The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-01-01

Va ihouhllys ANC tChu itOE tuihh =
have. Listen now: Born'-the pre-
clous thing that was expected has
come to pass successfully; that is. the
diamonds have arrived safe and
sound.'"
He glanced at me for approval and
then puckered up his brow while ad-
mittlng, This next-'a girp-puzxles
me bit. It's one OF three things
Just a filler, to make II read; or q code
word with an agreed meaning; or II
refers to Mrs. Delaric-that is, she
still has the diamonds--she hasn't
passed them on to some man. But
LET that 60. The next is too easy
'mother'-the owner. Of course child
the precious things; doing well'--
got through the customs without be-
Ing separated. Plain as day-and
when you and Mrs. DeIarlo stepped
out Of the cable Office your dear mos
500 stepped In and read It."
Poor little Clairei"
Poor yourselfw snorted Billy.
you don't need to waste any pain and
tears on that outfit. They're slick.
Well. let's to work--'mvssoo' Ii down
stairs anxiously waiting for you to 20
out"
How do you known"
"Shadowed him. My revolv-
ers all right2 And the red pepperT'
"Yes-but I've been thinking abOut
that pepper and how about ammonia
insteadT
"H'm-m." considered Billy. whats
the advantage%
ut wears Off quicker, and think It's
probably safer for us II he struggles
and we have TO hold him down."
Guess II is," Billy agreed. Got II
ready2"
] took him to the kitchen and showed
him half glass of household ammonia
diluted with water and covered with q
saucer. Then / hung his coat and hat
in my wardrobe. After that he. looked
at me and l looked at him-the fatal
moment had arrived.
"Well" said Billy. seemed to
know he'd say SWELL"
"WellT ! repeated after him, try.
Ing to pretend to myself I didn't know
what he meant.
Billy glanced at the clock. "Your
'mOssoo' is wondering why you don't
come. BY the way-there wasn't o
soul in the lower hall when I sneaked
in--he's sent his man OF for fear you
won't leave"
Nv knaas mara ObaLtn0 ,ndar mo
was sure Billy knew 1t, but he affect
ed not to notice. He took one OF the
revolvers and inserted a blank car,
fridge for the first shot. explaining
that we couldn't have an omelet With
out breaking eggs. was TO jump oui
Of my bedroom and fire this as soor
as monsieur reached the dining room
II calculate we'll have him now iI
about fifteen minutes" was Billy's del
icate hint to me to 60 on with my part
and with knees ready to close up IN
der me like jackknlves rang fol
George.
must say that George acquitted
himself very credltably-as a spy. In
stead Of his usual inquisitive "Goin
to be out all the eveningf" he put 4
in this way: "If somebody calls wheI
shall tell 'em you'll be homer
"Tel them ! won't be home-say In
out for the evening"" returned
promptly; and Georges face wore th'
satisfied expression of a well-earnea
fve-dOllar bill.
BY the time we reached the secont
floor Billy was ringing furiously from
the sixth-this was to get George on
of the way at once so could slip mp
stairs-and when we reached the frs
the luck that Is said to favor natural
born idiots and such turned a tricl
for me by fetching little Mrs. Thing
downstairs slithering along the hall
She darted past me into the car. al
most knocking me over In her desir
to keep George from opening the from
door for me. and she made sure o
my defeat by uttering an acid, "TNk
me up immejetly." For which ruds
ness ! have ever blessed her In tel
seconds had gone along the hall t
the front door, retraced my stepI
and-thanks to her-was gliding q
the stairs In her wake ike ghost. L
less than two minutes from the tim
she trampled me under her feet wa
safe In my own nat.
Whether Billy and l had Eve mir
utes or f1fty to walt now we did NO
know. but we took II for granted this
we should have the shortest posslbl
time In which George could deliver tn
news Of my departure "for the evs
ming" and monsieur could creep "
stairs. unseen by his all-seeing spy
We therefore took our prearrange