Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1917-10-05


flushed cheeks as, released, breathless,
and wondering, she stepped back to
readjust her hat.
You're awfully good to me, Mrs.
Beggarstaff. But can't stop a minute.
I've another errand to run for father
he's very busy tonight"
another errand!" Betty Merrilees
parroted out Of mind perhaps par
donably confused.
"Yes-I sha'n't be long. Father
asked me to bring that to you; but
promised to call for me within an hour.
So was to attend to the other errand
first, and wait here with you for him.
But my taxicab broke down and"
"Craven coming here?" Betty inter-
rupted incredulously, but checked sud-
denly at look from Quoin.
'As soon as he can get away" Lydia
affirmed. II mean, of course, wher-
ever you're really stopping"
"The Plaza"
"That's just across the way, isn't it?
It's odd of hip to make such mis-
take. He said the Margrave distinctly.
But I'll ask for you at the Plaza in
half an hour, If you don't mind"
mind! On the contrary" Mrs. Mer-
rilees said pleasantly, "I'll be delight
ed. Tad, too. That will be fun
rather! Wen have supper together
all Of u.s."
"And so-good night for thirty min
utes," Lydia laughed. II must hurry"
swat minute" Peter put in. I'm
off too, you know, and going your way"
"How do you know you are!' Lydia
demanded, smiling back from the door
way.
Because that's the way I'm going"
"But I don't want you now, Mr..
Traft-though shall hope to see you
again in half an hour. Good-by."
The hall-door closed, leaving Peter
as dashed as Betty Merrilees was
thunderstruck, as Quoin was thought
full, as the smile Of the Dowager Drag
on was satiric.
There was little pause.
"What," Peter demanded, "what do
you know about that?"
after her, you LOOM" Quoin snapped,
waking up with start. IF Craven
told her to go somewhere else first,
be sure he never meant her to bring
that necklace here. Don't you seeT'
"Ass!" Peter groaned, shifting his
forehead. "Why didn't think7" Seiz-
ing hat and coat, he threw open
the door even as the elevator gate
changed.
The car had dropped from sight be.
fore he reached the shaft. Planting q
thumb on the push-button, he educed
| only thin, persistent grumble from
the annunciatOr bell, steadily dimin
ishing in volume as the car continued
wilfully to descend.
Infuriated, the young man commit
ted the soul Of the elevator attendant
to the nethermost depths of damnation
and, turning to the stairway, plunged
down the flights in breakneck haste
three steps at time.
Across the lobby he sped as one
bounded by furies, and gained the car
riage entrance barely in time to see q
taxicab pulling away from the curb.
Peter gave chase, affording midnight
wayfarers the diverting spectacle of 9
beautifully arrayed young man-coat
tails fiat to the wind and rain, top coat
streaming wildly from one arm, the
other brandishing the dernier cri ir
toppers-in mad, mute pursuit of 9
self-contained taxicab proceeding stol
idly about Its business.
Happily for Peter. Its business In
volved observance of traffic regula
tons; and when 1t paused to give pre-
cedence to Fifty-ninth street cross
town car Peter caught up-if some
thing more rudely than he had thought
to. Unable to check quickly on the
greasy asphalt, he skidded against thu
door with crash.
"Hold hardr he begged between
breaths. "Give me a chance!"
"What the" commented the chauf
fear suspiciously.
But at the same time Peter jerket
the door open. and-a Gravity, sinking
sensation deserted his midst: the fart
was Lydia. after all!
She greeted this breathless appari
ton with an inarticulate cry.
"You forgot something" Pete
gasped in response, climbing in.
"Whatr
"Mew he declared settling into tn
place by her side; then thrust his hea'
out Of the door and painted, ITS al
right, driver. Cut along-and don't g
too fast-slippery pavements-"
"But, Mr.. Trait" Lydia expostu
lated.
Peter shut the door with bang, an,
the car, with an unobstructed way
picked up wary heels and stole on VI
Fifth avenue.
CTO BE CONTTNUED)