Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-11-08
"yvhy? What difrerence-',

knave of diamonds.
"What have such men to do with the
secret serviceT Lydia demanded alb
ruptly.
with the-ah--secret servicew He
looked up blankly. "Why--nothing
whatever What makes you ask?"
''Then what were they after when
they attacked me? Not the evidence
you talked aboutT'
| pose? What but the loot-that neck
lace? They've been hot on Betty's
trail from the moment it became
known she had bought the thing from
Cottier's."
you confuse me sol" Lydia protest
ed in bewilderment. IF they weren't
connected with the secret service, if
| if you had nothing whatever to do with
them, why are you so afraid Of them?"
81? But-my dear child" Craven
said indulgently, you're quite mis-
taken. I'm no more afraid of them
than of-well--say Mr.. Collector
| Loeb"
Seated across the table from him,
| resting her elbows upon 1t, Lydia re-
garded her father with an expression in
which were blended amazement, stupe-
| faction, misery and uncertainty.
If Craven read her look, he refused
to acknowledge it. With an air of
thorough satisfaction he rose and, TAX
ing up the puzzle box, shut it with a
snap, its treasure undisturbed.
Her eyes followed the puzzle box,
which Craven was slipping into the
side pocket of his coat, with an express
sion he was quick to interpret.
''This goes to Betty Merrilees as fast
as taxicab can take it," he an
nounced promptly. "In fact, stopped
] in only to get it on my way uptown"
"rm glad of that" said Lydia, list
lessly tracing an empty pattern on the
table.
IF I'm late, don't fret about me,
please. I'm quite all right now.
Chances are I sha'n't have another
turn like tonight's in several"
A knock sounded ON the door. He
broke off with start, and for half a
minute stood moveless and silent, his
mouth ajar, his eyes transfxed; then,
recollecting himself, he said almost
| nonchalantly:
mind answering that? IF it's any
body for me, say I'm OUT
AS Lydia rose he swung sharply back
into his bedchamber. When she turned
back from the door she saw him poised
alertly just within the threshold, his
| right hand buried in his coat pocket.
| "a note for you-wants an answer.
The bellboys waiting"
With a nervous gesture Craven adj
vanced and took the envelope, his
breath quickening and brows clouding
as he conned the superscription-his
| name in ink and the room number in
blue pencil. But for several seconds
| he seemed to hesitate. Then abruptly
he ripped it open.
And this time he seemed to have
| been prepared; for he manifested no
| untoward emotion when he drew from
the envelope single playing card, the
knave of clubs.
Drawing deep breath, which might
have been a sigh of relief, Craven de-
| liberately tossed the card face upward
on the table. you'll notice a pin
puncture in the stem of the club, be-
meath the small j." he observed coolly.
| THAT means one Of my agents, on
urgent business"
"Ill stay in my room with the door
shut" Lydia volunteered.
"No-wasn't thinking of that: mere
~ wondering if you could. You see,
I'm likely to be detained by this chap
can't tell how long" He consulted
his watch, frowning. "After ten now !;
I can't well call on Betty much later.
How would you like to take taxi to
the Margrave, and give her this con-
founded collar?"
He could have made no suggestion
more shrewdly calculated. In breath
Lydia's countenance lightened and her
eyes grew animated.
"Oh if mayw
"Why not? You'll be perfectly safe.
It's no great distance, nobody knows
you have the collar, and Betty'll be
glad to see you. You might stop with
her till I call for you-if you don't
mind being made an excuse Of"
"Yes," she agreed, breathless. "Ill
be glad"
'"Then jump into your hat and coat
and Half minute wonder would
you mind running another errand for
meT
"Of course not"
"It's only few blocks out Of your
way, and won't delay you longer than
to deliver note and get an answer.
I'll write the note now-two lines will
do"
"rll hurry" Lydia promised, dashing
off into her bedchamber.
! When she returned, ready for the
street Craven was folding down the
flap of an envelope blank save for the
figures in ink, "9S." I'm suppressing
the address," he said, smiling mysteri-