The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-09-21
CHAPTER ViI-Continued.

She had begged to be permitted 10
help him, and Craven promised 10
command her services, If ever neeo
should arise; but his tone In promising
had been mellow with an indulgence
deprecating' the implication tnat
Downing Streets secret ambassador
could ever need the aid OF woman
hands and wits In his occult ana mo-
mentouS affairs.
YET already that time had come
She was half wild with delight.
After some minutes the quiet OF the
shfn was made musical with the mel
low and deliberate sounding of eight
bells, midnight. She had still half an
hour 70 wait-an almost insufferaDly
protracted vigil, with every facuity
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,
long cloak ef'ectually disgusting ner
light dinner gown.
Cautiously, with swift glances max
ing sure that The alleyway was empty
all down it's darkened length, she stole
forward, slipped quickly through the
mort doorway into the welcome blank
ness which closed round her ike
magic garment Of invisibility. AL
intervals electric bulbs incased IN
hemispheres Of clouded glass blotteo
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 CROPPED ON to the sixth, FOUND IL
deserted, and, returning, settled down
TO wait.
Suddenly Craven stood before her
the effect as mysterious as his busl-
ness: with no warning Of any sort, ne
was therel
Without speaking, Lydia stretched
forth a hand to his. He suffered her
caress without apparent emotion, and.
peering anxiOusly into his face, she
saw It set in a mold Of care and vigil
Iance-even now, when they were ut
terly alone!
When he spoke 1t was in preoc-
cupied tone. Hope 1 haven't kept
you waiting"
"Only a moment"
He shook his head YEARLY. Il was
detained" For several seconds he
seemed deep in thought. Then his
words came swiftly, "Tm suspected
watched Did anyone see your
She thrilled deliciously. II think
not I've been here some time, quite
undisturbed."
Good. But they nearly got meT
"Who?
He smiled family. 1.-THE other side."
Lydla's grasp frightened on his
ulump fingers. "You-you're not In
dangerT
"Don't be alarmed. They'd never
dare attempt anything aboard this YES
sci. But I've stolen a march on them
and something else. something more
valuable" Straining a dramatic
pause to the swapping point, he eased
Il with a word, Evidence J"
At this the foghorn whooped like
demon of derIsion. Until 1t was quiet
again Craven stood moveless, chin on
bosom, eyes blank with abstraction.
yes" he affirmed, "devlish good
evidenced Look here, I'll have to tell
YOU something. We've been sold out
I mean there's a traitor In our corps"
But can't you do somethingT
~Ratherf" Craven laughed shortly.
~In fact, have done something al
ready. He won't 60 far; for his word
"a squeaIer's word-won't have muoA
wmaxht win he other side. lacking