Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1917-09-20


n One Quivering Hand He Held
Playing card-a knave Of Dia-
monds.
stood out upon his forehead, his lips
trembled, his eyes sick with fear. The
hinges Of his knees loosened, he
swayed.
In one quivering hand he held a play.
ing card-a knnve of diamonds.
He enunciated with difficulty, "Wha
what" With half fruntic gesture
he tore ut his collar. where did that
come from?" he cried hourscly. ''uow
how did it get in that d. box?"
He made strnnsled sound rceled
and fell back heavily into Il chair. the
card tluttering from his grasp to rest
face upward ut his feet.
daddy, whit can l do? What's the
matter? If only you'd speak to mel"
kneeling ut her fathers side in II pas
sion of anxiety, she fondled hanG
inert and frightfuly cold.
His position unchanged, Craven wore
every indication OF complete physical
collapse. A hnnd-his lcft-clutchcL
at his coat, above the heart.
But as Lydia moved to rise and tele
phone for the hotel physician the mar
stirred. His lips quivercd. She bent
near to catch their whisper:
Brandy
"I'll order it ut once"
But his fingers. knitted with hers re
strained her with singular strength unC
insistcnce. "No-tlasi on my bureau
"Yes. dearest. Let me 80 and get it
won't you?"
"No-let mc-all right now"
| lie managed to lift head and shoul
dera from the chair; then again col.
lapscd. his fingers relaxing.
The bureau top In his bedchambel
was Uttered with Il confusion OF nr.
ticles turned out huphazurl from era
ven's dressing case. For moment
| Lydia searched the disarrny. ut IL loss
to single out anything resembling
flask. Then u low cry of siupefnctior
escaped her: in clear space to one
side the puzzle box lay open.
In its shallow oblong drawer. upon
a layer Of cotton wool, blazed the pearl
and diamond collar stolen from Mrs
Mcrrilees-Or the imitation?
| But Immediately the mystery and the
wonder of this was lost in her solicit
tude. and. another glance discovering u
small lcather-bound flask she seized it
and ran back to the other room.
| Craven's eyes were open and, she
fnncied, Informed with look of al
most frightened inquiry us she unstop-
pered the flask, dashed q generous
amount of brandy into glass. and
turned toward silver water pitcher.
But his husky whisper stayed her
hand.
"NO-Straight-"
She put the glass to his lips. invert-
Ing it slowly while he gulped and splut.
tered
More" he demanded with his first
free breath. IA little water"
After this second draft, which he
drank unuided, he seemed more him
self. For the FIRST time he ceased to
clutch his side, n little color crept back
into his face. He remained silent, how
ever, his gaze bent upon the Ennve Of
diamonds ut his feet, his countenance
darkly pcrrlexed.
AT length Lydia vcntured anew.
'What Is it, daddy? Can't you tell
meg"
| Heart" he muttered. can old affec-
ton. Nothing to worry about; but that
card kecled me Over-rather.
''But what-what does it mcan?"
You wouldn't understand. It's some.
thing secret, code signal TO me to-
wasn't expecting it in the boy"
That thought he left unfinished,
mumbling something indistlnguishable.
But his eyes flashed toward his daugh-
ter's face, then were quickly averted.
I'm the box with the necklace, you
mean?" Lydia prompted evenly.
He wouldn't reply directly. "Gave
me devil of a shock" After moment
of silence he cried out in accents of ex-
ASPIRATION, "But how in the name of
God did it ever get therc?"
A knock checked Lydia's reply. With
a start Craven pulled himself together
and rose.
Mustn't let the waiter see me like
this. You let him in-will you?"
He managed slow but unwavering
return to his room. When he was out
of sight Lydia turned to the door. adj
hitting the waiter with his heavy tray,
signed for the meal, and tipped and dis.
missed the man.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK