Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1917-10-03
cnAPTER xIII.-continued.


,As fact that Craven put up a very
yromDt protest when you told me to
take the necklace into the sunlight and
satisfy myself"
yes" Peter admitted gloomily.
els the evidence complete en0ugh?"
Mrs. Beggarstaff questioned gently.
ave didn't want to tell you this, Betty.
For my own part, I'd rather you had
conspired with Tad to smuggle-"
"Don't!" pleaded the unhappy wom-
an Bending forward, elbows on knees,
she stared sOmberly at the carpet. "But
how" she asked, "do you account for
that perfect counterfeit"
simply" Quoin replied, "after that
affair of Thursday night, on my own
responsibility [ sent a wireless to Paris,
70 Cottiers, in Betty's name. The an
swer came through Friday night, say
jng that the original owner had sold a
haste duplicate to a dealer in articles
de Paris, which he in turn had sold to
a chance Observation-Disclosures deScrip-
lion unaVailable-the same day that
tiers by your agent"
1T seems incredible. Of all men
Tad Cravenw
you forget how little we know of
him." the DoWager Dragon put in.
know of him?" Betty protested,
looking up. "Why, everybody knows
Tad Craven! Go out among our friends
and try to find one who believes he
would do anything dishonest"
And still, I insist, you forget how
little we know of him. Hark back into
your memory, my dear. How long have
we known him? Twelve or fifteen years
at most. How did he come to know
US? Through introductions to a few
clubs, Endorsed by Lord Evesden-who
was later drummed out Of town for
card cheating, and never came back.
But Tad Craven stuck. He didn't cheat,
and he was amusing, and as long as he
was personable, agreeable and seemed
have money nobody bothered about
hIo pedigree"
1--WE been looking Craven up" .Quofn
supplemented. "Listenp' He began to
read from a tiny memorandum book:
Game to New York in '93 with Brit
iSh musical comedy company. His wife,
Lefty Craven, fell i'll during the run Of
the piece and died in public hospital
Of quick consumption. After that Cra-
ven got a job with some show which
perished on the road. When he turned
up again he was training with gang
Of professional sharpers with whom he
played a few turns on the transatlantic
ferry route as capper. But he dropped
that before he became known to the
police. Later he was running with
gay Lord Evesden; but shook him as
soon as he felt solid in New York and
those ugly whispers began to go round
about Evesden's play. The rest is
mainly Circumstantial damnatiOn."
QuOin put away his notebook and be-
gan TO tick off his points on mis- fingers.
1T may not have escaped you that
hereye been some pretty stiff burglar
les among our friends in the last twelve
years or so. They weren't frequent;
but they were all big hauls, and every
one was well planned and eliminated
In clean getaway. And it so happens,
when one comes to look into it, that
Craven was especially thick with all
The people victimized. The biggest coup
vas the theft of the Joachim collec-
ton, worth several hundred thousand
dollars. Now Lydia Craven, when she
came aboard the AlSatia, was wearing
cameo from the Joachim collection
Which she said her father had given
her on her fifteenth birthday. Discreet
pumping on the part OF Mrs. Beggar-
Staf has shown that date to have fallen
Just three months after Joachim was
ROBBED. Incidentally, the cameo disap-
ptared as soon as Lydia and Craven
NET on board. There's sinister thread
running all through the history OF
1aaddeus Craven"
dis voice trailed off into silence.
4IS Merrilees was eying him steadily.
You never got all that information
"sether since morning?" Mrs. Beggar-
staff prompted.
W. QuDIu duuulLISu. VIC heiO
ny eye on Craven for some time"
., Why" the old woman demanded
gTuntIy. What made you first suspect
Well" replied Quoin, che never
aug true to me; and when 1t began to
V Fumored that he was q candidate
~ 6etty's hand-I felt sure he wasn't
,'Ethy Of her, and made up my nina
De sure before forbidding the
Alter c pause Betty looked up defi-
-uy' 1T does make me out bit OF
: IDIOT doesn't it?"
Nonsense! We were all taken in"
ser protested. Look how I've al
,'!S stuck up for Tad! But there's
lhlng 1 want to say: He may be
'Olter, and all that sort of thing;
= - mat girl of his is as straight and
- a Proposition"
10 hush, Peterl We all know
IRE in love with her. But what is
'-lS to me?" Betty protested with