The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-02-12
CHAPTER XII.
~
The Capture.

when nothing happened were more
alarming than when he was boldly at
tacking. You may imagine, if you can,
what / went through on Saturday MY
one diversion was to rehide the dla-
monds. This time-after I had taken
them out Of the hyacinths and poked
q thimble among the stems-I sealed
them in an envelope and thumb tackled
it to the bottom of a sideboard drawer.
The drawers sledded in and out on rum
ners deep enough to allow the enve-
lope to pass. All day long kept think
ing, "What will happen if monsieur
doesn't take the bait?" 1t seems
strange to me now, but / never once
asked myself, "What will happen if he
does?"
The last half hour before Billy came
was positively the longest in my life,
and when the bell did finally ring |
was shot through the heart and ready
to die.
came to life Immediately, whis-
pered through the door, who's
there?" and heard, "Ann Preswick"
the password we'd agreed on.
~Then he hasn't killed you'll" were
my first words.
"Who? Your 'mossoo? No - ]
killed him on the stairs last night
or pretty near !"
1 didn't see why Billy should bestow
the proprietorship on me-he wasn't
my "mossoo," as reminded Billy while
he was pulling pair of handouts out
of his overcoat pocket.
ga mere detail" he returned. "He
will be your own in an hour" He flung
off his coat. where do we hide these
togs?"
'My wardrobe. -. But he won't
come"
"Oh, yes, he Willie told me so.''
thought Billy was Joking and made
no reply.
"Very interesting man. unused Billy.
mot at all the sort Of person you'd
expect to find in diamond robbery.
Wonderful knowledge of European pol
itics-and American politics, too"
"Biny, what do you mean?" I de-
manded.
"Why, 1 took your 'mossoo' home
to his hotel last night-and-"
"You didn't,' gasped.
"Cf course 1 did! Why not? You
don't suppose I'd go off and leave him
here to murder you, do you?" Billy
was making the most out of his story
1 could see.
"But - how - did you man
age it?' was still gasping.
81 didn't. He did. He wasn't going
stairs; he said he was going down. So
we went down together, and / kept
talking to him. When we got to the
street we just kept on till I'd seen
him home. We were thick as thieves
by that time. 1 invited him to see
Chinatown tonight and he accepted
BILLY! You never"
"Yes, 1 did! And it's how I know
he's coming tonight-see? l went
round this morning in time for the
first mail He was waiting for it
Oh, he got the letter all right And
as soon as he read it he came over
and told me he couldn't go to China
town tonight-he had diplomatic bust
ness that might take him to Washing
ton-which means here. See?"
BILLY, you're the cleverest thing
ever saw!'' / cried with real admira-
ton.
misunderstanding from you apprc
ciate that" He said it in an offhand
way. but I could see he was feeling
very set up over himself. And I didn't
blame him. He added, "What the
'mossoo' was really after-why he
wouldn't let me go out in the dark
alone-was to know who was calling
on. I told him it was the people in
the front fiat and Iecouldn't get in.
told him it was their cousin from Bos
ton l was calling on and maybe they'd
gone to the theater. That led to oul
talking about plays; that led to an in
spiration of genius and asked him il
he'd seen Chinatown; that led to my
invitation and-the rest you know
"Billy. you are positively the clever
est man know y
Didn't think I'd grow up like that
did you! And that's not all. AS fol
the pretty daughter-your little Claire
that you think so much of-don't faint
now-well, she's in it up to the neck
and over her ears. She's his accom-
plice, all right Here's her cable mes
sage" He drew out bit of paper
on which he'd copied It and read:
"Born a girl. Mother and child do
ing well. CLAIRE"
but this is-this isn't" l STAN
mered.
"Quite So" agreed Billy. sit is and
it isn't! 1t is code. 1t isn't piece
of insanity. I've read ft--or / think
have. Listen now: 'Born'-the pre-
cious thing that was expected has
come to pass successfully; that is, the
diamonds have arrived safe anC
sound"
He glanced at me for approval an6
then puckered up his brow while ad
hitting, "This next-'a girp-puzzles
me bit. It's one of three things
just a filler. to make it read; or a code
word with an agreed meaning; or Il
refers to Mrs. Delario-that is, she
still has the diamonds-she hasn'
Ex.ssed them on to some man. Blu
let that go. The next is too easy
'mother'-the owner, Of course; child