The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-11-02

their meeting: they went at once Il
each others arms.
''It's SO good to find you here. Betty
, Oh, good evening, Mr.. Quoin--Mr
, Trait, good evening. The best part is
thought you were stopping here, anC
was In despair when I found yoy
weren't"
"It's dear of you: but"
II was so anxious to give you-thls r
AS she spoke the puzzle box left Lyd.
las keeping finally and for all time.
Betty Merrilees uttered low cry.
'This?" she questioned in a strange
voice. "What?"
Must I say?" Lydia laughed. II
don't believe you really want me to"
"Not my necklace" the woman
gasped.
"Therel didn't tell-did l, Mrs.
Beggarstaff?"
mo, dear child; but we knew all the
time"
Incontinently Lydia was over
whelmed by very unexpected, I'M
called-for, motherly and protracted
embrace; which, while It didn't lack
affection, served as well the most dip
lomatic purpose of preventing the girl
from noticing Betty's half-hysterical
attempts to open the puzzle box and
that the Dowager Dragon was making
significant faces at Quoin over her
shoulder.
Permit me, Betty" Quoin suggest
ed. II think know the trick"
In another breath the box was open.
the necklace in its owners hands.
Merely my foolish delight to see
you again so soon, my dear" A hand
patted affectionately one of Lydia's
flushed cheeks as. released, breathless.
and wondering, she stepped back to
readjust her hat.
you're awfully good to me. Mrs.
Beggarstaff. But can't stop minute.
I've another errand to run for father
he's very busy tonight"
another errand!" Betty Merrilees
parroted out OF mind perhaps par
donably confused.
"Yes-I sha'n't be long. Father |
asked me to bring that to you; but |
promised to call for me within an hour.
So was to attend to the other errand
first. and wait here with you for him.
But my taxicab broke down and"
Craven coming here" Betty inter-
rupted incredulously, but checked sud-
denly at look from QuOin.
"As soon as he can get away" Lydia
affirmed. II mean, Of course, wher-
ever you're really stopping"
1.-THE Plaza"
That's Just across the way, isn't IT. |.
It's odd of him to make such a mis-
take. He said the Margrave distinctly.
But I'll ask for you at the Plaza In
half an hour, If you don't mind"
mind! On the contrary" Mrs. Mer-
rilees said pleasantly. "Ill be delight
ed. Tad. too. That will be fun
rather! Wen have supper together
all of u.s."
"And so-good night for thirty min
utes," Lydia laughed. II must hurry"
"Wait a minute" Peter put in. I'm
off too, you know, and going your way"
"HOw do you know you are !" Lydia
smiling back from the door
way.
Because that's the way I'm going" 1
"But don't want you now. Mr.. ,
rraft-though shall hope to see you 1
again in half an hour. Good-by."
The hall-door closed. leaving Peter
Is dashed as Betty Merrilees was
as Quoin was thought {
ul, as the smile Of the Dowager Drag f
N was satiric. r
There was a little pause. r
what" Peter demanded, "what do :
'ou know about that?" s
after her, you loon," Quoin snapped, r
waking up with start. "If Craven y
old her to go somewhere else first, I
e sure he never meant her to bring q
hat necklace here. Don't you seer +
Ass |" Peter groaned, shifting his II
"Why didn't I think?" Seiz- s.
lg hat and coat, he threw open Fl
he door even as the elevator gate h
Hanged.
The car had dropped from sight be-
pre- he reached the shaft. Planting
numb on the push-button, he educed :,
My a thin, persistent grumble from q
ne annunciator bell. steadily dimin-
hing In volume as the car continued n
ilfully to descend. o,
Infatuated, the young man commit b.
ID the soul Of the elevator attendant Il
, the nethermost depths of damnation II
nd. turning to the stairway, plunged
own the flights In breakneck haste,
Tree steps at time.
Across the lobby he sped as one B
ounded by furies, and gained the car v,