The Elbert County tribune., 1920-01-30
CHAPTER V--Continued.


s.
Haven't you some way of hiding
them? Really 1 don't see how / can
take the esponsibility-suppose I'm
robbed -
You won't be-"
But you don't know. I may have
been followed home last night"
you were not-that man was work
ing alone"
1t was on the tip of my tongue to
tell her my real reason was that 1
didn't like being mixed up In a snug
Cling affair; but out of pity--and COM
mon human decency for a woman In
trouble-I refralned, and she hurried
on. you needn't fear about losing
them-I see the word safe in yellow
letters over your head and i know,
absolutely-they'll be safe with you"
To me that wasn't convincing. and
made last effort to rid myself of
the incubus and suggested. "Your SON
couldn't he find means to hide themT'
"Eugenel" Her face clouded with
fear. 81 don't even know where he is
this morning-he hasn't telephoned
me, or anything. since l telephoned
him last night to hide-and every time
think of him get the impression of
trouble There isn't a living soul
1 can appeal to now but you. oh,
please-a day-two days-until can
decide what to do. Help me now. and
swear to you that will explain ev-
erything-"
The telephone bell suddenly rang
out from the upper hall. Her hands
flew to her heart. as they had the
night before when the house bell rang
but without n word she hastened up
stairs to answer the call.
While she was gone had few min
utes to think, and 1 took my stand,
once for all: I'd help her through
thick and thin. therefore slipped the
box back where I'd taken 1t from, and
was preparing to leave with 1t as soon
as I could say goodby to her. when she
reeled into the room, looking as If
she'd had the shock of dreadful news.
Eugene. My son !" she gasped, al
most with a scream. Hes been kid
naped !" and with that she tainted.
i caught her as she fell and let her
slide to the floor as gently as my
strength would allow. and 1 was con-
sidering whether to try to find the
bathroom upstairs and get some water,
or to search the lower regions for the
wild-eyed Swede and send her for the
nearest doctor. when 1 heard Mrs.
Delario's voice: "Save my diamonds
save my son. Go-go at once"
I didn't go-in fact she held me so
couldn't-and somehow, between us,
she managed to get up on the sofa,
where she released my hands. implor-
ing me to save the diamonds.
Those men are coming" she urged.
"In five minutes 1t may be too late
you'll be caught-Fll lose everything
my future-Lila's future-you're safe
II you go instantly"
1t was incoherent, but rapid; terri
bly, earnest. She gave me a feeble
push. and. hardly knowing what 1 did.
] fed the house-for the second time
in twenty-four hours with a million
stocking.
had dashed down the steps expect
ing to encounter-and escape from
pair OF dark-browed villains; / actu-
ally did encounter a delivery boy hop
ping off his wagon, who almost
knocked me over with his basket and
then berated me soundly for getting in
his road and not looking where was
going.
My humping into the grocery boy
dislocated the alarm in which, had
left Mrs. Delario. and 1t didn't seem to
occur to me on the return trip that
might be followed, or that 1 should
take at least some small precautions
to elude possible shadow. My mind
was so engrossed with Mrs. Delario
and what had happened to her son that
really quite forgot I had the dia-
monds myself I bought bunch of
hyacinths at florists and left an Or
der at the grocer's, and it wasn't till
/ was inside my fiat that the thought
really struck me. I'm the one who is
In danger have the diamonds !" and
1t was too late for me to find out IL
I'd been shadowed home or not.
However, my depression was pres
emily succeeded by mood of elation-
at last 1 was living things! was en-
Toying the game for its own sake On
with the dance. Mr.. Robbers-let's see
If you can get the dlamondsl Which
only goaT TO show what fools some