The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-05-17

- 1DOafN anu. fAIfnZ Mr.
beggarstan that she has run away 20 go
70 nIm' starts out to find him.
CHAPTER Tv-she finds her father
gagged, and confdes to Peter Trsft tbaa,
she fears she is in the a
CHAPTER v-Craven explains 70 Nv.
Ola his apparent neglect OF her ana tells
her that he is In the British secret d,nio.
matte service.
CHAPTER vI-Mrs. Merrilees sends
Srayen 10 the purser for a $4,000 pearl
necklace, which she shows to Quoin and
other friends. saying that she intends 10
give II to her step~daughter-if she ever
has one.
CHAPTER vI-Craven makes Lydia
secret keeper OF a box containing diplo-
matte papers and two men assault her
n take 1t from her in the fog.
CHAPTER vIII-Quoin routs the
thieves and RECEIVERS the box, telling Lys
Ola that he a made the thief, Souths
pay Smith, open II. Lydia assures Quoin
she does not know the contents of the
box
CHAPTER kat the pier in New York
Mrs. Merrilees declares her necklace and
finds II is only OF Imitation pearls.
CHAPTER x-The customs officers sus-
pect a smuggling trick. Quoin tries to
help and gets into Betty's bad graces. As
Peter and Lydia leave the pier she sees
6outhpaw Smith watching her.
"You should have told me first
thing" he mumbled.
"If you hadn't misled me, / shouldn't
have hesitated an instant, father; but
/ was silly enough-lt seems-to hope
that by saying nothing l might ward
off danger from you"
"Yes," he agreed simply, at would
have been better if I'd told you the
truth. But then, of course, you
wouldn't have consented TO bring the
stuff in. And how was I to know they
were watching me so closely? How did
they guess I'd"
"'They'7"
He gave her a sullen glance. "Smith
and Colonel Gordon. Gordon's the
other crooks name-if Quoin forgot to
tell you. Curse It'll Why didn't you
tell me this firstT'
"Why? What difference"
mo difference" he grumbled. "Too
late now mlschief's dOne!" He with
drew into morose contemplation of the
knave Of diamonds.
"What have such men TO do with the
secret ssrviceT" Lydia demanded alb
ruptly.
"With the-ah-secret servicef' He
looked up blankly. "Why-nothing
whateverl What makes you ask?'
'Then what were they after when
they attacked met Not the evidence
you talked aboutT
"My dear childl What do you sup
poseP What but the loOt-that neck
lace? They've been hot on Betty's
trail from the moment 1t became
known she had bought the thing from
| Cottier's."
"You confuse me so" Lydia protest.
Cd in bewilderment. "If they weren't
connected with the secret service, If
~ Won had nothing whatever to do with
them. why are you so afraid OF themF
81? But-my dear child" Craven
said indulgently. "you're quite mis-
taken. I'm no more afraid OF them
than of-well-say MIR. Collector
Loeb" H.
Seated across the table from him.
resting her elbows upon 1t, Lydia re-
garded her father with an expression l
which were blended amazement, stupe-
faction. misery and uncertainty.
IF Craven read her look, he refuseu
% ~acknowledge IL. With an air OF
thorough satisfaction he rose and, TAX
inc M the puzzle box, shut II WIN d
snap. its treasure undisturbed'
Her eyes followed the puzzle box
which Craven was slipping mo ene
eide pocket of his coat, with an express
sion he was quick to interpret
"This goes to Betty Merrilees as rast
i taxicab can take it," he an
nounced promptly. "In fact, l stopped
IN only to get it on my way uptown.
.rm glad of that" said Lydia ns'-
,essIv tracing an empty pattern on the
table. aAo,+ mo
"If I'm late, don't Iret apou'
nlease. I'm quite all right now,
rhances are l sha'n't have another
turn like tonlght's in several
A knock sounded on the door lie
20 off with a start, and for nan d
p,,n,,ta stood moveless and silent, Ms
mouth ajar, his eyes transrHeu lne
~recollectlng himself, he saiu airnOs
mind answering thatG If it's any
body for me, say I'm out. hoor
AS Lydia rose he swung sharply {
~ hedcbamber. When she turned
hack from the door she saw him poiSe'
o1artlv inst within the threshold M
right hand buried in his coat pOe ensSer
"A note for you-wanlS an