The Elbert County tribune., 1920-04-09

1
and If 1t was found on her he'd be
put to death; but If 1t was found on
you or me-all right--we couldn't ex-
plain, for we didn't know anything"
"And do you believe that?" Mrs.
Delario demanded, her face a picture
Of amaZement-at mel
With that went through the whole
story of my experiences with mon
sieur. adding no comments on her
story. but telling only his and Claire's
and the legend of the diamonds.
1t took long time-it took a long
nerve. While talked did not once
look at her-I would not witness the
defeat of her deep religious convic-
tions and the dissolution of her hopes.
1 ended apologetically. $50 you see. ac-
cording to that. the diamonds really
belong to the Emperor William" 1
could not bring myself to come out
with 1t flat-footedly and say they posi-
lively did.
"Well?"
Her tone was so peculiar that 1
looked up quickly. And her face was
a study. She was obviously puzzled.
but amaZement still held its ground
amazement at me: pity at me, too, for
my credulity. And a moment before
/ had been almost ready to shed tears
over herl
Hes cleverer than thought" she
commented. "Much. Oh, gerry much
cleverer-if he can deceive you like
that.
"And he's much more dangerous
than l thought-he must have very
powerful occult influences working
with him. or very remarkable psychics
on the earth plane who can get names
and dates, And it all shows how care
| ful I've got to be. I'm glad you
told me. see how must guard my
self"
l experienced a strong revulsion of
feeling toward her-her manner of TAX
ing what I'd told her gave me posi-
tive shock. I'd wasted both my sym
pathy and my reasoning powers on
her. And saw the Vaccinations she'd
be the center of-the wrath of the
Emperor William, that I'd been
threatened with. bounding her. perhaps
TO death. / must save her from her
own folly-I must convince her in
spite of herself and for her own good.
If didn't De Ravenol would before
he got through with her. and hated
to think what he'd do: he had too
much at stake himself to care what
happened to her.
But wait minute" 1 struck In
boldly; you're forgetting that you
wore the slippers on the steamer-that
knocks Paris: the diamonds could not
have been In the slipper when you
bought it-or while you were in Paris"
"Why, so did," she admitted. And
i thought for second that she wa
vered-that / had given her belief
serious blow. But IL I did it rebound
ed Immediately. "And that makes it
only the more wonderful!" she cried,
and repeated it with delight at the
clenching discovery. She did not no.
tice my dry and somewhat disgusteG,
at certainly does" but bubbled on:
''It only goes to show their powers
their all-seeing, all-helping powers
They made me the gift in Paris, and
then. seeing 1t might be discovered too
soon-at time the knowledge I pos
sessed such wealth and was smuggling
| it-though l didn't know / was SNUG
| Cling it-but should have felt / ought
to say something at the customs house
If had known 1t on the steamer
cut in with positive violence: "You
mean they-whoever they are-put the
box in your slipper in Paris, then took
it out on the steamer so you could
wear the slipper-and then put 1t back
after you had worn the slipper? You
mean thatT'
Certainly. Why not?" she answered
calmly.
I declare / could almost have sworn
at herl "Why not |" gasped.
"Why-notT' she repeated, looking
at me darkIy. "If they can put it
there they can take 1t out-that is
simple everyday reason. Whyl-yon
yourself gave me the proof you told
me it was once In the other slipper
the one you carried off -
In the face of such arguments, seri-
ously put. I was helpless.
III they didn't, who did?" she de-
manded. Remember - Claire never
told you she did-that's what he says
and he's consummate scoundrel,
capable of any fabrication of the truth
to gain his ends and rob a defenseless
woman"
Her question and her face both chal-
lenged me-demanded the blow direct
but ducked the issue in general pro-
test.
But really, Mrs. Delario. you know
"a million dollars worth of dia-
monds don't-just happen"
That's what makes 1t so wonderful
that n did happen-and to me Ito
humble little me. who never could have
expected It" Her eyes glowed with