The Elbert County tribune., 1920-03-19
CHAPTER XII.
The CAPTURE.

least to me; but somehow the periods
when nothing happened were more
alarming than when he was boldly at
tacking. You may imagine, If you can,
what 1 went through on Saturday. My
one diversion was to rehide the dia-
monds. This time-after / had taken
them out Of the hyacinths and poked
thimble among the stems-I sealed
them In an envelope and thumb tackled
1t to the bottom of sideboard drawer.
The drawers sledded In and out on rum
ners deep enough to allow the enve-
lope to pass. All day long 1 kept think
ing. What will happen II monsieur
doesn't take the bait7" 1t seems
strange to me now. but never once
asked myself. "What will happen If he
doesf"
The last half hour before Billy came
was positively the longest in my life.
and when the bell did finally ring 1
was shot through the heart and ready
to die
1 came to life Immediately. whis-
pered through the door. who's
there?" and heard. "Ann Preswick"-
the password we'd agreed on.
'Then he hasn't killed youl" were
my first words.
''who7 Your 'mossoor No-I
killed him on the stairs last night
or pretty neari"
didn't see why Billy should bestow
the proprietorship on me-he wasn't
my "mossoo.~ as reminded Billy while
he was pulling pair of handouts out
of his overcoat pocket.
"A mere detail" he returned. He
Will be your own In an hour" He flung
of his coat. where do we hide these
togs7'
my wardrobe But he won't
come"
''Oh. yes, he will-he told me So"
thought Billy was joking and made
no reply.
"yery inter csting man." mused Billy.
Not at all the sort of person you'd
expect to find In diamond robbery.
Wonderful knowledge of European pol
itics-and American politics, too"
BILLY, what do you mean7" 1 de-
manded.
why. I took your 'mCssoo' home
to his hotel last night-and-"
you didn't" gasped.
VI eoNioC 4 uiu Nhy null Aou
don't suppose I'd go OFF and leave him
here to murder you, do your Billy
was making the most out of his story.
could see.
"But - how - did - you man.
ge-itf" 1 was still gasping.
81 didn't. He did. He wasn't going
to give himself away by going up
stairs; he said he was going down. So
we went down together, and 1 kept
talking to him. When we got to the
street we Just kept on till I'd seen
him home. We were thick as thieves
by that time. 1 invited him to see
Chinatown tonight and he accepted"
"Blllyi You never"
"Yes, I didl And it's how know
he's coming tonight-see? went
round this morning in time for the
first mail. He was waiting for 1t.
Oh. he got the letter all right And
as soon as he read 1t he came over
town tonight-he had diplomatic busi-
ness that might take him to Washing
ton-which means here. Seer
BILLY. you're the cleverest thing 1
ever sawi" / cried with real admira-
ton.
misunderstanding from you I appre-
ciate that" He said 1t in an offhand
way, but / could see he was feeling
very set up over himself. And didn't
blame him. He added, "What the
'mossoo' was really after-why he
wouldn't let me go out in the dark
alone-was to know who / was calling
on. 1 told him it was the people in
the front fiat and I couldn't get in.
told him 1t was their cousin from Bos-
ton was calling on and maybe they'd
gone to the theater. That led to our
talking about plays; that led to an in
spiration of genius and I asked him If
he'd seen Chinatown; that led to my
invitation and-the rest you know"
BILLY. you are positively the clever
est man knowF
Didn't think I'd grow up like that,
did you? And that's not all. As for
the pretty daughter-your little Claire
that you think so much of-don't faint
now-well, she's in It up to the neck
and over her ears. She's his accom-
pllce, all right. Here's her cable mes
sage" He drew out a bit Of paper
on which he'd copied it and read:
Born a girl. Mother and child do
ing well. CLAIRE"
But this is-thls isn't" I stam-
mered.
"Quite so." agreed Billy. at is and
1t isn'ti 1t is a code. 1t isn't piece |
of insanity. I've read it-or think 1
have. Listen now: Born'-the pre-
cious thing that was expected has |
come to pass successfully; that is. the
diamonds hove arrived safe and |
L