The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-07-12
CHAPTER Vll--continued.

She had begged to be permitted 20
help him, and Craven promised 90
command her services, If eve need
should arise; but his tone in promising
had been mellow with an indulgence
aeprecatlng the implication that
Downing Streets secret ambassador
could ever need the aid of woman's
hands and wits in his occult and mo-
mentous affairs.
Yer already that time had come!
She was half wild with delight.
After some minutes the quiet of the
ship was made musical with the mel
low and deliberate sounding of eight
bells, midnight. She had still half an
hour to wait-an almost insufferably
protracted vigil, with every faculty
tense in apprehension Of the prema-
ture return of her Dowager Dragon.
But tonight nothing happened 10
change this custom and the stroke Of
n bell Of the midnight watch found
Lydia, unhindered, leaving her door, n
long cloak effectually Disgusting her
light dinner gown.
Cautiously, with swift glances max
ing sure that the alleyway was empty
all down its darkened length, she stole
forward, slipped quickly through the
port doorway into the welcome blank
ness which closed round her like n
magic garment of invisibility. At
intervals electric bulbs incased in
hemispheres' Of cloufed glass blotted
the obscurlty overhqAd IA. but lent little
aid to the girls strav ing vision. And,
now that most of the passengers were
abed, every port she passed was dark.
At the fifth stanchlon, midway be-
tween two of the overhead lights, she
found no one waiting; and, since she
had encountered no one on the way,
she CROPPED on to the sixth, found ii
deserted, and, returning, settled down
to wait.
Suddenly Craven stood before her
the effect as mysterious as his bust.
ness: with no warning Of any sort, he
was therel
Without speaking, Lydia stretched
forth a hand to his. He suffered her
caress without apparent emotion, and,
peering a~nXiously into his face, she
saw 1t set in n mold of care and vigi-
lance-even now, when they were ut.
terly alone!
When he spoke it was In a preoc'
cupied tone. Hope l haven't kept
you waiting"
"Only a moment"
He shook his heAd YEARLY. 81 was
detained" For several seconds he
seemed deep in thought. Then his
words came swiftly, I'm suspected
watched! Did anyone see your
She thrilled d~eliciously. at think
not. I've been here some time, quite
undisturbed."
"Good. But they nearly got mel
"Who?"
He smiled family. 1.-THE other side
Lydia's grasp frightened on his
plump fingers. "You-you're not In
danger?"
Don't be alarmed. They'd never
dare attempt anything aboard this yes
sci. But I've stolen q march on then
and something else, something more
NAlhhbits olidiiii6 AhA
pause to the swapping point, he easet
it with a word, ''Evidence
At this the foghorn whooped like {
demon of derision. Until 1t vas quie'
again Craven stood moveless, chin OF
bosom. eyes blank with abstraction.
EYES," he affirmed, 'dev1ish goot
evidence! Look here, I'll have to tel
you something. We've been sold out
l mean there's a traitor in u corps
"But can't you do something's"
.Ratherw Craven laughed shortly
"In fact, l have done something al
ready. He won't go far; for his wore
"a ~squealer's word-won't have mucl
weight with the other side, lacking
proofs, and I've got the evidence t
discredit him." he paused again
touched his breast lightly but effec
lively. "herel"
Again interrupted by the foghOrn, h
started and frowned irritably, seem
ing to detect something sardonic in it
accent.
"Well-that's all. You understanI
now. The point is, I'm known to hav
-ah-stolen this evidence. But don
worry. This is where you. come In,
From his coat pocket Craven produce
a small, oblong box Of inlaid woot
highly polished. "Pve managed to pac