The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-01-29
CHAPTER XV-contlnued.

ID
Billy charged monsieur's confession
TO a private account that was growing
large. Personally l felt ! liked the
man the better for it-I read 1t as the
effort to shield the girl and minimize
her part In the affair. And in that l
was right; Billy looked at 1t differ
emily. "Concelted cuss !" he later con-
fided. "Wanted to take the whole
credit to himself" ~
"Oui, madame" monsieur went on,
and all the while felt him searching
my face for a sign of what had ac-
complished with Mrs. Delario. "Nos-
sing can be safer-1 argue-Zan a
fancy slipper. 1t Is not worn on re
steamer In re cold of winter, and mad
anne have SO assure me Eat her bag
gage, because of her so good cousin,
is pass wlsout difficulty. And who
would accuse madame of'-he gave
me knowing look and finished ambig-
uously-"of to smuggle zoze valuable
papers Eat do not concern herr Ah,
nO-it would be incredible wlsout to
see zem-and we have take care Eat
Eey are not scent And to accomplish
zis we have put zem where zey are al
most but not quite seen. have ex-
plain all zls to Claire and she have
understand parfaitement. Oul."
The smugness with which he lellv-
cred himself of this was really anus
ing, and couldn't help a smile, which
encouraged him to add-at the same
time looking piercingly at me-with
deprecating shrug:
"And just at re moment of beautiful
completion madame carries off one of
zoze slippers-we know not which,"
All of us laughed and the tension
that had been quite plainly felt In our
little company broke.
Claire went on to tell us how, In
Antwerp, she had occupied a room
communicating with Mrs. Deiario's the
day before they sailed, and how papa
had taken Mrs. Delario out to see the
great Rubens In the cathedral and
she-Claire-pleading a headache, had
remained behind and had gone through
Mrs. Delario's things so she could tell
her father what there was they could
use; had discovered the slippers and
had taken them to her room and shown
them to her father that night and he
said they "would do admirably" and
she had got them back while Mrs. Del
hriO was asleep.
But it wasn't easy to put the box
tnto the slipper when II came to the
point. Mrs. Delarlo keenly felt the
obligations Of her charge and proved
a far too devoted chaperon. At ttlast
the chance arrived and the box was
slowed. What, then, was the poor
child's CONSERVATION to hear me twlt
ting Mrs. Delarlo into wearing thu
slippers
"She nearly had me thenl" Claire
confided with noticeable glee at hel
own ability to cope with the situation
81 got the box out just one minute be
fore she came into our stateroom
But this fright made me so Ill
couldn't stay at table that night"
81 should think So" said Billy. anC
gave a sly glance In my direction tina
said, 81 take back all l said about hel
last nlght-she wasn't really In 1t a
all. 1t was all the old scOundrel Of |
VLuOSSOO.
Claire seemed ready to end here, bu
] wasn't ready to have her. What wa
J to tell monsieur2 My turn was com
ing in a minute, and what was | I,
say? kept on with Claire. "Then s.
FAR as you know, the box came througl
the customs house In one of those slip
pers? And what were you to do afte
that7"
The words were hardly out Of m
mouth when the front bell rang an
George handed In telegram addresse
90 monsieur.
Monsieur tore open the yellow env'
lOp and rapidly scanned the message
frowned; hesitated; started to spea
and stopped; looked at me inqull
ingly; asked II there was a telegrap
Office near and when | told him whef
II was excused himself from our con
pany to "send an immediate and Vi
gent reply" and instructed Claire
answer every question i might care [
put and with that he hurried of wilt
the curt ceremony of one who expect
to be back on the Guarter-hour strok
There was. however, but little MOI
needed to discover from Claire stl
there was one thing, and asked hG
bluntly, "Your father came over ahea
OF us on a faster steamer2 He was Q
the wharf 10 disguise when We a
TiSsdr'