Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-02-19

StuAt.
"Mademoiselle de Ravenol crossed
in the same steamer with you about
two weeks ago, did she not?"
"She may have"
"Her name is on the passenger list
with yours-I have the list here"-he
produced some papers, but apparently
did not find that he had the list, and
with a gesture Of impatience appealed
to met am correct, am I not-she
crossed with you on the same
steamer?"
"What have I to do with that?' ]
asked CURLY, wondering what he was
driving at; for of course knew Claire
hadn't disappeared since last night,
and If she had he wouldn't be asking
me about the steamer. dozens of
people crossed on the same steamer
with me-"
Naturally" he admitted, trying to
be pleasant. "But this, Mademoiselle
de Ravenol-she crossed in your care,
did she not?"
"She did not"
"She did not7" he asked in a sur
prised sort of way, as if he thought
was lying. "In whose, then, may
ask2"
I merely shrugged, as though to tell
him, 'Ffnd out for yourself" Seeing
it he did not pursue that line but
tried this: "You saw good deal of
her on the steamer, did you not
talked with her freQuently?"
| tOnnvo6 fhio Loot ona %a1A him
"But have no information to give
you! Nothing at all. She did not
come over with mel had no charge
Of her-no responsibility for her &C.
lions on board the steamer, or for her
being met or not met or anything
else.s
"Certainly. understand" He
gave the door little push as a hint
to me. "But do you not see that you
might furnish me with a valuable
clue?" He gave the door harder
push, and as 1t clicked ON the chain
bolt he repeated, IF you allow me to
enter that we may discuss this in pri-
vate-"
thought I saw myself letting a
strange man enter with all those dia.
monds loose in box with pens! And
at the thought Of them saw that this
might be only another plot Of mon
sieur's!
looked at him in way that made
him think I was considering my re-
sponsibilities, and then asked as cas-
ually as could, "But at what time did
she disappear?"
"Ah, that is the question-when?"
he cried, giving tragic-or what he
meant to be tragic-gesture to show
how utterly the girl had vanished.
And he stopped to consider what he
should tell me next, and I, seeing no
chance to catch a clue for myself,
added, IF you are simply free-lancing
in the case should not feel justified
in discussing her with you-but If
. her father is employing you-if it is
| he who has put the case in your
/ hands-that Is a different matter, and
I see no objection to telling you all
know" >.
He took the bait, hook and sinker {!
1T is her father who has placed the
matter In my hands," he replied con-
vincingly; and at the same time he
gave the door a shove as If to say,
, ''Now you must let me nj" and drop
!, ping his voice to whisper: "You will
understand also why the greatest Sc
crecy must be maintained!"
"Oh, of course. Now, when did she
disappear?"
got this off in a tone to indicate
that I was thawing out. Not lost on
him! He answered with quick but
vague, Shortly after landing"
'You don't say!" exclaimed, wish
ing to seem shocked and trying to
keep back laugh at the way he'd
given himself away. But the next mo-
ment realized that the fellow could
have no possible connection with
monsieur.
I It came over me with rush that
this was a plot against Claire herself !
l Was it to kidnap her and hold her
for ransom? Her California grand
}. father, now dying, was reputed many
times the millionaire. Or was this the
l counterpart of some other nation
against Germany for the possession Of
). Mexico?-an effort to. strike at De
Ravenol, the emperor's messenger,
through his daughter and put spoke
: in the treaty?
I experienced a positive shock as
! this situation burst on me. must get
: rid Of this detective Immediately, yet
,, NOT LOT him fvresa vh0t uaa nOxu
fairly certain Of, so I told him with
: affected cordially, II see just how it
8 is-and that you wish to keep this Sc
cret as long as possible. I'm sorry
> but it isn't convenient for me to re-
ceive you at this moment"
"Can you make it this afternoon?' p
i he asked.
mot very well-unless you wish to
meet reporter from one Of the big