Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1917-10-19


old Tads shortcomings, Peter couldn't
believe he would suffer n hair of
Lyda's innocent head to be harmed.
Only
What the deuce was keeping the two
of them there SO long?
Then abruptly II second taxicab
swung round one of Park avenues
scrubby little ovals of grass and shrub
berry, slid into Seventy-sixth street,
checked briefly in front Of 9S, dis
charged two passengers, and slipped
away toward Madison avenue. Peter
recognized something familiar in the
association of a long and slender figure
with one short and stoutish, as the
two lodged hastily into the basement
area of number 90 and disappeared.
Musical comedy rogues," unused the
perturbed young man: ''the tall thin
scoundrel and the short fat sharper;
of course. What in thunder Confound
It. she must be all right! Craven
would never let anything happen to
her."
He began to fume impotently. No
good trying the front door again.
Then he thought of consulting Quoin
by telephone, and had started back
through Seventy-sixth street toward
the corner drug store, when taxicab
shot round from the avenue, passed at
sharp clip, and Immediately slid to
as smart stop, while the door swung
open and a man, jumping out, hailed
sharply:
"Peteri"
"Quoin-thank heavenl How In the
name of wonder"
"Found Craven had left the Great
Eastern, TAXED back to the Margrave,
got the address Miss Craven gave from
the carriage porter. Luckily you made
such a sensation boiling after her taxi
that it had fixed the number in the fell
lows memory. Now what's upY
Briefly Peter detailed the inconclu-
sive and unsatisfactory circumstances
of his vigil.
"In through the basement, you sayY"
Quoin pondered this darkly. ''Looks
like a move to trick somebody-Cra-
ven, at guess. Come along"
Grasping Peters arm, the detective
trotted him rapidly back toward num-
Der SO.
"What are you going to do?"
"Let developments guide u.s."
"You mean to try to get int"
"No: 1 mean to get in" Quoin cor
rected grimly.
How'll you make 'em admit your"
"Don't know precisely, as yet. But
we're going to find out something
we're going to see Miss Craven and get
her personal assurance she's all right,
or raise the deuce of row in this
quiet neighborhood. Not only that, but
I'm still pining for a chat with era
ven."
They were ascending the brownstone
steps. Quoin rang imperatively.
"Stand back a moment" he suggest
ed. LET me do the talking"
Peter had barely time to withdraw
to one side when the woman of the
house came out through the vestibule
and hurriedly opened the outer door.
AS it opened Quoin entered. Peter
heard him say pleasantly Good eve
ming, Mrs. Ellsworthy," and after that
a sort of strangled gasp from the WON
an. A moment later, Quoin moving on
Peter saw her clearly.
She had fallen back against the
closed door, blanched and trembling
destitute now of every shred Of heI
amiable self-possession of half an hour
earlier. Her eyes were fixed in terror
on Ouoin's face. She made an effort
to speak, but evoked only a dry, rasp
ing sound.
you're not i'll, trust, Mrs. Ellis
worthy?"
There was a sardonic infection in
Quoin's voice that seemed to Peter q
trifle unnecessary.
~ thought" she gasped, and gulped
81 thought you We're the DOCTOR"
"Otherwise you wouldn't have let me
in, presume? Is there anything really
serious the -matter?'
"Craven-" the woman painted.
Quoin started with horror. "Craven =
he iterated; then, controlling himself
II was Misunderstanding of the sort
You've phoned for n doctor, you say
While we're waiting let me have lool
at the moor devil -