The Jasper news., 1917-10-18
CHAPTER xv-continued.

Deen decent enough 10 write LuoIe GA
plicit excuse to "Dear Peter" instead
of Dear Mr.. Trait" but, then, cor
respondence card conveyed through the
hands of third person with whom the
dear girl couldn't feel well acquaint-
ed
"Where to, sir?"
Peter came out of morose reverle to
"I'll be darned If do" Peter replied
hotly.
whats thatT
"Oh, beg pardon-no offense-was
thinking. Just wait, please" Peter
threw himself back into the cab, Slam
ming the door. "Rotten fix" he grum-
bled. "Why, she said she'd come back"
Regarding the note critically, he enun-
ciated a somber doubt, 'Don't believe
she wrote you. It's all plant"
The handwriting was Enthusiastically
that Of woman of culture. How was
he to say 1t wasn't Lydia's hand, who
had never seen a scrap Of 1t?
He would have kissed 1t, could he
have been sure.
Through the forward window he
commanded perspective of the south
erly sidewalk as far as to Madison ave-
nue., where surface car swinging up
town, hesltated with grinding brakes,
and then rumbled on.
A moment later the shadowy shape
of man darted across the street and
toward the taxicab, and Peter recog-
nized Craven's characteristic gait. But
for that he wouldn't have known the
man, who was all but disguised to eyes
that had never beheld him out of dress
clothes after nightfall-Craven wear
ing bowler with a shabby, Tapping
raincoat, at a midnight hour, was
sight unprecedented.
Peter sat up. Barely in time deyi-
Gus thought engaged his fancy, and he
acted on 1t promptly. Ready to his
hand rested the mouthplece of a flex-
ible speaking tube, ending in a fixed
earpiece close by the chauffeur's head.
Five dollars" Peter said distinctly
into the mouthpiece, "if you don't let
on Pm inside, in case this man, ques-
tions."
The chauffeur didn't even signify he
had heard, so positive became his i'm
mobility at sound Of those magic syl-
tables, "Five dollars"
Hastily Peter dragged his overcoat
across the bosom of his shirt and
crowded himself into the corner near
est the curb.
Bearing out his premonition, Craven
stopped to speak to the chauffeur
and the eayesdropper cursed bitterly
to hear no more than the confused
grumble of their voices.
Then without the least warning the
car shot away at round pace west
ward.
Simmering with profanity, Peter
seized the speaking tube to below q
demand for incontinent halt; but on
second thought permitted the car tc
round into Madison avenue before he
gave the order.
Again at pause, this time halfway
down the avenue block, the cab elected
an infuriated fare.
"What the blank did you do that
for?"
"Why in blank shouldn't II" the
chauffeur demanded as hotly. "Yor
told me not to let on, didn't you? Here
come through with that FIVE"
Choking, Peter found his money, dis
bursed. "How did it happen?"
"Why the old gink says, did I brinl
q young lady and was waitIn' for her
and l says yes, an he slips me three
bones-the clock says two-forty-ant
says to clear out, I won't be needed
And what did you want me to do abou
that, SEEM you didn't want him t
know you was inside?"
"Oh, all right" said Peter wearily
"You did precisely the right thing. Onl!
II didn't quite understand" He eyet
perplexedly the colored lights Of
drug store across the way.
"Well, what's the good word now
boss? If you're done with me; I'm OF
my way"
"No," Peter insisted, I'm keeping
you. Run across the block and wal
just out of sight on Park avenue. II
walk back"
Buttoning topcoat to chin and sacrl
ficing his Bond street topper to tn
elements, Peter trudged back to Sew
enty-sixth street, then eastward pas
number 98, regarding the house aggres
sively.
1t looked down on him now, h
thought defantly, with touch of con
temptuous pity for his impotence t