The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-04-19

Winant. rising from her knees, dis
PEELED reverie. us that all, Miss Cra-
ven?"
Lydia smiled brilliantly. "That's
right" she affirmed with decision. Let
me be Miss Craven from now on. Do
you think you could find my father for
me, Winant?'
"Oh. surely, miss" Winant preserved
a straight face. "Would you wish me
to send i'm to you 'ereT'
"Oh, 40. I merely want to know
where to look for him. But to send
him here TO find me-why-don't you
see?-that would spoil it all !"
quite so, miss. 1 won't be a min
ute"
To Lydia, waiting with eyes shin
ing and lips tremulous with anticipa-
ton, entered Unexpectedly her Dowager
Dragon and entering, for the first and
only time in their association betrayed
10 signs of some slight embarrassment
and bewilderment.
Heaven help our home !" Mrs. Beg
g~arstaff cried, thunderstruck. where
are you going, child?"
"On deck, probably" Lydia informed
her with a twinkle of mischief.
"But-my blessed income-"
Dear Mrs. Beggarstaff," Lydia In
terposed impulsively, 81 must tell you,
something has happened-something so
wonderful and delightful that / verify
believe it would have got me out of bed
had l been at the point of death!'
"Poh! !" exclaimed the Dowager
Dragon impatiently. Surprise faded in
her eyes, and was replaced by some-
thing strangely like disappointment.
With a quick movement she closed the
door and sat down on her bed. 'Non-
sense I" she added with un%accountable
irritation, looking the excited young
woman up and down. "My dear, you're
not going to tell me you've found out
your father is on board?"
How in the name of wonder did you
guess?"
II didn't guess-I knew" the Dragon
retorted, sen~tentiously. II know every
thing, including my W mind: my mid
die name is Omniscience. Remember
that, next time you try to keep Amelia
Beggarstaff in the dark. You're Lydia
Craven, and your fathers Thaddeus
Craven-Tad Craven to me and"
"You know him? You know my ia
Their, Mrs. Beggarstaff? You dearl"
With a grim smile, the Dowager
nra cr,huafffnd RI N ranntan nnfsc nm
brace, then gently Tended off the agi-
tated girl. 'Therel" she growled with
an attempt at acerbity not wholly sue
cessful. "Save your kisses for your
dadi / dare say you've played the
deuce with my complexion, and as for
my wig," (this while ~readjusting that
disarranged adornment) IF you can't
keep your own hair on for JOY, you
might at least be good enough to let
mine roost where 1t belongs"
Butt don't are !" Lydia retorted
with gay defiance. you know my ia
ther, and I've a perfect right to Kiss
you for that, If l want to. Tell me how
long you have known him. and how
long you've known l was his daughter,
and what made you begin to suspect,
and"
'In PHYS name |" the Dowager ORA
gon interrupted. covering ner ears.
zone question at a time. Be still, and
I'll tell you"
But here, to her open relief, the
stewardess knocked and entered, with
the effect of rendering Lydia oblivious
to all else.
"Yes, Winant? You've found him?
WhereT'
"One of the stewards tells ne, miss.
'e's just seer Mr.. Craven abaft the
deck'ouse on the main deck, astern."
''Thank you so much, Winant. o
by, Mrs. Beggarstaff!"
S~natching up wrap n scarf, Lydia
was off In a breath.
Those she left behind eyed one an
other %oddly-the Dowager Dragon with
a twinkling look of inquiry: the stew
ardess with discreetly frightened lips
and half-lowered lids that, limiting at
mysteries unutterable, We're a plain
%provocation to any competent cate
chist.
And the face Of Mrs. Beggarstafr
grew bright with the light of battle.