The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-01-08
CHAPTER vI-continued.

D.
els madame intending to converse
wis me, holding a weapon in her
handT
"Is monsieur Intending to converse
with me behind locked doors?"
"For ze present-yes."
"very well, then, get 1t over. What
Is it7" felt very sure by this time
It had nothing. directly, to do with
Mrs. Delario.
ut is zis-my daughter, Claire. was
robbed Of some very valuable jewels
on ze steamer coming over. Zere are
but two persons who could possibly
have committed re seft-Mrs. Delario
and-yourself."
I was dazed-so dazed that I stam-
mered.
"You say Claire was robbed coming
over on the steamer-and you think
did it2"
Precisely"
My wits came back with that fiat
accusation.
"Then why didn't she say something
about 1t at the timer" 1 demanded.
Probably because she was not
aware of 1t at re time-one seldom is.
II may be permitted to point 1t out
TO madame"
was SO completely innocent Of even
knowing that the girl had Jewels with
her-except such little trinkets as
child values and that nobody but
street thief would have bothered his
head over-that I saw monsleur's ac-
cusation as blackmail. That word sud-
denly popped into my head and gave
me the basis Of a return attack.
"You mean to tell me that Claire
had valuable Jewels on the steamer yet
never mentioned the fact to either Mrs.
Delario or myself?"
Naturally, she says nossing-why
should she7 She Is under no obliga-
tion to speak Of such matter to you"
'In other words, she was smuggling
valuable Jewels into the country-try-
Ing to get them through the customs
house without our knowing 1t, SO we
could tell her to declare themT
Smuggling? She Is taking zem to
her musser-zey have once been pur-
chased In America"
II don't believe she had any Jewels"
4 asserted bravely. MERELY to say she
had-and she hasn't got them now
doesn't prove anything. You must have
sense enough to see that for yourself"
His face had darkened again. "You
doubt my word? have ze proof,
madame, ze absolute proof--zat she
had ze Jewels wis her when she went
on board re steamer; and while on
board; and up to certain date. I can
furnish proof Eat would be accept in
any court-if madame renders 1t nee
essary."
His tone carried conviction in spite
Of myself; also, / knew he was ready
to have me put under arrest and fur
nish his proof in court. For minute
went limp and sick. But I pulled my
self together for another shot at him
'Then you admit she was smuggling
Jewels into the country?"
He shrugged thought to conceal
his uneasiness at the way was taking
1t. "Ze Jewels belong to my wife--a
wedding gift from her fazer--if you
call 1t smuggling"
''But they were not declared-l
know that, anyway. Well, then-slnce
they were not declared. they were to
all intents and purposes smuggled. We
shall now act as though they had been
smuggled--we shall at once enlist the
services Of the government in your be-
half. After the Jewels are discovered,
you can present evidence that they
were not subject to duty. Or. Of course.
you can pay the duty. I suppose they
are worth that to you to get them
backT
"What do you mean. madameT he
exclaimed In tone that to me sound
ed alarm. "You sink ! ask your gov
srnment to seek for zoze lost jewels
Of my daughter7 Diable--pardon--and