Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-30
SLEEPS CLOTHING
Lydia not only sore distressed with misgiv-
ings, but repelled by Betty's attitude.


the most insolent angle imaginable, lips
tight and white, eyes afame with arrogance,
and one foot tapping the devils tattoo, Mrs.
Merrilees was visibly arrayed against the
known world To approach this person was
plainly to invite a thunderbolt, and Lydia
held back in phase of doubt rendered all
the more unhappy by dissembled conscious
ness of the strangely questioning gaze that
Quoin was centering upon herself.
AND this was the phase of the affair dis
closed to Craven when he hustled up,
aglow with satisfaction.
Hello, People! I'm all clear. Had the
deuce of time-the silly ass wanted to
rock me for duds l brought in as long ago
as 1908; but What's the row?"
This last was in a tone radically changed,
and at the same instant his fiancee decided
to acknowledge him on probation, however
rigidly she might elect to deny the rest OF
humanity. So she unbent enough to beckon
him with nod; and Craven hurried on to
get his answer from the one most concerned.
After brief conference he turned back
to Lydia and Peter. "A bad business he
doubted in an undertone, wagging his head.
@Betty's played the game straight as die
this trip; but nothing on earth will make
these people believe that, after the way
she's carried on in the past. Looks like an
all-day session-no good your sticking
round: nothing either of you can do. Quoin
and will stand by Betty; but you'd better
cut along. You won't mind dropping Lydia
at the Great Eastern Hotel, Peter?'
@No-I won't precisely what you might
call mind" Peter declared, frightening.
II engaged rooms by wireless yesterday.
tn take day or two, you know, to read
Just my diggings to receive daughter. Get
ANYTHING YOU want at the hotel, Liddy, and
have it charged, if l don't show up before
luncheon No telling how long we'll be
detained; but I'll ring you up if there's any
great delay. Now clear out-lke good
children"
lydia babe hurried farewells. Giving
Quoin her hand, she hoped he wouldn't
forget to call, as he'd promised. Quoin
was persuaded that such oversight would
be symptomatic of insanity. His tone was
light; but his direct and penetrating gaze
embarrassed the girl, and she was futtered
by consciousness that her cheeks were I'm
accountably aglow, her fingers tremulous IN
his firm grasp.
Betty Merrilees offered a cool cheek to
Lvdia's lips 3Don't worry about mel she
protested pettishly. Besides, in your heart
Of hearts you believe I'm guilty-you know
you do!'
Il don'tl' Lydia insisted, and in the
next DIedUQ, gu uulH
Betty's mood melted transiently. Hon
est Injun." she declared with mirth in her
voice, but downright candor in the eyes
that held Lydia's. aAnd don't blame any
one for climbing up on the fence, either"
she added in cryptic phrase, "all except
these despicable customs men!"
Craven bestowed perfunctory Kiss on
Lydias forehead, and sped their going
cheerfully.
pErER's town car was waiting at the
pier entrance, and when he had helped
her into it and, on the point of follow
ing, fingered to bestow one OF his extrava-
CANT tips upon the porter who had borne
the grievous burden of their two Oxford
bags, Lydia, looking out through the lin
CUISINE door, viewed a section of the throng
of passengers waiting for taxicabs, in the
forefront Of which stood two men.
One faced her and first attracted atten-
ton by his singularly persistent stare,-a
stoutish body, by no means tall snug in
braided morning coat,-the London mode,
glossy topper, white spats and all, down to
the silver-mounted stick of malacca, wear
ing humorous eye in his square jawed,
scarlet face,-one who would readily pass
current as an elderly and retired gentleman
of means, with penchant for good cooking
and outdoor life.