The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-06-04
CHAPTER xvlI-cont,nusd.

Madame, II zoze diamonds are no,
IN my possession In two hours from
now. Monsieur Eugene will be arrest
ed and go to prison, and his stay zere
VIII not be short, for ask to have bai
--as ze crime IS great one-fixed al
one hundred sousand dollars and his
muzzer Is unable to give It. Madame
II you are her friend, you can save hel
now. I give you two hours in which
to bring me zOze diamonds"
And the diamonds lay on my table
beside him! had only to reach out
my hand and say. Here" and the mat.
ter was settled. Yet something in me
kept saying, No no no you
mustn't"
l said nothing and monsieur repeat
ed, III In two hours zoze diamonds are
not in my hands will have her son ar
rested" and I sat there looking at the
box and thinking that In two seconds
III so willed 1.-THE diamonds would
be in his handsl
MOL dared not do It without at
least exactfng 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
<ime-we'd not, the three Of us, give
UP without struggle.
"Well?' he asked.
but just what do you wish me to
do?" I asked, finding my tongue again
Il don't seem to be clear on it."
Il have been telling you," he showed
!isns Of Impotence. Il wish you to
call upon her nmediately-she Is at
home. for my daughter is wis her"
he smiled at that, remembering how
ned used Claire to checkmate Billy
and me the night before. REPEAT zfs
Interview Eat you have wis me-con-
vince her Eat am ready to have her
son put under arrest"-he drew for
ward to the edge Of his chair and con-
timed in the tone of one addressing
a partner-"I assure you Eat when you
have communicate zis wis her, she
does one Of two sings: II she have al
ready confess to you she have ze flla.
n1onds. she release you instantly from
Re obligation to keep her secret; and
II she have not already confessed all
to you. she does so-she IL obliged to
do 90 to protect herself-to ask ad.
vice Of friend who comes to warn
her"
BY this time I 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 we'll as Mrs. Delario, and I
said smoothly:
Il 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 stuck!
What did I mean to do3-tell him
I'd go? And If did. was l to take the
diamonds or leave them behind In the
house? At that instant of INDIGESTION
and perplexity my eye lighted upon the
note sent up by my recent mysterious
caller-the supposed detective. My
connter-move! I drew It from the en-.
velope and with It made a fresh
start In conversation.
Il appreciate 1t SO much that I treat
you with corresponding confidence
ana ! ask you to explain one or two lit.
tie matters so that I may avoid any
difnculties that may arise while I'm
discussing the matter with Mrs., De.
lario."
wis pleasure-anysine-
well. this-1 should like IN expla.
nation Of this note"
put It In his hand.
He read It. frowned, turned II over
10 see II there were anything on the
other side and still frowning said, 'Zis
note7 ! know Messing of xia note"
And he read aloud" :Mademoiselle
Claire de Ravenol has disappeared =
Ny daughter has not disappc ared-ex.
,ept 10 far she has disappeared sis
morning to Madame Delario's house."
His words and manner to my mind
It once disposed Of the hypotl. esis that
he new man was monsierr's accom-.
'lice; but l went on: "The man who
'ent this up-and whom saw
to be detective In your en-
10Y" i
Monsieur gave . start. "A detec-
ive-in my employ-looks for my
laughter! Impossible! When do you
coeive xis note?"
about two hours ago!"
"a detective-two hours ago tells
'ou employ him to seek for my
laughter! What does It mean? II
ave employ no one to seek for my
aughter--no one. He tells you an UNI
ruse. What have you sought IL his {.
bject to tell you Eat he seeks my
aughterl"
Il Thought It was 4 plot against ,
err"
"A plot against Claire! Mon Dleu I
IL am not prepare for"
He was too genuinely shocked and
for me to doubt his word
nd went on. "YeS-anl Mrs. Della rio !.