The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-04-01
CHAPTER xvi.-continued.

way" / soothed. "Just tell him again
Tn not at home, and II he says any
thing more repeat it-and keep on re-
peating II till he goes, for won't see
him. But, George"--this ! said stern
Iy-"if you bring that man up--nfter
what I've said to you--you needn't
say good morning TO me next Sunday"
George understood the alluslon-I
always give him quarter on Sunday
morning when he brings the paper up.
He grlnned and departed.
"Now, what new dodge Is thisT
cogltated, carrying the paper to my
study and examining II In the light.
The writing was distinctly foreign
French or German In the "r's," The
"mademoiselle" also suggested for
elgner.
The bell rang. sat down. The bell
rang again. put my feet on has
sock, turned up my nose slightly.
smiled and sat still. The door was
pounded-not furiously, but with evil
dent Northumberland the bell rang
again.
At this I thought I'd better show n
through without opening.
"Stop that noisel" commanded an
grily. Noise stopped.
Both persons waited for the other
TO say something. As the opposite
side didn't l called through again,
"who is IT."
'fPolice detective"
The words were Kissed through in
a stage whisper. and l noticed for
eign accent on ''pollce." / thought /
might as well look at him. anyway
which did through the crack without
removing the chain.bolt. saw
rather short. very slight man-pongee
colored, to be accurate-wlth an intel
ligent. honest-looklng face. but very
common clothes-cheap ready-made
overcoat and hat. Yet the man had
very much OF an air about him.
'Well?" said In as unwelcoming q
tone as I could.
II wished TO see you about Made
moiselle de Ravenol-the young lady
who crossed In the steamer with you"
"wellf" said I.
-She has disappeared"
"Well" And this last from me left
him quite In the air. as saw by his
frown. However, he made fresh
start:
"Mademoiselle de Ravenol crossed
in the same steamer with you about
two weeks ago, did she noti"
''She may have"
"Her name Is on the passenger list
with yours-I have the list here'-ha
produced some papers. but apparently
did not find that he had the list. and
with gesture Of impatience appealed
10 me-'I am correct, am not-she
crossed with you on the same
steamerf"
"What have TO do with that" |
asked curtly. wondering what he was
driving at; for OF course / knew Claire
hadn't disappeared since last night.
and II she had he wouldn't be asking
me about the steamer Dozens of
people crossed on the same steamer
with me-"
Naturally" he admitted, trying TO
be pleasant. "But this Mademolselle
de Ravenol-she crossed In your care,
did she not2'
"She did not"
"She did notr he asked In sur
prised sort Of way, as II he thought ]
was lying. "In whose. then, may
ask?'
merely shrugged, as though to tell
him. Find out for yourself" Seeing
II he did not pursue that line but
tried this: "You saw good deal of
her on the steamer. did you not
talked with her frequently"
/ ignored this last and told him.
"But have no Information to give
you'll Nothing mt all. She did not
come over with mel had no charge
of her--no responsibility for her ac.
tions on board the steamer, or for her
being met or not met or anything
else"
Certainly. ] understand" He
gave the door little push as a hint
TO me. "But do you not see that you
might furnish me with valuable
clue" He gave the door harder
push, and as 1t clicked on the chain.
bolt he repeated, IF you allow me to
lenter thas we may discuss this In pri-
waite"
l thought l saw myself letting n
strange man enter with all those dla-
'monds loose In box with pensl And
at the thought Of them l saw that this
might be only another plot OF mon
isieur's!
i looked at him In n way that made
him think / was considering my re-
sponsibllities, and then j asked as cas-
uaily as could. "Bnt at what time did
she dlsappear?"
"Aa. that is the question--whenf -
he cried, giving tragic--or what he
meant 10 be tragic-gesture to show
how utterly the girl had vanished.
And he stopped TO consider what he
should tell me next, and l, seeing no
chance TO catch a clue for myself,