The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-02-26

/ Il thought 1t was plot against
her" ".'' 4
"a plot against Clalrel Mon 'Dieu
Els am not prepare for"
He was too genuinely shocked and
astonished for me to doubt his word
and went on, "Yes-and Mrs. Delario
thought so, too-and Mr.. Rivers, they
both saw the note and thought 1t was
plot against Claire. The same man
was at her house last night looking for
Claire Just after you had left to 60 to
the hotel for her. Perhaps her faint
ing here actually saved her from him."
l added, quite keen on the dramatic
side of 1T all and feeling that 1t was
an excellent counter-irrltant to dla-
mopasI
Mon Dleui What kind Of a plotf
And who-Mon Dieul"
Instantly saw my chance and used
1t: Mrs. Delarlo still had the whip
handle end of the situation; she had
his daughter in her keeping while he
Was talking about drresting her SOM
"Mrs. Delario and / both thought"
said firmly, "that there is a plot on
foot to kidnap Claire and hold her for
ransom. It could be done
He shrank as II he'd been struck
blow.
"That is what Mrs. Delario came TO
see me about this morning" / cried,
pushing my advantage as fast as |
could. "She is frightened-she be-
lieves something is going to happen
and with you in California"
II am not In California" he put in
hastily. "But 1t was necessary Eat l
make some adequate reason why !
leave my daughter wis her for day or
two-a few hours, only, ] had ex-
pected-"
-"Untii you can arrest her soni oh,
for shame, monsleurW / exclaimed
holly, with both real and assumed in
dignatlon. He tried TO excuse himself,
"But re arrest of Monsieur Eugene is
only a possibllity-in case you fail to
Impress her wis re wisdom of to re-
turn zoze diamonds Immediately; a
possibility Eat you avoid for her en-
tirely."
"Your obligations to Mrs. Delario
are now such"
"Oui-I appreciate tie situation
Is changed in an instant Of time. 4.
But zis mamie calls upon you and
he asks you some questions about my
daughter and you tell him"
HE got nothing out Of newly, of
course notl put him off till tomor-
row. wouldn't even let him in"
HE returns1 And he goes perhaps
once more to Madame Delario's and
she tells him Claire is in her house"
Monsieur bounded up at that, white
as a sheet, and l was just trying to
reassure him-telling him that Mrs.
Delarlo would guard Claire as she
would her own child-when the front
bell rang.
l made a sign to him for silence,
thinking 1t was Billy come back with
his news, but wishing to keep on the
safe side, went noisily along the hall
and opened the door crack against
the chain-bOlt to reconnoiter before
let anyone in.
1t was my unknown visitor of the
morning-the detectivel And some
how / wasn't surprised
"What, you here again?" j exclaimed
testify, and in a voice loud enough for
monsieur to hear-and / knew he was
strainlng every nerve to do 1t. too.
1t came over me in flash that now
was my chance to get 1t coming anC
going"-that, having played on hi!
fears for Claire, I'd see If could play
on his fears for himself; I'd make thu
detective talk loud enough for mon
sieur to learn something.
II am sorry to trouble you again
after what you said" the detective
apologized. "But the case is so urgen
If you will spare me ten minutes
now, 1t may save a life."
My reply was to laugh in the man
face. He drew back q step.
IF you come here Fostering me an,
/ more about anything" l retorted. "
; shall telephone for police protection.
: don't know who you are, or what yol
: are after, but l do know that whel
! you came here the first time, you toll
: me polntblank lie and that Is enoug
for me-"
he changed his tactics so suddenl
: It almost took my breath. He cam
close to the door and admitted: "Tha
is true-I did tell you a lie. 1t wa
r rendered necessary by the extrem
e difficulties of the case in hand"
8 "Well-and what was the Lief"
81 told you l was looking for tn
e daughter-knowing that you must hav
? some little interest in her and woul
: respond to my note and allow me