Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-06
SLEEPS CLOTHING

last twelve years or so. They weren't
frequent; but they were all big hauls, and
everyone was well planned and eliminated
in a clean getaway. And it so happens,
when one comes to look into it, that Craven
was especially thick with all the people
victimized. The biggest coup was the theft
of the Joachim collection, worth several
hundred thousand dollars. Now Lydia
Craven, when she came aboard the Alsatia,
was wearing cameo from the Joachim col
lection which she said her father had given
her on her fifteenth birthday Discreet
pumping on the part of Mrs. Beggarstaff
has shown that date to have fallen just
three months after Joachim was robbed.
incidentally, the cameo disappeared as soon
as Lydia and Craven met on board. There's
a sinister thread running all through the
history of Thaddeus Craven"
His voice trai1ed off into silence. Mrs.
Merrilees was eying him steadily.
you never got all that information to-
gether since this morning. Mrs. Beggar-
staff prompted.
NO. Quoin admitted. ave had my
eye on Craven for sometime"
@Why?', the old woman demanded
bluntly. what made you first suspect him?"
"Well, he never rang true to me; and
when it began to be rumored that he was a
candidate for Bettys hand-I felt sure he
wasn't worthy of her, and made up my mind
to be sure before forbidding the banns.'
After pause Betty looked up defantly.
1T does make me out bit of an idiot,
doesn't it?s
Nonsense! We were all taken in" Peter
protested. Look how I've always stuck
up for Tad! But there's one thing want to
say: He may be rotter, and all that sort
of thing; but that girl of his is as straight
and fine proposition"
@Do hush, Peter! We all know you're in
love with her. Betty cut in. wait until
this infatuation wears off, in another fort
night or so; give it at least the lifetime of
listen to YOU in defense of Lydia Craven !"
3You won't have to listen to me then.
Her innocence will be established long be-
fore that Peter blazed up. Besides,
you've got no right to assume, simply be-
cause I've fattered lot of you empty
headed gadabouts with my attentions, I'm
not in earnest now that I've found girl
worth being in earnest about
Bravo, Peter!" Mrs. Beggarstaff ap-
plauded
But what is all this to me?" Betty pro-
tested with break in her voice. Il hope
you're right, Peter, and l hope if you are
you may be happy. But what about me!
To you, all old friends, l can talk about
this terrible thing. But what about the
outsiders? My name linked with that of
a common criminal s-oh, 1 am ashamed,
ashamed"
Unknown to her, the Dowager Dragon
was nodding vigorously to Quoin. This last
rose awkwardly, and spoke with hesita-
ton uncommon in him.
"If you'll leave it to me, Betty" he sug-
gested almost timidly, Il think can arrange
matters with Craven and recover your neck
lace tonight, quite without publicity And, +"
he glanced at his watch, dts quarter of
eleven. If I'm to do anything, l have no
time to lose
CHAPTER XXI
TRUE to her instinct for the dramatic
moment, when the telephone inter
rupted Mrs. Beggarstaff answered with no
apparent emotion and nothing more than a
noncommittal "Yes?' followed at brief in
terval by Eyes, if you please, at once.
Then, hanging up the receiver, she set her
self artfully to delay Mrs. Merrilees. @This
is all very WELL she announced with COM
placent determination; 3but l want to
know what real evidence you have got
against Craven"
Nothing Quoin admitted, beyond cir
cumstantial evidence. which, however well
grounded wouldn't hold topether a minute