The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-08-02
CHAPTER vni-continued.

Then let me see you back to your
stateroom, and I'll"
"No, I'D rather wait here. I must
know tonight can't sleep without
knowing"
Admiration kindled In Quoin's re-
gard. He liked that spirit. She had
been quick to recover, quicker than the
average woman would have been.
"Very WELL" he assented.
They moved forward. Opposite tie
c~ompanionwoy Lydia paused.
"Will you be long?"
mot ten minutes" Quoin promised.
His figure ~momentarily eclipsed the
blur of light that stood for the door
way.
Indeed 1t was hardly more than ten
minutes when the doorway was again
darkened, and Quoin came to Lydia's
side.
''Was / long? I'm sorry. l had to be
rather severe before they gave in
and up"
you succeededT He laughed qui-
city. "Here it is"
Mute in establishment, speeches.
with gratitude, she took the puzzle box
from his extended hand.
"a crook known as Southpaw Smith
-he deals Northumberland 1t, togeth-
er with the father and mother of all
black eyes. l was almost sorry for
him. George Traymore' is his alias
on the passenger list. A tall, slender
scoundrel-very, very smooth. Not
that you're likely TO see him before we
Land If then. He'll lay very low and
make the quietest getaway from the
dock he can manage"
"Mr. Quoin !" the girl interrupted in
a tremulous voice.
"Yes?"
Her embarrassment was painful.
"What can ! say to you? Mere thanks
aren't adequate"
"Please say no more. To know I've
been of some use is enough. Besides"
he laughed b~oyishly, "Tve had a good
time bullyragging Southpaw. I like
that sort Of thing, you know"
II shall be always grateful"
"Then do something to oblige me.
I sha'n't be easy in my mind until
you re sure IN your room.
Transition from the gloom Of the
deck to the brilliantly lighted compan-
ionway was bewildering. Instinctively
Quoin and Lydia paused. The girl
smiled wlstfully as she offered her
hand.
"Good-night-and thank you with all
my heart, Mr.. Quoin!"
Miss Craven,"-he retained her
hand for a moment--"will you tell me
one thing?"
"If I may-anything-"
His eyes searched hers jealousy.
"Do you know what's in that box?"
mo, Mr.. Quoinl Upon my word of
honor, no."
Her eyes were limpid pools of in
sgenuous candor. Quoin could no
longer doubt. He nodded, releasing
her hand.
"Thank you"
"But," she fingered, "do you"
II do" he admitted reluctantly.
"Not through any wish of mine. But
Southpaw had only succeeded in puz-
zling the combination out when / in
terrupted. / made him put back-what
he'd taken from the box. Don't worry.
I've already forgotten what 1t was.
And Southpaw won't bother you again
Il promise you that"
Her eyes questioned a~nxiously, his
smiled reinsurance. With yet another
goodnight, Lydia turned away.
He watched her down the alleyway
to the door of BIO, then turned to seek
his own berth, shaking his head 70 rid
1T of tormenting doubts.
Softly closing the door, Lydia as
gently shot the bolt, hoping to gain
her bed unquestioned. But as she
moved toward 1t in darkness the Dow
ager Dragon suddenly switched on the
lights and lifted from her pillow an
Indignant head framed in q nightcap,
the most coquettishly ~beribboned lmag-
Unable.
"WellT' she demanded tartly. "where
have o been, if you p~lease?"
Lydia showed her a countenance In
nocent of any trace of guile. "On
deck" she said quietly, removing her
cloak with its sprinkllng of moisture
that glittered like diamond dust. "The
foghorn, you know-and / wasn't
sleepy, anyway. It's wonderful out
there, so still and dark and uncanny.
You'd think almost anything could hap
pen, and no one be the WISER"
LH