The Jasper news., 1917-09-20


remainder of the brandy.
"You should have told me 6rst
thing" he mumbled.
IF you hadn't misled me, shouldn't
have hesitated an instant, father; but
was silly enough-it seems-to hope
that by saying nothing ] might ward
off danger from YOU" !
Eyes," he agreed simply, ut would
have been better II I'd told you the
truth. But then, of course, you
wouldn't have consented to bring the
stuff In. And how was to know they
were watching me so closelyF How did
they guess I'd"
"'They'2"
He gave her sullen glance. Smith
and Colonel Gordon. Gordon's the
other crooks name-if Quoin forgot to
tell you. Curse It'll Why didn't you
tell me this first?'
"Why? What difference"
mo difference" he grumbled. "Too
late: now mischief's done" He with
drew into morose contemplation of the
knave of diamonds.
"What have such men to do with the
secret service?" Lydia demanded abb
ruptly.
"With the-ah-secret service?" He
looked up blankly. "Why-nothing
whatever! What makes you askf"
"Then what were they after when
they attacked mes0 Not the evidence
you talked about?'
"My dear child! What do you sup
pose? What but the loot-that neck
lace? They've been hot on Betty's
trail from the moment 1t became
known she had bought the thing from
Cottier's."
"You confuse me !" Lydia protest
ed in bewllderment. "1f they weren't
connected with the secret service, If
If you had nothing whatever to do with
them. why are you SO afraid of them?"
81? But-my dear child" Craven
said indulgently, you're quite mis-
taken. I'm no more afraid of them
than of-well-say Mr.. Collector
Loeb"
Seated across the table from him,
resting her elbows upon 1t, Lydia re-
garded her father with an expression In
which were blended amazement, stupe-
faction, misery and uncertainty.
If Craven read her look. he refused
to acknowledge 1t. With an air Of
thorough satisfaction he rose and, TAX
ing up the. puzzle box, shut 1t with q
snap its treasure undisturbed.
Her eyes followed the puzzle box,
which Craven was slipping into the
side pocket of his coat, with IN express
sion he was quick to interpret.
"This goes to Betty Merrlees rs fast
as taxicab can take It," he an
nounced promptly. "In fact. stopped
In only to get it on my way uptown"
I'm glad Of that" said Lydia, list
lessly tracing an empty pattern on the
table.
"If I'm late, don't fret about me
please. I'm quite all right now.
Chances are sha'n't have another
turn like tonight's In several"
A knock sounded on the door. He
broke off with start, and for half q
minute stood moveless and silent, his
mouth ajar, his eyes transfixed; then
recollecting himself. he said almost
nonchalantly:
mind answering that2 If it's any
body for me, say I'm out"
AS Lydia rose he swung sharply bach
into his bedchamber. When she turned
back from the door she saw him poised
alertly just within the threshold, hi
right hand buried in his coat pocket.
"A note for you-wants an answer
The bellboy's waiting"
With a nervous gesture Craven nd
vanced and took the envelope, hi!
breath quickening and brows cloudinl
as he conned the superscription-hi!
name in ink and the room number II
blue pencil. But for several seconds
he seemed to hesitate. Then abrupt!
he ripped it open.
And this time he seemed to hav
been prepared; for he manifested n,
untOward emotion when he drew from
the envelope n single playing card, tn
lnave of clubs.
Drawing a deep breath, which Nigh
J. have been a sigh of relief, Craven dc
liberately tossed the card face upwar
, on the table. you'll notice a pi
puncture in the stem of the club, be
meath the small j." he observed coOlly
/ ''That means one of my agents, O.
urgent business"
, "I'll stay in my room with the doc
| shut" Lydia volunteered.
3 "No-wasn't thinking of that: mere
ly wondering If you could. You Sc,
t I'm likely to be detained by this cha
| coll 70