The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-08-16
what difference"


late now mischief's doner' He with
knave Of diamonds.
"What have such men to do with h
secret servicef" lydia demanded ab.
ruptly.
"With the-ah-secret serviceT He
looked up blankly. "Why-nothing
whateverl What makes you nskf'
'Thcn what were they after when
they attacked me? Not the evidence
you talked about?"
my dear childl What do you sup
pose? What but the loot-that neck
lace2 They've been hot on Betty's
trnil from the moment II became
known she had bought the thing from
Cottier's."
"You confuse me so !" Lydia protest.
ed In bewilderment. 'If they weren't
connected with the secret service, If
II you had nothing whatever to do with
them, why are o so afraid of them?"
81? But-my dear child" Craven
said i~ndulgently, "you're quite mis-
taken. I'm no more afraid of them
than of-well-say Mr.. Collector
Loeb"
Seated across the table from him,
resting her elbows upon II, Lydia re-
gardcd her father with an expression in
which We're blended amazement, stupe-
faction. misery and uncertainty.
II Craven read her look, he refused
to acknowledge II. With an air of
thorough satisfaction he rose and. TAX
Ing up the puzzle box. shut II with a
snap, Its treasure undisturbed.
Her eyes followed the puzzle box,
which Craven was slipping into the
side pocket Of his coat, with an express
sion he was quick to interpret.
"Thls goes to Betty Merrilees as fast
MS n taxicnb can take It," he an
nounced promptly. "In fact. I stopped
In only to get 1t OF my way uptown"
I'm glad Of that said Lydia, 1lst-
lessly tracing an empty pattern on tho
table.
III I'm late. don't fret about me,
please. Tn quite all right now.
Chances are 1 sha'n't have another
turn like tonight's in several"
A knock sounded on the door. He
broke of with n start, and for half n
minute stood moveless and silent, his
mouth ajar, his eyes transfixed; then.
recollecting himself, he said almost
nonchalantly: :
mind answering that2 II It's my
body for me, say I'm out" /,
As Lydia rose he swung sharply back
into his bedchamber. When she turned
back from the door she saw him poised
alertly just within the threshold, his
right hand buried In his coat pocket.
"A note for you-wants IN answer
The bellboy's waiting"
With n nervous gesture Craven ad.I
vanced and took the envelope. his
breath Quickening and brows clouding
as he conned the superscription--his
name In ink and the room number in
blue pencil. But for several seconds
he 8 med to hesitate. Then abruptly
The ripped 1t open.
And this time he seemed to have
been prepared; for he manifested no
untoward emotion when he drew from
the envelope a single playing card, the
knave of clubs.
Drawing a deep breath. which might
. have been n sigh Of relief, Craven de-
lIberately tossed the card face upward
0 on the table. "You'll notice a pin
A p%uncture in the stem of the club. be-
meath the small j." he observed coolly.
r THAT means one Of my agents. on
( urgent business"
"fll stay in my room with the door
o shut" Lydia volunteered.
h "No-wasn't thinking of that: mere
ly wondering II you could. You see,
( I'm likely to be detained by this chap
cant tell how long," He consulted
/, his watch. frownlng. "After ten now :
!. I can't well call on Betty much later.
How would you like to take a taxi to
9 the Margrnve, and give her this con-
a founded collarr
He could have made NJ suggestion
!, more shrewdly calculated. In a breath
Lydla's countenancc lishtened and her
q eyes grew animated.
a "Oh, II I mayw
"Why not? You'll be perfectly safe
It's no great distance, nobody knows
you have the collar, and Betty'll be
glad to see you. You might stop with
her till I call for you'll you don't
mind being made an excuse Of"
"Yes," she agreed, breathless. "rIl
be glad"
, "Then jump Into your hat and coat
and Half a minute / wonder would
- you mind running another errand fol
me?"
" "Of course not"
70 "It's only a few blocks out Of you
- way, and won't delay you longer thar
], to deliver a note and get an answer
=, I'll write the note now-two lines will
y do"
~ "rll hurry" Lydia promised. dashini
- OFF into her bedchamber.
When she returned. ready for tn,