The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-04-15
CHAPTER xvII.-Continued.

In my possession In two hours from
now, Monsieur Eugene will be arrest
ed and go to prison, and his stay zere
will not be short, for ask to have ball
AS re crime is a great one-fixed at
one hundred sousand dollars and his
muzzer is unable to give It. Madame.
II you are her friend. you can save her
now. ] give you two hours in which
to bring me zoze diamonds"
And the diamonds lay on my table
beside him I 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
said nothing and monsieur repeat
ed, 'If In two hours zoze diamonds are
not In my hands will have her son ar
rested" and / sat there looking at the
BOX and thinking that In two seconds
If SO willed 1.-THE diamonds would
be in his hondsl
No-I dared not do IL 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.
"WellT he asked.
"But Just what do you wish me to
dor" asked. finding my tongue again.
~ don't seem to be clear on It."
II have been telling you," he showed
signs of impatience. 81 wish you to
call upon her immediately-she 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 zls
interview Eat you have wis me-con-
son put under arrest"-he drew for
ward to the edge Of his chair and con-
tinued In the tone of one addressing
partner-'T asure 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 ze dia-
mOnds, she release you instantly from
re obligation to keep her secret; and
II she have not already confessed all
to you, she does so-she is obliged to
do so to protect herself-to ask ad-
vice of a friend who comes to warn
her"
By this time I 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:
II 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 I mean to do7-tell him
I'd go? And II did, was to take the
diamonds or leave them behind In the
house? At that instant of indeclsion
and perplexity my eye lighted upon the
note sent up by my recent mysterious
caller-the supposed detective. My
counter-move drew II from the en-
velope and with It I made a fresh
start In conversation.
II appreciate 1t so much that I 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-
aario."
"Wis pleasure-anysing-"
"Well, this-I should like an expla-
nation of this note"
I put II in his hand.
He read II. frowned, turned Il over
to see IL there were anything on the
other side and still frowning said, "Zis
note? know Messing OF zis note"
And he read aloud" 'Mademoiselle
Claire de Ravenol 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 hypothesis that
the new man was monsierr's accom-
Iplice; but I went on: "The man who
sent this up-and whom I saw
claimed to be detective In your en-
ploy."
Monsieur gave start. "A detec-
tive-in my employ--looks for my
daughter! Impossible! When do you
receive zis note?"
about two hours agow
"A detective-two hours ago tells
you ] employ him to seek for my
daughter What does II mean? !
have employ no one to seek for my
daughter-no one. He tells you an un-
truse. What have you sought is his
object to tell you Eat he seeks my
daughter?"
II thought 1t 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
r.