Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-01-08
CHAPTER XII.
The Capture.


lacking. You may imagine, II you can,
wbat went through on Saturday. My
ono diversion was to rehide the dia-
r,onds This time-after ! had taken
tben ont of the hyacinths and poked
tbimble among the stems--I sealed
them In an envelope and thumb-tacked
II N the bottom of sdeboard drawer.
Tho drawers sledded in and out on run
ners deep enough to allow the enve-
lone TO pass. All day long ! kept think
ing. what will happen II monsieur
doesn't take the bait?" 1t seems
arrange TO me now, but 1 never once
asked myself, "What will happen If he
doesY
The last half hour before Billy came
WINS positively the longest in my life,
and when the bell did finally ring /
was shot through the heart and ready
10 die.
came to life Immediately, whis-
pered through the door, who's
fhere?" and heard, "Ann Preswick"-
the password we'd agreed on.
"Then he hasn't killed you" were
my first words.
"Who? Your 'mossooT MOI
killed him on the stairs last night
or pretty nearT M
don'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 overcoat pocket.
"A mere detail" he returned. "He
viii 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"
l thought Billy was joking and made
no reply.
"Very interesting man." unused Billy.
"Not at all the sort of person you'd
expect to find in diamond robbery.
Wonderful knowledge of European pol
ltlcs-and American politics, too"
BILLY what do you mean?" | de-
manded.
"Why, I took your 'mossoo' home
to his hotel last highland"
You didn'tp I gasped.
"Of course did Why not? You
don't suppose I'd go 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
age it?" / was still gasping.
"I 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 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. I invited him to see
Chinatown tonight and he accepted"
Billy You never"
eyes, did, And it's how l know
he's coming tonight-see? ] went
round this morning in time for the
first mail. He was waiting for 1t.
Oh he got the letter all right And
as soon as he read 1t he came over
and told me he couldn't go to China
town tonight-he had diplomatic busi-
ness that might take him to Washing
ton-which means here. See?"
BILLY. you're the cleverest thing
ever saww / cried with real admira-
ton.
"Ihanks-coming from you I appre
clate that" He said 1t In an offhand
way but I 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 go out in the dark
aIone-was to know who was calling
nn' ! told him 1t was the people in
ihe front fiat and / couldn't get in. I
toid him 1t was their cousin from Bos-
ton l was calling on and maybe they'd
gone 10 the theater. That led to our
talking about plays; that led to an in
spiratlon of genius and ! asked him if
Ae0 seen Chinatown; that led TO my
invitation and-the rest you know"
BILLY, you are positively the clever
est man knowp
Didn't think I'd grow up like that,
ll1 your And that's not all AS for
me pretty daughter-your little Claire
mat you think so much of--don't faint
h'W-well, she's in it up to the neck
ana over her ears. She's his accom-
p'ice. all right. Here's her cable mes
sage He drew out bit of paper
On which he'd copied IT and read:
Born a girl. Mother and child do
-lg well. CLAIRE"
But this is--this isn't" / STAN
m9red
quite So" agreed Billy. ut is and
ll isn't! 1t Is code. 1t isn't a piece
q insanity. I've read it--or ] think
nave Listen now: 'Born'-the pre-
e'ols thing that was expected has
come 70 pass successfully; that is, the
diamonds have arrived safe and
sound"
tie glanced at me for approval and |
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