The Jasper news., 1917-09-20
CHAPTER xl-continued.

she heard him call her In voice IN
stinct with mortal terror.
Startled, she turned and ran into the
adjoining room, pulling up with cry
ut sight of her father. His face,
stricken mask, notified, CHASTITY; sweat
stood out upon his forehead, his lips
trembled his eyes sick with fear. The
hinges of his knees loosened, lie
swayed.
In one quivering hand he held play
ing card-a knave of diamonds.
He enunciatcd 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 u strangled sound, reeled,
and fell back heavily into chair, the
card fluttering from his grasp to rest
% face upward at his feet.
Daddy, what can do? What's the
matter? If only you'd speak to me !"
Kneeling at her fathers side Ia pas
sion of anxiety, she fondled hand
inert and frightfully cold.
His position unchanged, Craven wore
tNtIy VI NolhpiClC phS
collapse. A hand-hs lcft-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"
"l'll order it at once"
Ia. Init 1,,ftJ rn-
strained her with singular strength and
insistencc. "No-tlask OH my bureau"
Eyes, dearest. Let me so and get it,
won't your
"NO-lct mc-all right now"
He managed to lift head and Shout
drrs from the chair; then again col
lupsed, his fingers relaxing.
The bureau top in his bedchamber
was Uttered with confusion of ar
tcles turned out haphazard from Cra-
VEINS dressing case. For moment
lydia searched the disarray, at loss
10 single out anything resembling a
flask, Then low cry Of stupefaction
escaped her: in a clear space to one
side the puzzle box lay open.
In its shallow oblong drawer, upon
layer of cotton WOOL bluzed the pearl
aud diamond collar stolen from Mrs.
NierriiecS-ur the imitation?
But Immediately the mystery and the
wonder of this was lost in her sOlici-
tude, and, another glance discovering n
small leather-bound flask, she seized II
and ran back to the other room.
Cravcn's eyes were open and, she
1uncied, informed with look of al.
most frightened inquiry as she unstop
pered the flask, dashed generous
turned toward a silver water pitcher
But his husky whisper stayed hel
hand.
"No-straight-"
She put the glass to his lips, invert
ing it slowly while he guped and splut
tered.
More !" he demanded with his frs
free breath. "a little water"
After this second draft, which h,
drank unaided, he seemed more him
self. For the first time he ceased t.
clutch his side; little color crept bacl
into his face. He remained silent, how
ever, his gaze bent upon the knave Of
diamonds at his feet his countenanc,
darkly perplexed.
At length Lydia ventured anew
"What is 1t, daddy? Can't you tel
me?"
Heart" he muttered, ian old affec
ton. Nothing to worry about; but tina
card keeled me over-ratherr"
But what-what does it mean?"
you wouldn't understand. It's some
thing secret, code signal to me to
wasn't expecting it in the box"
That thought he left unfinished
mumbling something indlstinguishable
But his eyes flashed toward his daugl
ter's face, then were quickly averted.
I'm the box with the necklace, 20,
mean?" Lydia prompted evenly.
He wouldn't reply directly. Cav
me devil of shock After a momen
of silence he cried out in accents of ez
ASPIRATION, "But how in the name O
God did 1t ever get there?"
A knock checked Lydia's reply. Wit
a start Craven pulled himself togethe
=. and rose.
Mustn't let the waiter see me llk
this. You let him in-will your"
He managed slow but unwaverin
return to his room. When he was on
of sight Lydia turned to the door, nc
uniting the waiter with his heavy traI
signed for the meal. and tipped and dI!
missed the man