The Ordway new era., 1920-02-06
CHAPTER ~.
-
The Wicked Fiee.

thought of the diamonds and only two
women alone IN the house-appar-
entiy-to guard them. but Mrs. Della
rio was terrified
These stones"-she looked about
the room despairingiy. where can ]
hide them7 And We two women alone
In the house"
Again the ring-a long, long rattle !;
whoever it was meant to get in. Fol-
lowed Il pounding on the door.
Mrs DelarIo. though deathly white.
was now composed and ready TO meet
the emergency. whatever II was Me
chanicaily she slipped the elastic over
the boz and rose.
"Ill go TO the door" she decided.
-It's better to see who 1t IS, anyway.
Perhaps it's only district messenger.
II IL isn't-if II should be officers
they might break IN the door"
And with that she whlsIed up her
skirt and tucked the box down into her
stocking.
/ had risen and was preparing to
follow her out, feeling she might need
me. but she turned and said for me
90 wait behind the door out Of sight
and listen
She left me- I heard the front door
open just as the pounding began again
She asked. what is it2" and a mans
voice answered. Does Eugene Delario
1--we hereI" She said he did. and de-
ulanded what was wanted of him. The
mans voice said. Il must see him at
once"
And then. TO my amazement- heard
her tell the man. I'm sorry. but you
can't-tonight: he's sick in bed
Il rather think can see him. then, St
was the retort 'And ! WILL
There followed. well, not quite a
scuffie but very active shuffilng of
feet. and the man pushed his way into
the house in spite of her. pushing her
aside from the door. which he shut
with bang and a 'Now. then" Sen
sations began TO trickle down my
spine.
"In which room is the young man
s!ck?- demanded the voice.
Il tell you you can't see him-I re-
fuse TO let you go upstairs. What
right have you forcing yourself into
my house this way and demanding to
see my sick SOM" she asked angrily.
Now. lady. be reasonable and TIL
show you" he replied in a tone meant
to conciliate. / heard a rattle Of pa.
per.
"a warrant" she gasped.
That's what" he said Want 10
see my badger There was a slight
rustic as assumed he showed It to
her, for she gasped. "An oficer-a war.
rant!' and seemed TO sway on the
stair
"Now, LADY," he began. still concili.
sting. 'you don't want to make any
more trouble for yourself than's nee
essary. 1 got TO do my duty-and IT
sln't always pleasant-but / got TO dc
lt. 1t amt my fault If got to arrest
your son-I amt doing 1t TO spite you
nor hlm-he didn't steal any diamond,
on me. you know"
''Sieal any dlamondsi" she inter
rupted. "He never stole diamond IL
his life. Never"
| fancled the man Struggling as hs
answered. $50 much the better for hin
II he didn't steal them-Im sure
hope for your sake he didn't, though
1t looks bad. him trying to sell then
TO the very parties that knew all abou
them"
-'Oh" and could see her clingin;
to the banlster. She was evidently q
loss what to do.
1 understood in flash what hat
happened-this man or an accomplIc,
was the one who had followed her sol
home from the Maiden lane dealer
yesterday. He evidently thought h,
was making headway. for he went on
-'Now see here, lady. you take
from me-the parties that are press
ing this cas-. don't care for publicit.
any more than you door your sol
does. 1t would ruin him II 1t got int
the papers. to say nothing OF his sery
ting time for it"
Serving time, Ny Godr brok
from her involuntarily.
"Of course he'll serve time IL IT.
proved on him." her visitor assure,
her.
She gave a sob. 1 was wrought ur
1t was all could do TO keep my plac
and not join her and help defy tn
man; but his next words held me lis
tenins.
"If he'll give tack the stones h
showed yesterday. or tell where he
hid them. ! can get this settled out o