Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-12-27
CHAPTER xv-continued.

Deen decent enough TO write q more eA-
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, sirw
Peter came out of morose reverie to
find himself hesitating beside the taxi.
'Tll be darned if dol" Peter replied
holly.
whats that?'
"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 it wasn't Lydia's hand, who
had never seen scrap of it?
He would have kissed it, 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, hesitated 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 shabby, Tapping
raincoat, at a midnight hour, was a
sight unprecedented.
Peter sat up. Barely in time devil
GUS thought engaged his fancy, and he
acted on it promptly. Ready to his
hand rested the mouthpiece of a flex-
lble speaking tube, ending in a fixed
earpieee close by the chauffeur's head
give dollars" Peter said distinctly
into the mouthpiece. eff you don't let
On I'm inside, in case this man ques-
lions"
The chauffeur didn't even signify he
had heard, SO positive became his i'm
mobility at sound of those magic syl-
tables, give 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 eavesdropper 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 a
demand for incontinent halt; but on
second thought permitted the car to
round into Madison avenue before he
gave the order.
Again at pause, this time halfway
down the avenue block, the cab elected
an Infatuated fare.
"What the blank did you do that
for?"
"Why in blank shouldn't II" the
chauffeur demanded as hotly. 'You
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 bring
young lady and was waitin' for her,
and / says yes, an he slips me three
bones-the clock says two-forty-and
says to clear out, won't be needed
And what did you want me to do about
that, SEEM you didn't want him to
know you was inside"
"Oh, all right" said Peter YEARLY
"You did precisely the right thing. Only
Il didn't quite understand" He eyed
perplexedly the colored lights of q
drug store across the way.
"Well, what's the good word now
boss? If you're done with me, I'm on
my way"
NO." Peter insisted, "Pm keeping
you. Run across the block and wait
just out of sight on Park avenue. I'll
walk back
bultoH1nB Lopcodt 10 GILL anu Sdcif
ficing his Bond street topper to the
elements, Peter trudged back to Sew
enty-sixth street, then eastward pas
number SO, regarding the house aggres
siyely.
1t looked down on him now, b.
thought defiantly, with touch of con
temptuous pity for his impotence tt
read the riddle of its staid, uncommuni
catiye walls.
Embittered, he walked on to Parl
avenue, and found his chartered car a
the appointed place. Pausing beside il
and ignoring the chauffeurs well-mean
advances (stimulated by the romanti
notion that this swell young guy wa
tryin' to beat it with the old duffer'
daughter, and had stubbed his toe II
the getaway, Peter painfully excogi
tated the inevitable conclusion that tn
nnly thing he could do was wait an,
watch He comfOrted himself littl