The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-05-19

man. Hastily ~averting her gaze, she.
remarked the clock, and mechanically
noted the hour: it was a quarter to.
eleven.
Are you sure?" she faltered. /
"0h, quite" !
But Craven had promised to meet
her there, had given her the necklace
to deliver to Betty at the Margrave.I
Impossible that he could be mistaken.
as to his ~iancee's hotel, he who had.
been flying round all afternoon, get
ting Betty settled"-his very words!
Insensibly Lydia's eyes darkened.
and became informed with an express
sion that had suited better the eyes of,
one by right of years more Injured to
mental anguish.
"But surely this is the MargraveI |"
"Yes 1t is. Mrs. Merrilees may be at
the Plaza, or the Savoy, or the Neither
lands, even the st. Regis-not quite so
near. If you care to sit down a mo-
ment, I'll inquire by telephone"
you're very kind" said Lydia but
I fancy l won't have to trouble you.
Mrs. Beggarstaff will know. l hope I'm
not mistaken in believing that she is
stopping hereT"
The smile of the young man passed
the bounds Of strict decorum, as from
a desk clerk to one of the public. He
was enchanted to be able to answer
reassuringly.
'It was good Of you to come v e so
late, dear-to please an old woman"
With this the Dowager Dragon took
Betty Merrilees into her arms and
kissed her on both cheeks.
Truth to tell, for the fun of it," said
Mrs. Merrilees. II was glad of an ex-
cuse to stay up. I'm possessed of a
devil tonight. If l wasn't at heart a re-
spectacle widow woman, I'd cut loose
and m~isbehave scandalous. For two
cents I'd head a mob to burn the GUS
tomhouse and lynch that man Loeb"
Divested of her wraps, she sailed
tempestuously into the drawing room
of the Beggarstaff suite-where Peter
Trait uprose from comfort in a wing
chair and bowed politely.
"No wonder they call him Loeb the
poor INDIAN u he commented. Though
l | believe the poor man would die happy
if he could get just one long, lingering
slant at you as you look tonight. Rip
pin'"
81 feel like rippin' something OF
somebody, Peter" Betty declared with
a brief, metallic laugh. Then she
deigned to notice the other man pres
ent. "Oh, you, is 1t, Mr.. QuoinT Hardly
expected to find you here"
deep regretsi y the detective replied
cheerfully-and for that was shown 9
cold If adorable shoulder.
"Oh, come now, Betty! !" Peter pro
tested. Don't cut up rough witt
Quoin. Angels could do no more thar
he has done today"
ale still has a sneaking suspicion
that l really did smuggle that necklace
Do you believe it too?"
Don't ask me: l might tell you"
"And your" Mrs. Merrilees demand
ed hotly of the Dowager Dragon.
81 don't think you above anything
I'd stoop to-tf you want the truth. ny
dear. / myself wasted several hours
today trying TO make the customs lool
foolish, and-how shall | say Il, Peterf
didn't get away with it."
"Much as l d~isapprove of slang
thank you. Peter"
$50 all three of you are against me
Mrs. Merrilees lounged more deeply II
her chair, swept their faces with In
Il solent eyes. and laughed unpleasantly
"WeI. I've been spelling for a row al
day. and now I'm going to have one o
know the reason why.
make your mind easy about that,
Peter advised gravely. "As a ia
Young disturber Of the peace, Betty
you show class"