The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent., 1920-04-16
CHAPTER XII.
The Capture.

tacking. You may imagine, II you can,
what went through on Saturday! My
one diversion was to rehide the dia-
monds. This time-after I had taken
them out Of the hyacinths and poketl
thimble among the stems-I sealed
them In an envelope and thumb.tacked
1t to the bottom Of sideboard drawer.
The drawers sledded in and out on rum
ners deep enough to allow the enve-
lope to pass. All day long kept think
ing, "What will happen IL monsieur
doesn't take the baitT' It seems
strange to me now, but I never once
asked myself, "What will happen II he
dOes?"
The last half hour before Billy came
was positively the longest in my life,
and when the bell did finally ring l
was shot through the heart and ready
to die.
came to life Immediately, whis-
pered through the door. "Who's
there" and heard. "Ann Preswick"-
the password we'd agreed on.
'Then he hasn't killed you!" were
r,y first words.
'Who? Your 'mossooY No-I
killed him on the stairs last night
or pretty near!"
didn't see why Billy should bestow
the proprietorship on me-he wasn't
my "mossoo." as reminded Billy while
he was pulling pair of handouts out
of his oyercoat pocket.
"A mere detail" he returned. "He
will be your own in an hour" He flung
off his coat. "Where do we hide these
togs?"
'My wardrobe. But he won't
come."
"Oh, yes. he will-he told me so."
thought Billy was joking and made
no reply.
'Very interesting man." mused Billy.
mot at all the sort Of person you'd
expect to find in diamond robbery.
Wonderful knowledge of European pol
itics-and American politics. too"
BILLY, what do you mean" de-
manded.
"Why. took your 'mossoo' home
TO his hotel last ntght-and-"
"You didn't" gasped.
"Of course I did! Why not? You
don't suppose I'd 60 off and leave him
here to murder you. do your" Billy
was making the most out Of his story,
could see.
But - how - did - you = man.
ase-it?" was still gasping.
II didn't. He did. He wasn't going
to give himself away by going up
stairs: he said he was going down. So
we went down together, and I kept
talking to him. When we got to the
street we just kept on till I'd seen
him home. We were thick as thieves
by that time. invited him to see
Chinatown tonight and he accepted"
"Billy! You never"
Yes. did! And it's how know
he's coming tonight-see? went
round this morning in time for the
first mail. He was waiting for it.
Oh, he got the letter all right! And
an soon as he read 1t he came over
AID told me he couldn't 60 to China
town tonight-he had diplomatic busi-
ness that might take him to Washing
t0n-which means here. See7''
"Billy. you're the cleverest thing l
ever saw!" I cried with real admira-
ticn.
"Thanks-coming from you I appre.
cinte that" He said 1t In an offhand
way. but could see he was feeling
very set up over himself. And didn't
blame him. He added. 'What the
'mOssoO' was really after-why he
wouldn't let me 60 out in the dark
alone-was to know who I was calling
on. told him it was the people in
:he front fat and I couldn't get in. I
told him it was their cousin from Bos-
ton was calling on and maybe they'd
gone to the theater. That led to our
talking about plays: that led to an in
spirsrion of genius and asked him if
he'd seen Chinatown: that led to my
invitation and-the rest you know"
BILLY, you are positively the clever.
est man know"
Didn't think I'd grow up like that,
did you? And that's not all. AS for
the pretty daughter-your little Claire
that you tfink so much of-don't faint
llON|"SAts SuC III ~ u tie uCCh
and over her ears. She's his accom-
plice, all right. Here's her cable mes
sage" He drew out a bit of paper
on which he'd copied 1t and read:
"Born a girl. Mother and child do
ing well. CLAIRE"
"But this is-this isn't" I STAN
mered.
"Quite so," agreed Billy. ut Is and
It isn'tl It is code. It isn't piece
Of insanity. I've read it-or I think I
have. Listen now: 'Born--the pre-
cious thing that was expected has
come to pass successfully; that is, the
diamonds have arrived safe and
tound.'"
He glanced at me for approval and
then puckered up his brow while ad. |
mitting, "This next-'a girl'-puzzles
me a bit. It's one Of three things
tust filler. to make 1t read; or a code