Evening star., 1914-08-09

Nothing very desperate: only making love
to Mrs. Merriees. Think She marry him?"
"Couldn't say. She's a highty creature,
and Tad's tremendously amusing. What
concern is it of yours?'
"None whatever. You haven't told me
what you know about him."
"Why-of course-what the world
knows. He's an entertaining little man who
came out of nowhere to cheer us up about
fifteen years ago. Never was heard of be-
fore one fine morning when we all woke up
to find he belonged. No money, so far as
know-or just enough to enable him to live
well without working too hard Nowadays
New York teens with just this type of un-
accountable persons decent, diverting,
well bred, and three quarters idle. That's
all-except | like the man.
"You never heard he was married.
"He isn'tl' Mrs. Beggarstaf exclaimed,
dumbfounded.
Il don't say so. I only wonder. OF
course, if you never heard he was married,
you never suspected him of having daugh
ter: you're too pure minded
"Thank you for nothing. What are you
driving at?'
aAnd If he hasn't a daughter, who in thun-
deration is Lyda?'
EMMY, Al warn you, if you keep me on ten
terhookS another instant
HERE you are, then," the detective in
II terposed hastily; @but keep it to your
self. Yesterday afternoon, when l was kill
ing time in the wireless house, message
came in which l read over the operators
shoulder as he wrote it down. 1t was for
Craven, and ran something like this, Lydia
disappeared What shall do? Awaiting
advice before notifying police Signed,
NJ ,ft ,1a
ems reply was brought in for transmission,
Keep away from police. If girl doesn't re-
turn, wire me New York Saturday Ad-
dressed. 'Hicks-Lorrimer, eleven King
Charles Court, London, West Now who
is Lydia to Craven if not wife or daughter,
that wireless messages must advise him OF
her disappearance? Not his wife; for he
refers to hcr in his reply as the girl If his
daughter, he must be a widower."
4That's charitable of you. But if his
daughter, why doesn't she live with hime"
@Conceivably man of Craven's tastes
and habits might consider the care OF a
@Thats quite possible. But why should
he never have mentioned herr"
@Conceivably again, an ambitious man
with not much money and the entrae to the
best houses in New York might dream of
marriage with woman of fortune.
@And as a widower with a child he
wouldn't be thought as eligible?'
Precisely
After thoughtful moment the Dowager
Dragon exclaimed, 4Quoin!'
Madam
aThis Joachim brooch-has it struck you
that the cameo bears a resemblance to any
one we know?"
@Craven, of coursel Now you mention
it, distinct resemblance
"This Miss Carteret says her father gave
it to her because of its likeness to him."
@What did you say her name was in full?"
@Lucy Carteret. But when she told me
she tripped and stumbled over something
that sounded suspiciously like Lid Lid
for Lydia ch?"
Lucy Carteret-Lydia Craven the de-
tective mused aloud.
@Help me up" the Dowager Dragon de-
manded excitably. am going downstairs
this minute and have good look round that
cabin, if the girl isn't awake. Quoin,' she
added with animation, as the detective gave
her his hand, @if it turns out as we think
aHope?" he suggested, smiling.
3For my part, hope. If it turns out as
we hope, this voyage is going to be most
amusing And was afraid of being bored!"
@Then,' Quoin reminded her, @you ought
to be very grateful to me-
aI love YOU for it," Mrs. Beggarstaff de-