Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1917-10-25


come now!" he said In strained indul.
yence. I'VE can't go on forever quar-.
reling, you and I. Liddy."
II agree" she replied coolly. "Any
explanation you can make"
"It's all mistake. Mrs. Ellsworthy,
most Jealous woman in-ah-OuI
service, misinterpreted my message.
believed 1t imperative you should be
Detained, and when you showed temper
committed an objectionable error. I'll
see she apologies; meantime l, your
father, express my sincere regret"
Briefly Lydia analysed words and
tone, and found both hollow with insin.
certify. She shook her head YEARLY.
"You're not telling me the truth. I've
learned too we'll to know when you're
-inventing. If you mean what you
say. II you wish to prove you didn't
instruct that woman to lock me up
open that door and let me leave this
house at once"
Craven sighed, shrugged tolerantly
"Very WE'LL" he urged. "Tve no wish
to dctain you. Just one thing-anC
we'll go together. First be good
enough to give me that puzzle box"
"No!" Lydia cried out in u round
full voice. "No"
whats thnt?" he said, incredulous.
II said no." Lydia told him. II will
not give you the puzzle box. 1t belongs
to Mrs. Merrilecs."
In breath his face was suffused
with blood. $50 that's your style. is
it," he stormcd. advancing. "Well,
well have this out here and now, my
lady I'm your fnthe--I Order-I com.
mnnd you to hand over that box! I'm.
less, of course, you prefer me to take
1t by force"
He had come within two feet. was
menacing her with face and gestures
Of uncomfortable wrath. But she
didn't yield step.
"You can't" she said evenly.
''Whut the devils to PREVENT"
because Mrs. Merrilees has it now. "
The man fell back as though she had
raised shape of horror between them
stammering and aghast he jnbbered
repetition, Mrs. Merrilees has 1t
now"
Lydia affirmed with q nod.
"You-you're not fooling me, I.iddy p
asked Craven in stricken voice.
I'm telling you the truth, II you've
the wit to recognize it." she said with
the brutal intolerance of youth for nge
allied with depravity. "Sheer chance
fooled you. My cab broke down nj
Ilfty-nfth street. 1 walked two blocks
north to get another mt the Margrave-
where Mrs. Merrilees wasn't stopping
and where you didn't mean to meet me
after Id called hcre-nnd by down
right good luck found her with Mrs
Beggnrstaff. SO gave her the neck
lace, and came on hcre-AIr. Trait es
corting me- though not mt my request
"Good hcavcns!" said Craven agnin
his accents qunvering. "DO you know
what you're saying. Lid1y?"
'I'm afraid know too we'll"
With an inurticulute groan Crnver
! sank into chair and buried his face In
! his hands. "YOu've ruined mel"
| i've saved you. you mean.
"YOu don't understand. What" HI
looked up eagerly. 'What did they say
when you-when you give back the
necklace"
"They were kind enough to say moth
ing, to pretend Mrs. Merrilees had In
stigated tie smuggling swindle tina
you invented-tO blind me. Even Mrs
Merrilees pretended, in the goodness!
of her heart. And was deceived I'm
til-this Mrs. Ellsworthy locked me in
and SO gave me CHI, nee to think from
q true point Of departure. Then I'm
derstood. thought It all out-realize,
that you had stolen the necklace-tha
you were an associate Of criminals
that was the daughter of common
theft"
Grooming, Craven covered his fac
again.
Now" said the girl, "let me go.
don't know what action they mean +
take against you. but. as for me. as
nothing better thnn to be permitted t
80 and forget YOU"
You mean you won't appear ngains
me?" he asked
"Not IL | Gun manage to lose mysel
another name. perhaps"
ut won't be necessary" Craven In
terrupted in voice of chill despair
He rose, stood staring at her with eye
deep sunken in sockets that had bee
suddenly followed out by despair. ctr
done for!"
; A certain simplicity in that declara
ton convinced and struck fear into
heart that had been impregnable to al
; other appeals.
"What do you mean7 Father, whs
do you mean"
! "You remember the knave of dis
monds-the knave Of clubs? There
. one more knave in the series-spade
, and that spells-death!
"FatherW
"It's an old story-too long to detail
The knaves are warnings. l haven
had spades yet: but I'll get 1t with
six hours unless produce the necklac