOssoO' has few the COOP"
Billy flung his hat on the table and
repeated his words-"Your 'mossOo
has flew the cOop-dO you hear2" fol
| had been too astonished to say any
thing when heard them the frst
time.
"Gone-bag and baggageI EvapO
ratedl Took a carriage and told the
driver the Waldorf"
''Then he's not gone very far" | re
marked, without thinking. only L
have Billy ask scornfully:
do you suppose l haven't beer
there already2 | tell you he's lit on
for parts unknown-that's the size O.
II, and want to know what forI II,
left the hotel at seven In the morn
ing-seven, mind you. before anybod!
was ont Of bed. He hadn't registered
at the Waldorf by eleven-and b,
hasn't registered at any Of the othe
big hotels. / got a hunch he's 20
some new scheme on and there's n,
use looking for him In New York. D,
you imagine he would 60 to Washing
ton on his own hook-with his daugh
ter aud all-and lay the case befor
the PRESIDENT ! mean to lay a cas-
before the president-trust little oil