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

honsieur repaid Il By ignoring him
and addressing himself to me.
'If madame win permit me chair
and allow me 70 expIain--7s
We couldn't very well refuse him
that--particularly as we didn't know
what to do with him anyway--so rs
helped him TO a chair and when we'd
set him In It. took my turn to re.
mark severely: "There's not much to
explain. You were caught In the act
OF breaking and entering my fat--you
may make your explanations to the DO
lice. Wen have them here In Hve
minutes" That was tlne shot on my
part. I felt.
Monsieur's face proved It. "AIa.
daniel" he cried 40 police--noi For
your own sake-for re avoidance Of xe
scandal. Madame. you t,tally mlsun-
derstand ze SO strange situation"
ut certainly Is" commented Billy.
-'ln which I am place. But ] can
explain Extraordinarily am
here. have re absolute proof rat
madame has ze--ze jewels Of my
daughter-which do not belong to ma.
dame-in her apartment"
Billy and couldn't help smiling at
this and monsieur seemed astonished.
sneered, "IndeedT' IN the way that
always set him on edge.
"Oui-yes-madame. have "a
proof In your own words"
gave him another "Indeed7" In the
same tone. This was the moment had
been waiting for. slipped q paper
out from under a pile on the table
the carbon copy Of the decoy letter.
"Ts that itf' sweetiy asked, show
ing II to him. "Yes-l thought 30.
And In this II, too7" ! handed
him the copy of the decoy letter sup-
posed to be from Mrs. Delario to him.
self. After that said: REALLY. mon
sieur," In an amused tone. and Billy
waved his hand toward the typewriter
and Informed him blandly. Home
made cake. Written here last evening
just before | had the pleasure OF max
ing your acquaintance on the stairs.
Mailed by me after saw you to your
hotel"
The poor man. looked from one to
the other of us--and actually did feel
sorry for himi He stammered: II
cannot underestimate recognize re
writing Of Madame Delario-" He
was silent a moment and then light
seemed suddenly to break on him and
he launched an ultimatum Of ACCUSE.
tion at me: "If madame did not have
ze stones-if she has not seen re
stones-how could she refer to zemi
How could she have composed zis--to
deceive meT He nodded In a way that
said: Now answer that---if You can"
I had expected some such question
and was ready. 'That's too simple"
assured him. "You remember you
accused me Of stealing jewels from
your dau 'r therefore knew what
you wei g.tar."f
"But wOrI 'gum-drops'--it refers
most evidently to unset Jewels"
"Oh, I put that in." Billy inter
rupted. at doesn't mean anything but
what you make 1t mean. Sect" He
spoke in tone that said: you're Civ
Ing yourself away"
Monsieur ignored him and looked at
me as II expecting me to continue my
explanation.
'"The hyacinths," I went on--they
lay, dragged bunch on the fcor.
'you overlooked them In your search
II was the one thing you did not open.
that bunch. SO knew you'd remember
It when I called your attention to It.
You see. monsieur" | added, II knew
you would remember the one thing
you'd overiooked"--he bowed and
faint smile fitted across his face at
the compliment | was paying his In
teliigence-"and come back to investi-
gate--if you had the chance. gave
you line chance. that was all"
"But how do you know rat can
| come back 90 easily as zatf" he asked.
partly puzzled and partly to draw me
out.
"You had pass-key to the tiat-you
opened the door with It the other night
and I stood behind II while you were
working at the chRin-5olt. ! saw your
hand"
"And you said nossing-yOu do not
scream when you see man try to get
Into your apartment In ne middle Of ne
night" he interrupted. his tone a mix
ture Of incredulity and-I hope IN be
forgiven the apparent conceit-ad.
miration for my bravery.
"Why should say anything-oF
screamf knew you couldn't get In.
80 what was there to be scared overr'
He smiled then for the first time and
said: Madame. you are q brave