Williams news., 1917-11-22
CHAPTER X-Continued.

d back to Lydia and Peter. "A bad busi- nessi" he doubted in an undertone, wagging his head. ''Betty's played the game straight as a die this trip; but nothing on earth will make these peo- pie believe that, after the way she's carried on in the past. Looks like an all-day session-no good your sticking round: nothing either of you can do. Quoin and I will stand by Betty; but you'd better cut along. You won't mind dropping Lydia at the Great Eastern hotel, PeterY
 ''NoeI won't precisely what you might call mind," Peter declared, brightening.
 '1 engaged rooms by wireless yester- day. It'll take day or two, you know, to readjust my diggings to receive a daughter. Now clear out-like good childrenI'
 Lydia bade hurried farewells. Giving Quoin her hand, she hoped he wouldn't forget to call, as he'd promised. Quoin was persuaded that such oversight would be symptomatic of insanity. His tone was light but his direct and pene- trating gaze embarrassed the girl, and she was fluttered by consciousness that her cheeks were unaccountably aglow, her fingers tremulous in his firm grasp.
 Betty Merrilees offered a cool cheek to Lydia's lips. Don't worry about me" she protested pettishly. Besides, in your heart of hearts you believe I'm guilty-you know you dor
 'I don't!" Lydia insisted, and in the next breath. "You didn't-honestly?"
 Betty's mood melted transiently Honest Injun!" she declared with mirth in her voice. but downright can- dor in the eyes that held Lydia's. "And I don't blame anyone for climbing up on the fence, either," she added in cryptic phrase, "all except these de- spicable customs meni"
 Peters town car was waiting at the pier entrance, and when he had helped her into it, Lydia, looking out through the limousine door, viewed section of the throng of passengers waiting for taxicabs, in the forefront of which stood two men.
 One faced her and first attracted at tention by his singularly persistent stare-a stoutish body, by no means tall. snug in a braided morning coat the London mode, glossy topper, white spats and all, down to the silver-mount- ed stick of malacca-wearing a humor- ous eye in his square jawed, scarlet face-One who would readily pass cur rent as an elderly and retired gentle man of means, with a penchant for good cooking and outdoor life
 His companion, some inches taller and built upon more rakish lines, stood half turned aside so that she could see little more than the salient line of a dark, lean cheek, and a long and mar row back-head. But that was quite enough to make her sit up with start, remembering that she had seen him once before in precisely that pose, out side the window of her stateroom. He turned for a moment toward her bring Ing to her view his right eye-covered by black patch
 Happily Peter chose that moment to climb into the car, and so blocked out he disturbing vision. On the other hand, he was quick to note the evil dence of her distress.
 ~HelloI' he cried in deep concern. What's up? Surely you're not feeling mi"
 She shook her head vigorously, and n needless agitation raised a gloved hand and pointed. Peter, who is that man-the tall one, there, with the black patch over his eye?'
 (Which? Oh, seew Here the car drew away, so that Black Patch was no longer visible. "Tm not dead sure," Peter resumed, "but he looks a heap Hv4 0ha smoking room one night-one of a brace of deep-sea sharks we had aboard. Chap with a queer name Lefty-no, I've got it-Southpaw Smith. Why do you ask? You cer- eainly can't know the fellow?'
 Lydia sank back into her corner, Pith head awhirl. "No,'' she said,