Williams news., 1917-11-01
CHAPTER VIl-Continued.

She had begged to be permitted to help him, and Craven promised to command her services, if ever need should arise; but his tone in promising had been mellow with an indulgence deprecating 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.
 Yet already that time had come She was half wild with delight.
 After some minutes the quiet of the chip 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 to change this custom and the stroke of one bell of the midnight watch found Lydia, unhindered, leaving. her door, a long cloak effectually disguising her light dinner gown.
 Cautiously, with swift glances mak- ing sure that the alleyway was empty
 
 forward, slipped quickly through the port doorway into the welcome blank ness which closed round her like a magic garment of instability. At intervals electric bulbs incased in hemispheres of clouded glass plotted the obscurity overhead, but lent little aid to the girls straining vision. And, now that most of the passengers were abed, every port she passed was dark.
 At the fifth stanchion, midway be- tween two of the overhead lights, she found no one waiting; and, since she had encountered no one on the way, she groped on to the sixth, found it deserted, and, returning, settled down to wait.
 Suddenly Craven stood before her the effect as mysterious as his busi- ness: with no warning of any sort, he was therei
 Without speaking, Lydia stretched forth hand to his. He suffered her caress without apparent emotion, and, peerfng anxiously into his face, she saw it set in mold of care and vigi- tance-even now, when they were ut ter1y alone!
 When he spoke 1t was in a preoc- cupied tone. Hope I haven't kept you waiting"
 "Only moment"
 He shook his head wearily. q 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 de1iciously. 'sI think not. I've been here some time, quite undisturbed."
 Good. But they nearly got mel"
 "Who?'
 He smiled faintly. "The other side"
 Lydia's grasp frightened. on his plump fingers. "You-you're- not in dangerr'
 Don't be alarmed. They'd never dare attempt anything aboard this yes sel. But I've stolen a march on them and something else, something more valuable" Straining dramatic psuse to the snapping point, he eased 1t with word, Evidence p
 At this the foghorn whooped like a demon of derisfon. Until it was quiet again Craven stood moveless, chin on bosom, eyes blank with abstraction.
 "Yes," he affirmed, "dev'lish good evidence! Look here, I'll have to tell you something. We've been sold out ! mean there's traitor in our corps."
 "But can't you do something?"
 "Rather!" Craven laughed shortly. ''In fact, have done something al- ready. He won't go far; for his word "a squealer's word-won't have much weight with the other side, lacking proofs, and I've got the evidence to discredit him." he paused again, touched his breast lightly but effec- lively, "herei"
 Again interrupted by the foghorn, he started al.4 drowned irritably, seem- ing to detect something sardon1c Tn it's accent.
 "Well-that's all. You understand now. The point is, I'm known to have -ah-stolen this evidence. But don't worry. This is where you come in" From his coat pocket Craven produced a small, oblong box of inlaid wood, highly polished. 'eTve managed to pack