The Jasper news., 1920-03-11

your cooperation In recovering the
stones-particularly II we can keep
the matter quiet. You see. there is the
wife in Pittsburgh"
'Tm sorry--very sorry to hear that.
II isn't right" Mrs. Delario lnterrupt-
ed.
The Unknown shrugged. III the gen
tleman can be induced by you ladies
to make voluntary restitution the case
will be dropped. And merely for his
daughters sake"
He broke off and looked at Claire
kindly and inquiringly. took the
hint and asked:
"Will you promise me thnt II I sue
ceed in getting him to return the dia-
monds the case will be droppedT'
"Gladly. I have explicit instructions
on that head"
BILLY. you 60 after him-but don't
let him know what he's wanted for"
Five minutes later he and Billy were
In the room. When monsieur saw the
Great Unknown he almost had a nt
Of Mysteries; when Claire saw her ia
ther she did.
snow, monsieur" said I coolly. when
he had done with his Mon Dieus" and
What does zis mean7" and o few
more exclamations. "we'll help you out
Of your difficulties II you'll confess the
truth. Did you steal those diamonds
from the Pittsburgh gentlemanT'
Monsieur clasped his hands and
turned to me. ut was re impulse Of
a moment-ze temptation Of single
instant" he walled. II have regret Il
every hour-I am justly punish for my
sin. ! take zem-I know not for wat
to make sport wis fate-nnd ] sink
to hide zoze jewels, to bring zem to
America-dispose of zem In Pittsburgh
where Messing dares be said about
zem because Of re wife. ] am In one
little instant tempted and yield and
lose everysing. Mon Dieu."
asked the detective: "Are you sat
isied II he returns the diamonds
now7"
Certainly. It's all ask"
motioned to Billy and pointed to-
ward my table. "Under that sheet OF
paper" said l.
Billy produced the blue box and
placed 1t In monsleur's hand.
Mon DieuI" he calculated. But
madame, you have give me your word
Of honaire Eat you do not find zese dia-
monds in your slipper you carry of I"
"She didn't l found them" cried
Mrs. Delario. "And when you ac.
cused me of robbing Claire hadn't
the least idea you referred to these
stones and, anyway, had already
given them to my friend TO keep for
mel didn't have them In the house
the day you searched"
"And l kept thcm." remarked. with
bitter smile. ITS all I've been doing
for the last ten days"
He handed the diamonds to the Great
Unknown. Silence fell on all Of us for
a moment, in which Claire lifted her
tear-stained face from my shoulder,
her eyes encountering an ardent gaze.
"Oh, Mr.. Rivers" she cried, in an
swer to II. you've been so good to
dear papap
Billyl Mrs. Delario and had near
ly killed ourselves and Billy got the
only thanks that were worth any.
thing mot that we grudged him the
gratitude, considering; but then, you
knowi Well. such is lifei She and
looked at each other and l wInked
She winked back, and we never let out
SC much as half q smile. But two dear
young things were happy. so we let Il
go at that.
The names of the Pittsburgh mil
lionaire and his surreptitious lady
were never revealed to me, nor did tn,
detective ever tell Us his; and thougl
learned who he was, he wished to b,
known as "the Unknown" and to my
self, l always called him 'the Grea
Unknown"
The diamonds were returned an,
the case hushed up for the sake OF al
concerned; and now. but one little n
: verberation of II fingers In my life
young Mrs. Rivers permits me alon
] In the whole world to call her husban,
BILLY" without protest; 10 everybod
. else, even TO hi0 mother-ln-law, he I
] WilIiam-Wllliam Shakespeare Rivers
rising young dramatist with wha
D looks like a real future before hin
All thanks to me, Of course; and Whe
: l remind him Of 1t as a delicate hin
y for appreciation he warmly acknow
edges, Eyes. i owe all to you that
q don't owe to Claire"
g (THE END)
n -@