The Jasper news., 1917-10-25
AUTHOR THE LONE
WOLF" THE BRASS
BOWL" ,"ETC.
COPYRIGHT BT LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

Merrilees pretended, In the goodness
of her heart. And I was deceived un-
til-this Mrs. Ellsworthy locked me in,
and so gave me chance to think from
true point Of departure. Then l un-
derstood. I thought it all out-reallzed
that you had stolen the necklace-that
you were an associate of criminals
that 1 was the daughter Of a common
thiefp
Groanlng, Craven covered his face
again.
"Now," said the girl, '1et me go. L
don't know what action they mean to
take against you, but, as for me, ask
nothing better than to be permitted to
go and forget you"
"You mean you won't appear against
me?" he asked.
"NOt If 1 can manage to lose myself
another name, perhaps"
ut won't be necessary" Craven in
terrupted in a voice of chill despair.
He rose, stood staring at her with eyes
deep sunken in sockets that had been
suddenly followed out by despair. "I'm
done for"
A certain simplicity in that declara-
tion convinced and struck fear into a
heart that had been impregnable to all
other appeals.
"What do you mean? Father, what
do you mean%
"You remember the knave of dia-
monds-the knave of clubs2 There's
one more knave in the serles-spades
and that spells-death !"
"Father!"
ITS an old story-too long to detail.
The knaves are warnings. / haven't
had spades yet; but I'll get 1t within
six hours unless produce the necklace
to be sold and shared. And that's now
removed forever beyond my reachl"
"Father!" the girl reiterated witless-
ly. She caught the arm of a chair to
steady herself, unconsciously sank into
1t, and sat staring and terrified.
1.-THE trouble" said Craven In a
broken voice, "the trouble is, I've al
ways wanted to run straight-always.
L guess every crook does, down deep.
And when I saw chance to marry
money shook Smith and Gordon. Only
they wouldn't be shaken. And then l
ran short, and to keep up appearances
until after the marriage made up my
mind to turn one last trick-the neck
lace-and then," he laughed bitterly,
Virtue! But they were on the same
job. And then you turned up. Other
wise I could have come through with
the loot and saved myself. Now"
He paused an instant, profoundly
speculative. II may have chance yet
for getaway. They don't know where
l am; though they may suspect. If
only l can get an hours lead out Of
town"
The sound of sobbing disturbed him.
What lies had conjured up-fear, dis
gust, contempt-the truth had eXor-
cised: the rags and tatters of her child
hoods love for him alone remained.
Spent, broken in heart and spirit,
humbled and torn with the horror his
confession inspired, Lydia sat huddled
In misery, racked with tearing sobs.
| Craven moved to her side, touched
her hair with hesitant fingers. swell.
well |" he said huskily. 1--WE were fond
Of each other, weren't we, while 1t last
ed, little girl? And your mother-i
loved her. Weli-well-"
He turned and without her knowl-
edge gained the door; paused for a
single, prolonged backward glance
shook his head uncertainty; shrugged ;
deftly inserted key in the slit in the
doorlknob; and let himself softly out.
Only the muffled jar of the closing
door made her understand that she
was alone.
| NIAnrEn NuIl