Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-09-28

Playing Card-a knave OF Dia-
msnds.
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 q play
Ing card-a knave of diamonds.
He enunciated with difficulty, "Wha
what" With half frantic gesture
he tore at his collar. "Where did that
come from?'' he cried hoarsely. "How
how did it get in that d box?"
He made strangled sound, reeled,
and fell back heavily into chair, the
card futtering from his grasp to rest
face upward at his feet.
Daddy, what can 1 do? What's the
matter? If only you'd speak to mel"
Kneeling at her fathers side In a pas
sion of anxiety, she fondled hand
Inert and frightfully cold.
His position unchanged, Craven wore
every indication Of complete physical
collapse. A hand-his left-clutched
at his coat, above the heart.
But as Lydia moved to rise and tele-
phone for the hotel physician the man
stirred. His lips quivered. She bent
near to catch their whisper:
Brandy"
"I'll order 1t at once"
But his fingers, knitted with hers. re-
strained her with singular strength and
Insistence. "No-fiask on my bureau"
eyes, dearest. Let me go and get 1t,
won't you?"
"No-let me-all right now
He managed to lift head and shouk
ders from the chair; then again coll
Iapsed. his fingers relaxing.
The bureau top In his bedchamber
was Uttered with a confusion Of ar
ticles turned out haphaZard from Cra-
ven'S dressing case. For moment
Lydia searched the disarray. at loss
to single out anything resembling o
flask. Then O low cry of stupefactton
escaped her: in a clear space to one
side the puzzle box lay open.
In It's shallow oblong drawer, upon
layer Of cotton wool, blazed the pearl
and diamond collar stolen from Mrs.
| Merrilees-or the imitation?
But Immediately the mystery and the
wonder of this was lost in her solicit
tude, and another glance discovering a
small leather-bOund flask, she seized 1t
and ran back to the other room.
Craven's eyes were open and, she
inf will q l..
most frightened inquiry as she unstop-
pered the flask, dashed q generous
amount of brandy into a glass, and
| turned toward silver water pitcher.
| But his husky whisper stayed her
| hand.
"No-stralght-"
She put the glass to his lips, invert-
| ng it slowly while he gulped and Splut-
| tered.
"More!" he demanded with his first
free breath. "a little water"
After this second draft, which he
self. For the first time he ceased to
clutch his side; little color crept back
into his face. He remained silent, how
ever, his gaze bent upon the knave Of
diamonds at his feet, his countenance
darkly perple&ed.
At length Lydia ventured anew,
'What is it, daddy? Can't you tell
met"
Heart" he muttered, IAN old affec-
ton. Nothing to worry about; but that
card keeled me over-rather!s
"But what-what does 1t mean?S
"You wouldn't understand. It's some
thing secret, code signal to me to-
wasn't expecting 1t In the box"
That thought he lett unfinished,
mumbling something indistinguishable.
But his eyes flashed toward his daugh-
ters face, then were quickly averted.
SIN the box with the necklace, you
mean" Lydia prompted evenly.
He wouldn't reply directly. "Gavn