Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1917-10-18
AUTHOR Of THE LONE
WOLF, THE BRASS
BOWL, ETC.
COPYRIGHT Dr LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

of The least questionable character.
Since the cab had stopped not
sound had disturbed The quiet save the
scmioccus!nnnl runbling Of surface
cars on the one hand or snoring oi
notes on The other.
And number % itself was II resi-.
deucc of II type and caste to aliuy dis.
trust at glancc-nn elderly, we'll
lo.do sort, with brownstonc front, well
sroomcd nothing In this ensemble the
least oninuuS or threatening.
Inclining 10 question Old Quoin's
ev"rrcndy Inference, Peter climbed
back into the cab, and for five min
utcs Rugged himself in private ecstasy
Everything was for Ill the best in
the best of all possible worlds. He
needed only to crowd things IL bit, rush
the wedding through before Lydia
realized tlu't people We're onto Craven,
keep her if possible ignorant forever
of old Tad's disgrace That could be
fixed. no doubt. Fortunately Betty
wasn't vindictive. Quoin'S commission
from her had been merely to scare
'-IHNtl S4iIi anu run lilIil oul lbWIl.
And that. Of course. would keep things
dark ; for Craven would never dare re-
turn.
or course. If he ever found out his
daughter didn't know. and her huS-
band didn't want her to know. he
would likely try on II little backmai-
ing. just to keep body and soul to-
gether. But Peter wouldn't mind that
not in moderation. Anyway, he'd al
ways liked old Tad: and to think of
him in want. who had been so rcfu
gent Il figure in the life OF town, would
be keen discomfort for his prospective
Son-in-iaw. Peter dared say old Tad
could do with II tidy bit of blackmul
something adequate and regular.
And he, for one, would never bcgrudge
it.
Eut when five minutes had elapsed
Peter began to iidgci. That's Il long
time to Matt for n girl you're crazy
about. who has just owned up she's
crazy about you.
He consulted his watch: ten minutes
past eleven. Lydia had come to the
Margrave about Il quarter Of they
couldn't have been more than II quar-
ter of an hour coming up town. Peter
ten minutes. not five.
Things began to look dubious. He
hOpped out and up the steps OF 9S.
The outer door was fastened; but a
steady pressure on the puSh-butt0n
brought n shadow to skulk suspicious
ly behind lace-Screcncd inner doors.
One edge Of the curtains was pulled
aside triile. he was inspected mar
rJ"ly, and then the silndOw material
tied into Il woman who came forth and
Unattached the outer doors. Even to
Peters capti0us scrutiny she looked a
very nice sort. altogether nn uppari-
ton to abaSh suspicion.
"Yes?" she inquired in pleasant
voice.
EYES, the discounted young man
replied intelligently THAT is to say
l-rih-"
perhaps you've mistaken the
house?"
'No-I mean to Sny-MisS Craven
brought her hcre-waS to wait to see
ter home YOU know-wailed so long
began TO wonder"
II see" said the woman quietly.
flicker of amusement in the eyes tn;
Peter rather liked. "If you don. min
waiting another minute, I'll ask her"
Singnlarly enough. Pete: Tough
she didn't ask him to step in out of ii
weather. On the other hand she w:
cOnsiderate not to keep him wnitir
long; though the message she final
brought him proved distaSteful enoug
Miss Craven asked me to give sc
this Mr.. Trait
"Thanks," said Peter graciously a
ceptns the profrered envelope.
1t wasn't sealed. UnccremoniOusly
lifted the flap and withdrew the il
closure, a square, white, heavy cor
spOndence card with the addres
stamped in black letters. Below Il stu
pen had been used with disastrous e
feet:
Dear Mr.. Traft-Please don't wa
for me. l can't tell how long 1 ma
be detained. Sincerely.
LYDIA CRAVEN"
Dear Mr.. Trait. nonplussed, accepte
dismissal with what grace he coul
muster. Oh-ah-thanks." he sal
blankly. "Awf'ly good of you"
Good evening. Mr.. Trait"
Good evening"
The door closed. Peter grunted di
gust and went slowly down the steps.
1t certainly looked all right no que
ton about that woman being straigl
goods. OF course Lydia might hay
been decent enough to write more g:
plicit excuse TO Dear Peter" instea
of Dear Mr.. TRAIT but. then. co
, respondence card conveyed through ii
2 hands of third person with whom til
dear girl couldn't feel well acquain
ed
. where to. sir?
: Peter came out of morose reverie I