Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1917-08-22
CHAPTER VII-Continued.

she had begged to be permitted to
help him, and Craven promised to
command her services, if ever need
should arise; but his tone in promising
had been mellow with an indulgence
deprecating the implication that
Downing Streets secret ambassador
could ever need the aid of woman's
hands and wits in his occult and mo-
mentOus affairs.
YET already that time had come
She was half wild with delight.
After some minutes the quiet of the
ship was made musical with the mel
low and deliberate sounding of eight
bells, midnight. She had still half an
hour to wait-an almost insufferably
protracted vigil, with every faculty
tense in apprehension Of the prema-
ture return of her Dowager Dragon.
But tonight nothing happened to
change this custom; and the stroke Of
one bell Of the midnight watch found
Lydia, unhindered, leaving her door, a
long cloak effectually Disgusting her
3lght dinner gown.
Cautiously, with swift glances max
ing sure that the alleyway was empty
all down its darkened length, she stole
forward, slipped quickly through the
port doorway into the welcome blank
ness which closed round her like a
magic garment of invisibility. At
intervals electric bulbs incased in
hemispheres of clouded glass plotted
the Obscurity overhead, but lent little
aid to the girls straining vision. And,
now that most Of the passengers were
abed, every port she passed was dark.
At the fifth stanchion, midway be-
tween two of the overhead lights, she
found no one waiting; and, since she
had encountered no one on the way,
she CROPPED on to the sixth, found it
deserted, and, returning, settled down
TO wait
Suddenly Craven stood before her
the effect as mysterious as his. bust
ness: with no warning of any sort, he
was there!
Without speaking, Lydia stretched
forth a hand to his. He suffered her
caress without apparent emotion, and,
peering anxiously into his face, she
saw it set in a mold of care and vigil
lance-even now, when they were ut
terly alone!
When he spoke it was in a preoc-
cupied tone. Hope I haven't kept
you waiting"
"Only a moment"
He shook his head YEARLY. 81 was
detained" For several seconds he
seemed deep in thought. Then his
words came swiftly, 'Pm suspected
watched! Did anyone see you?"
She thrilled deliciously. ST think
not. I've been here some time, quite
undisturbed."
"GoOd. But they nearly got me-"
'Who?"
He smiled family. "The other side"
Lydia's grasp frightened on his
plump fingers. "You-you're lot in
danger?"
Don't be alarmed. They'd never
dare attempt anything aboard this YES
sci, But I've stolen march on them
and something else, something more
valuable" Straining a dramatic
pause to the swapping point, he eased
~ q NOIus ENlOeuCS!
Al this the foghorn whooped like
lemon Of derision. Until it was quiet
asdLn Craven stood moveless, chin on
0oSon, eyes blank with abstraction.
les he affirmed, "dev'lish good
evidence! Look here, I'll have to tell
you something. We've been sold out
mean there's a traitor in cur corps"
BUT can't you Go something's"
hather!" Craven laughed shortly.
III TACT, 1 have done something al
ready He won't go far: for his word
"a SGuealer's word-won't have much
weight with the other side, lacking
proofs, and I've got the evidence to
l'Scredit him." he paused again,
touched his breast lightly but effec-
lively, here! :"
Again interrupted by the foghorn, he
started and frowned irritably, SEEM
ING to detect something sardonic in its
accent.
'Nell-that's all. You understand
low. The point is, Tn known to have
-ah-stolen this evidence. But don't
worry. This is where you come in"
From his coat pocket Craven produced
small, oblong box of inlaid wood
highly polished. 'Tve managed to pack