Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-01-07
By JANE BUNKER


mond thief-that's what he VAST
blew off, HE was in the act of steal
ing a million dollars worth of dia-
monds. And foiled hint"
"Wowl YOJ did?"
Il should say did And what's
more. I've got the diamonds here
there-behind you in those hyacinths."
'wowI" he whooped, and before
knew what he was doing he was out
of his chair. his hand on the glass.
Don't touch them!" | shrieked.
"Wowi" he cried, dropping his hand
and jumping back. "Do they bitter
Motley sting. They pizen your
very soul. But, Billy-stop wOwing-
| I'm watched"
''Divulge the dread secret" and be
tween bites | told him the whole story
up 10 Eureka. and brought In the slip
per 10 prove II.
| He was still staring when ] got
/ through and asked him. "And now how
am going TO get those beastly things
out of the house and where am ! GO
/ itE 10 Set tneiD tOf sue uoeSu uuIS
TO have them at her house"
"Oh. ] can take them away and
hide 'em. If that's all you want" he
answered carelessly.
1T isn't ALL" | retorted, a bit indig
nant. ITS only the beginning of
new chapter of misery for the whole
of us-it's throwing the responsibility
on you without getting me out of the
nett won't save me from being kid
mapped and searched and maybe muir
dered TO keep my mouth shut"
Billy nodded at that and said,
You're right"
He took a cigarette out Of his case
and with a short. MAY II" lighted up
and began TO blow rings. gazing al
them abstractedly. nibbled crumbs.
After I'd stood his silence for half q
cigarette. ! repeated my question and
told him. "We've got TO do something
right off--now--tonight."
"Of course" He smoked another
quarter and threw the cigarette with
energy into the empty chicken tin.
bouncing up as he spoke.
what are we going TO dof" he gave
forth masterfully. We're going TO
trap that bold man all by our little
own selves--you and I. And well give
him one nice lesson on stealing dla-
monds from defenseless wonderland
threatening you"
But we've got to hurry" urged.
81 can't live this way much longer
It's simply killing me"
"Sure," Billy agreed. suppressing n
smile at me. I'm hurrying all can.
] calculate TO have your 'mossoo' In
handouts tomorrow night" And he
unfolded his plot and entered into II
with fervor. The truth is Billy and |
were having the fun Of our lives
The scheme was 10 decOy monsieur
TO the fiat by letter from Mrs. Della
rio Indicating where the diamonds
were hidden: we banked on his re-
Numbering the one place he hadn't
searched-the hyaCinths and II he got
the tip we believed he'd return the mo-
ment | went out.
After some discussion Billy and
decided not 10 take Mrs. Delarlo into
our confidence, not knowing how she'd
act in the crisis, which necessitated
our initiating her writing The only
sample of her writing we Lad was her
address In my notebook and some
titles of books on spirltualism she'd
wished me to read. But the sample
did us. and the joint literary efforts OF
myself and Billy produced the follow
ing-this purporting TO be from me to
her:
My Dear Mrs Delsrio: Since he searched
everything but the bunch OF hyacinths as
told you over the telephone Tuesdsy--Qhis
struck me an exquisitely neat, convincing
touch for his detective must have reported
both that ] telephOned and the number OF
the oal)-i thought the same place would
continue safe in case OF second invasion
/ got fresh bunch you will know where
II anything happens to me. II co. come and
get them at once: break In the nst II you
have to.
am going TO try to see you Saturday
night for final ARA ngements II ! can slip
out without being seen. Expect me between
eight and ten BE sure to be alone so W.
can talk. still hold TO my promise--one.
third TO you II you will hep me TO dispose
of gum drops
Gum drops" WINS BiIly's touch--he
declared that "mossoo" would read Il
diamonds" sure as anything.
And this. purpOrting to be from her
To him:
Monsieur; have refused TO have anything
TO do with this matter since ! know the
truth Of the ownership Under the cireum.
stances. feel she IL foolish to try 10 boId
on, Get the hyscinths while Ehe IL At INV
house tonight. and the trouble viii be over
for everybody
typed my own letter with carbon
copy while Billy laboriously produced
he one from Mrs. Delario.
The decoy letters we sent 10 the no.
tel where monsieur was staying. The
Numerals Came From Europe
That the system Of numerals we