The Jasper news., 1920-02-12

1es-I feel that way--l kinda
don't seem TO feel that he did-my
hunch doesn't say he did. But say
I've been figuring II out coming up
on the sub--your 'moss0o' Is laying a
new trap for you and Mrs. Delario.
He knows one of you two women has
got the diamonds-he knows II in his
boots, no matter what you sny-and
anyway you have. He knows you've
got 'eIn-that you're bound to keep
'em-and wouldn't dare sell or tell.
Sect That's where he's got you; and
he knows you're both Of you shaking
In your boots"
SIN shaking, all right - rye had
terly. r
"And thnt's how he argues He's
| only got to give you new scare OF
some sort-and walt. And bet you.
too. you get your scare inside an
hourw
perhaps I've had Il slreadyr I
cried, suddenly recollectIng my mys
teriOus detective, whom had forgot
ten In this new development of az
fairs, and I told Billy the story. But
when l came to my suspicious that II
was Claire the man was after Billy
Topped down all in a heap on the
dvan.
Good Lord" he gasped. ut might
bel" and for some minutes he sat
there, squeezing his hands and glar-
ing at the floor. Suddenly Mrs. Thing
downstairs began rendering her Men.
delssOhn's "Spring Song" of a pig on
Ice, and Billy Jumped up in irritation
and paced the floor.
Tell me again everything your de-
tective man said" commanded Billy.
"And you're sure he's tec.7"
I'm not sure of anything" | re-
turned. II had nothing to 60 on but
what he said and what | guessed. He
may have been a fancy burglar--a lit
erary burglar. after my last novel |;
such things have happened" saw
BIlly's lip curl at this frivolous sug.
gestion, but I ran on. "He may be a
gentleman crOok-someone on the
steamer whom | didn't know but who
noticed ] had an interest In the girl
and Is using It now to get In here and
map The grounds so he can come back
and rob and murder me-"
"oh, don't joke" he begged discon-
sOlately. This is awfuily serious
Why couldn't this. man-yOu say you
think he's a foreIgner-why couldn't
he be the emperor's fOllow-upf Now
whyT'
"He could"
"Say-that's what he is And mos
500 got wind Of him last night and
scooted for the tall timbersl The en-
peror wouldn't lust hand 'mOssOo' a
box OF diamonds like that and tell him
just to take 'em and present 'em with
his compllments-they don't do things
that way over here. He'd send a
second. man to see that the first man
did his Job according to contract. And
why isn't this the manf"
1t did look possible-though
couldn't still see why he had begun bis
acquaintance with me--telllng me a lie
about Claire, While was wondering
over 1t, Billy remarked, poor De
Ravenol has got his troubles all right.
He knows the old mans after him and
he's lost the goods. Say, you can az
ford to pity him now."
A wave Of utter despair swept over
me. know Of nothing more unhlng
Ing than the facetious nonchalance OF
the young male 10 face of serious sit.
uation. l was ready to weep. l was
saved from 1t by the ringing OF the
front bell.
Il put up the chaln-bolt before
opened lt-I had sense enough foI
that-and then cried: your and re-
celved a sharp, "SshI Let me in
quick"
1t was Mrs. Delario. When I saw
her, you could have knocked me dowI
: with a feather. I let her In anC
whisked her into my bedroom and shut
the door on us. My first thought wal
] Billy-he had naturally looked dowI
the hall when l went to the door
and ! knew he'd guess lmmedIatel,
e who It was; but though lad told hel
: the part he had already played In oui
J adventure she hadn't met him and
J had the presence OF mind not to sprinI
e him on her till I'd found out what she
r came for. She had caught sight o.
I him and now spoke In a whisper.
0 "You can't guess what's happened +
"What nextl" gasped. almost in I
: whisper.
: Monsieur has simply dumped Clair
back on my hands and decamped-
e without q word OF real explanation l"
D "Oh never 1"