The Jasper news., 1920-02-05
CHAPTER xv.-contInued.

terview with me was over, and she
was not taken unawares.
The wlld-eyed Swedish maid admit
ted him, showlnN him into the recep-
tion room and asking him to wait. as
her mistress was "giving a reading"
A moment later Mrs. Delario came In
coolly and asked to be excused-she
had sitter and could not possibly see
monsieur this evening. OF course there
was no sitter In the seance room. but
a muf and a boa on the chair beside
him conveyed the impression that
there was q caller.
Monsieur played his surprise card
instantly. Saying he would detain her
but a moment he sprung 1t on her that
had told him she had the diamonds
and he had come to apologize for the
unfortunate mistake" that had been
made, and to arrange to get the stones
''as soon as convenient"
1t was bold move; but Billy and I
had taught him one thlng-everything
now depended on diplomacy, and II
she denied having the stones he could
do nothing.
1t was also a bold lie-telllng her l
had said she had told me; but he
failed to trip her even there: she says
she "knew before the words were out
OF his mouth that II was a lle-that
Tie appeared in large white letters
over his head"
you must excuse me this evening
] have a sitter In the next room," she
said quietly. and showed him she
would not talk.
"But, madame, It is necessary Eat
we make some arrangement"
But, monsieur" she returned, 81
cannot discuss the matter with you
now."
"If you will so kindly permit me to
walt" he began, using all his diplo.
macy--nnA feeling he needed 1t,
imagine
She made a move on her own ac-
count-d:awing herself up, she told
him, AFTER the way you treated me
last Monday-the accusations you
brought against me of robbing your
daughter-I positively will not talk
with you for single minute, unless
you bring her with you"
He had not expected this demand,
but he met 1t with a smile.
ut is WE'LL p he cried, determined to
humor her to the last degree. II re.
turn to re hotel and bring my daugh.
ter back wis me Immediately. We will
zen await your convenience for an in.
terview."
II shall not be through here for an
hour"
Certainly, madame-at your con
Tenience."
She saw him jump into a waiting
automobile and dash away In the di
rectlon of his hotel. II was from there
he dispatched the notes to Claire nnC
me. Hardly was he out Of sight before
she had on her wraps and whisked ou
of the house and up to me with tn,
diamonds. Not to let the elevato
boy see her she had walked up ant
down on the opposite side of the stree
until she saw someone enter and z,
in the car; then she followed ant
crept softly to the top, where she re
membered had my fat. She had lis
tened outside the door and had recog
nized both my voice and Claire's ant
hid herself on the dark stairway unit
she heard Claire and Billy leaving
With that she had slipped in, but hat
not dared to waste a minute in ex
plantations; and she was back again Il
her own house and her Swedish mai,
didn't even know that her mistres
had been out.
A crafty plan on monsleur's part
He had, by getting Billy to sscoT
Claire back, bottled up our activitie
as completely as II he had US gagge
and handcuffedi And II all fell dow
because Claire tainted and went int
Mysteries when she reached the hotel
He did not see Mrs. Delario that night
Neither did ne see me-but then
he didn't intend tol ! waited for tn
mysterious visit until half past ter
every minute feeling It more unwls
of me To see him. At that hour. usIn
its lateness as my excuse. ! locked uI
determined I'd not speak to him at al
until had had chance to talk thing
over with Billy. l went to bed bu
not to sleep. knew something NJ
fOreseen had happened - somethin
Mrs. Delario must know or Sense" O
she wouldn't have brought back IN
diamonds after the positive way r
refused them In the morning.
I kept telling myself, "Oh, well-P
know In the morning and I'll find som
way to meet II when II comes. Thing
can't be any worse" and thus fe
asleep without an inklins Of II