The Taney County republican., 1920-04-01

on how som he comes"
"I wOuldn't-it isn't safe for you"
"YOu come here the very first thing
in the morning. and if I don't answer
your ring"
Claire just then stirred, and we
thought she was coming to. but she
relapsed again. and Billy doubled up
his fists and made n motion toward the
front door, indicating that II I didn't
answer he would break 1t In.
THAT'S it--and the very first thing
In the morning ! don't know what
else to dO-nn,l--" lcnncd over Claire
anXIously, ard whispered to myself
rather than Blny: "This is pretty
bad."
"Whrr8's that ammonIa1" he de-
mnndcd, making wry face and adding
In whisper: ADO you suppose she
knOwST
"Ot course not" I retOrted. "YOu
don't suppose he was such fool as
To tell his own child how we done him
last night! It's in the kitchen, where
We left IT,"
"WclI she'll never know from me
and | hope she'll never know from
YOU" admonlshcd Billy, rising from his
knees and searching my face for the
assurance
! responded with something very
like a glare-Billy was really taking
quite n bit on himself just then--I
hope | knew without being told by
hoy who went to school to me what
the common deCpncies Of the case
wcrcl But all said was: "Please
get It,"
A few drops of ammonia on the tow.
el and she gaSped. Then she muir
INJURED: "Oh, mamma" In tragic &C.
cents, and relapsed again. l was
about to send Billy to the nearest doc
toi he could get In captivity, when the
he'll rnng-George wanted TO know
when the young lady would. be ready
-"the shutters waitln' an he's in n
hurry"
Billy-who answered the ring
snapped out: 'Let him wait-it's
what he's paid FOR. Go down and tell
him we're coming"
He slammed the door, for n moment
forgetting Claire. and she started up
at the noise with her cry: "Oh, man.
ma !" and then seeing me: "Oh, youl"
"Yes-I'm here" / sOothcd, and
thought she was going of again and
gave her a good smart swnt with the
towel md n good sharp, "Claire"
In spite Of our assurances, II was n
good half-hour before she was any
thing Ike NIL right and We got CO.
herent account from her and found
she only thought something had hap
pened to her mother. 1t was Il full
threc.quarters Of an hour before she
was ready to leave.
was more than half.mlnded to go
with her, and hut for monsicur'S expllc-
1t nOte--which read again after
Claire came TO her senSes--I should
not have let her 20 off that way, even
with Billy, though I knew that so far
as devoted perfect care went, he'd give
1t to her as we'll as /. More sccepta-
bly,, mayhapl
! had growing uneaslness that
monSleur's surreptticus return for
words alone with me marked n change
In the current Of events. Had he al
ready discovered without my help that
Mrs DelariO had the diamonds? Had
he seen her since ! left the house? And
was he prepared TO drop on her with
the law? Certainly had already no.
tlced he had about hlT the air Of
something he hadn't the night before
when he threw himself on my mercy
and implored me TO help him.
He'd shed his pleading attitude
that was how summed him up in my
new impression; and when a person
does that It's either because he doesn't
care or holds the whipl I was bound
TO see him and find out: and Claire
and Billy went away together, Billy
wearing grim dO-Or-dle, trust.me.ab.
solulely expression on his round young
face connoting appreciation Of his
grave responsibility.
When I'd seen them off IN the eleya.
tor and closed my door I smiled.
wasn't sorry that Billy was getting
wholesome nearness to the real thing
In women, albeit very young one
but time would rapidly remedy that
difficulty; and as for ClaIre-well.
Billy was her first young man and
knew her ideals wouldn't suffer any
through HIN. He might be a trife
rough and unpublished on the outside,
but he was true blue.
There were three low raps at nv
doot. Or was II my door?
] llstened--I must have been mis-
taken--though I'd only barely closed II
and was turning out the hall electric.
The elevator that was taking Claire
md Billy down was still on its way.
Could monsieur have walked upf
The raps were repeated-unques.
tlonably on my door. Without wait.
ing-Or even thinking TO call through
and ask who was there-I threw the
docr open.
Mrs. Delario whipped In and closed |
It lrhind her.