The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-03-26
CHAPTER Xxx.
All Is Explained.

found herself at my door late in the
afternoon.
"ClaireI' / cried, and at the same
moment she cried, Have they arrest
ed papa?" and collapsed into my
arms.
"They haven't arrested him-he's
perfectly safe,' / assured her. Let
me take off your coat and then / want
you to lie down at once"
Mo- mustn't stop minute-take
me to papa
Listen to me, Claire" l expostulat-
ed bit sternly. II can't take you to
your father now-it isn't possible"
She obeyed like the sick child she
was and then the bell rang and there
stood Billy and Mrs. Delario-Billy
white and woebegone. Mrs. Delario
white and distracted.
"She's here" whispered, pointing
in the direction of the study.
Billy stood on no ceremony-he
swept both of us aside and romped
through the hall and | heard one glad
cry, "Claire!' and found him on his
knees by the divan.
My only comment was q maiden
auntfe smile that went over his head
or under his feet, perhaps, for he
was in too. lofty a state at having
found her to notice such trivial details
as that he found her. In my fiat.
Later he drew me to one side while
fIaf ira nd noIa ,.J<~
together and told me: SAY think
I've made Mrs. d. understand about
those things-I simply had tot was
getting too serious for everybody. But
one funny thing nothing can say
can shake her that our foreign friend
is a thief-says she sees it too plain
ly and she can't be mistaken"
I'm afraid she's right" whispered
back. "The Great Unknown was here
this morning-he says the diamonds
belong to an American millionaire"
Things We're happening that day ex-
actly like a story-book plot-before l
could get out another word of explana-
ton the bell rang and the Great I'm
known came in! / was too much as
tonished at having him pop up in an
swer to my speaking his name to keep
him out, and he reached the room and
saw the object of his search reclining
on the divan with Mrs. Delario sitting
beside her.
"Well-you've found yourself, 1 see"
he said pleasantly to Claire after nod
ding casually to Mrs. Delario and Bill
~. I've been hunting you all day and
now, If you'll be so good as to tell me
where your father isl have business
of great Importance to him"
II don't know where he isF' Claire
cried, and then appealing to me, she
blurted out: But you do. Oh, tell him
and let him save papa"
Tableau!
The cat was out of the bag! Every
body looked at everybody and the
Great Unknown snapped his eyes and
/. said, "Ah! staring very hard at me.
AN accomplicer And he gave the
word horrid twist as he said it, and
! felt was proving it by my cheeks.
"Say-look herel Accomplish in
what?' Billy demanded fiereely.
Accomplish in what? In the great
est diamond robbery Of modern times,'
he replied imperturbably.
He sketched the story rapidly: An
impecunious Indian rajah visiting
Paris owned the stones and through
De Ravenol, an impecunious nobIeman
and ex-diplomat who'd run through his
own money and his wife's dowry, sold
them to Pittsburgh millionaire
name not mentioned--who intended
them as gift worthy himself and a
certain lady of the operate stage. The
stones We're so badly cut that De Raw
enol induced his friend to send them
to Antwerp for recruiting by Van Rou-
ten. On the day of their return they
mysteriously disappeared, as did also
one of the rajah's retinue, who knew
about the stones and had himself
taken them to Antwerp. Suspicion
fell upon him and the case was put in
to the hands Of the Great Unknown.
IT is true" said Mrs. pe!ario earn
estly, every word of it. / see i'll
hear it'll know It. We must give back
the diamonds at once"
Her eve" gave us away completely |!
/ saw the detectives eyes jump but he
said suavely, Il shall be thankful for
your cooperation in recovering the
stones particularly If we can keep
the matter quiet. You see. there is the
wife In Pittsburgh"
I'm sorry-very sorry to hear that.
It isn't right" Mrs. Delario interrupt
ed.
The Unknown shrugged. "If the gem
tleman can be induced by you ladies'
TO make voluntary restitution the case
win be dropped. And merely for his
daughters sak@-~@