The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-01-15

portant-terribly important. I will not
come near you during the customs ex-
animation. If you are through first,
get your things into a taxi and wait for
me. But if through some freak of
chance-some unforeseen accident-you
I ask you just this. Refuse to speak
about it for "a hours. Just say you
don't know. You don't know. I am
running q risk for friends-I may need
this-protection-"
They would never search me-" she
said, Il am an American Consul's wife,
and further they know me. But sup
pose, as you say, some accident hap
pened and the package were found,
what do I do after the "a hours??"
IT leave that to you. You might
from the beginning say you found it
in your cabin, or in Rosablanca, or
would never divulge my name if you
really loved me-"
II see." She took the package in her
hands and weighed it in her fingers.
Something hard stitched into a wrap
ping of chamois leather. Raimundo saw
speculation and wonder in the intent
ness of her face. She said bluntly-
unexpectedly: But what is it?"
He was prepared for this. You have
a right to know, Sylvia. It's a piece of
remarkable emerald matrix. A sample
OF a secret mine just discovered in Co.
lombia. An amazing gem embedded in
its limestone
the customs?"
Mot dangerous! Impossible. You see
we-they haven't got the money to pay
the colossal duty on the thing. They
have nothing but the mine. 1t takes
them all their ingenuity to eat. I'm
here to get backing, necessary CAPT.
tal."
But the "a hours?" she inquired
with deadly feminine logic. Are you
going to lose the sample-waste your
journey if they find it?"
Sweat beaded Raimundo's brow.
There is trouble going on over the
mine. Dispute ove its possession.
There are people here on the lookout
for news of it. It would get into the
papers If you were caught. If my
name were linked with it I might be
kldnaped-even murdered"
1--WE can't have that happen. Don't
worry. Leave it. 1t will be safe with
me-" Raimundo breathed freely again.
II he had not been afraid to upset the
delicate adjustment of their relation
ship, he would have seized her ~joyously
IN his arms and ~passionately kissed
her. But there was time for that in the
care-free weeks lying before him when
Van Gluck had the stone and his an
Xiety was over. After all, how much
more satisfactory to develop this unus-
ual love affair with all his troubles off
his mind.
How can I ever thank you, sylvia?"
Please DON'T" she said. IF you
wish to, you can do that afterwards"
IT. was ate, but he stayed a little
while making plans to communicate
With her secretly should anything go
wrong. He knew that If anything did,
no nj would see or hear from him
again. II all went right, as it surely
would, he said he would find her a
little apartment in New York where
she could wait for news from Rosa
blanca.
The usual hubbub of departure pos
Sessed the ship when Sylvia went on
deck the following morning. The i'm
migration officials were already on
board, and the aliens lining up pass
ports In hand to pass through the first
class smoking saloon. Raimundo greet
ed Sylvia, his unbearable anxiety ex-
pressed IN a manner unnaturally gay
and debonair. Everything o. KIP" he
said, trying to speak lightly.
u"CI course" she answered smiling.
He took his place in the waiting line,
ana she left him.
Customs Officer George Mason greet
ed her like an old friend, made a cur