Cheyenne record., 1920-06-17
CHAPTER xvi.-ce.s,a.sA.

CHAPTER xvli-ceaEiassA
80 is--.-. T.. i. 7
Madame, II sozs dianoeds ere not
In my possession In two ho1rs from
now. Monsieur Eugene VIII b arrest
ID and 60 to prison. and his say xere
win not be short. for ask to have bail
-as 70 crime u . great one-dxed at
one hundred sousand dollars and his
mu0sr IL unable to give It. Madame.
Il you are her friend. you can save her
now. I give you two hours In which
70 bring me zoze diamonds"
And the diamonds lay on my table
beside himl I had only to reach out
my hand and say. "Hsre." and the mat
ter was settled. Yet something in me
kept saying. "No = NO - no = you
mustn't"
said nothing and monsieur repeat
ed. "f In two hours xoxe diamonds are
not In my hands I will have her son ar
rested" and sat there looking at the
box and thinking that In two seconds
If 20 willed 1.-THE diamonds would
be in his handsi
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
tims-we'd not, the three Of rs. give
up without Q struggle.
''WelT he asked.
but just what do you wish me to
dof" asked. finding my tongue again.
Il don't seem to be clear on Il"
II have been telling you." he showed
dgns Of impatisnce. II wish you to
call upon her immediately-shs IL at
home, for my daughter IN wis her"
he smiled at that, remembering how
he'd used Claire to checkmate Billy
and me the night before. Repeat sis
interview xat you have wis Neon
vince her Eat am ready to have her
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 sis wis her. she
does one Of two sings: II she have al
ready confesa to- you she have re dia-
monds, she release you instantly from
- obligation to keep her secret; and
II she have not already confessed all
to you, she does so-she is obliged to
do % to protect herself-to ask ad-
vice Of q friend who comes to warn
As{; =; ,s,. tim. ! 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 I
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 stuckl
What did I mean to dof-tell him
I'd got And If I 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. Ny
counter-move! drew 1t from the en-
velope and with It I made q fresh
start in conversation.
II appreciate 1t 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 e6pla-
nation Of this note"
put 1t 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
notef know nossing Of Ella note"
And he read aloud" 'Mademoiselle
Claire de Ravsnol has disappeared =
Ny daughter has not disappcared-ex-
espt 50 far she has disappeared lis
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-
plics; but went on: the man who
sent this up-and whom saw
claimed to be detective In your en-
ploy."
Monsieur gave q start. "A detec-
tve-in my smploy-looks for my
daughtsrl Impossiblel When do you
receive xis notef'
about two hours agoi"
"A detective-two hours ago tells
you I employ him to seek for my
daushtsrl What does It meanf
have employ NO one to seek for my
daushter-no one. He tells you an un-
truse. What have you sought u his
object to tell you sat he seeks my
daughterr
Il thought Il was . plot against
her"
"A plot against Clairei Mon Dieu
25a am mot nrepare for"