The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-11-23
-
VANCE ..
CHAPTER xvl-continued.

lock. Lydia started; but before she
could move the door swung open 'far
enough to admit Craven, and was AT
once slammed behind him. ~
=, A pace or two from the wall the. man
pulled up and stared at, his daughter
his face dark with temper.
Slowly Lydia rose and confronted
him., hard eyes challenging his relent-
leSsly. ... - .r*
whats this" he demanded abrupt
ly in an ugly voice, whats this l near
about your bringing Peter Trait here
in a taxi?"
"What does this mean" the girl re-
torted, "that you send me here to be
. locked up, as though were thier TO
be held for the poice?'
Heignored, if he was sensible to, the
stressed pronoun. II want an answer
to my question:" he said threatenlngly.
II demand an answer to mine" she
returned, unyielding. 49,:
With an impatient gesture Craven
advanced as if meaning to seize her
and enforce obedience. But halfway
he paused, let his hand fall, with OBJ
vious effort relaxed; mustered hlck-
ering and uncertain smile, meant to ne
atiating; moderated his tone. "Oh'
come now! !" he said in strained lndul-
gence. "We can't go on forever quar-
reling, you and l, Liddy."
II agree" she replied coolly. ANY
explanation you can Make ~
j. ats all a mistake. Mrs. Ellsworthy,
a j., most jealous woman in-ah-our
service, misinterpreted my message
believed it imperative you should be
;; detained, and when you showed temper
committed an objectionable error. III
see she apologies; meantime l, your
father, express my sincere regret"
Briefly Lydia analysed words and
tone, and found both hollow with lnsin-
cerity. She shook her head YEARLY.
you're not telling me the truth. I've
g learned too we'll to know when you're
--inventing. If you mean. What you
say, If you wish to prove you dldht
instruct that woman to lock me up,
open that door and let me leave this
house at once"
Craven sighed, shrugged tolerantly.'
every WE'LL" he urged. ''Ive no wish
to detain you. Just one thing-and
we'll 90 together. First be good
enough to; give me that puzzle box"
"No!" Lydia cried out in round
full voice. Nor ~!
'What's that?" he said, incredulous.
II said no." Lydia told him. Il will
not give you the puzzle box. 1t belongs
. to. Mrs. Merrilees." >..
In breath his face was suffused
with blood. $50 that's your style, is
'it?" he stormed, advancing. "Well,
We'll have this out here and now, my,
lady! I'm your .father-I order--I COM
mand you to hand over that box !''"Un-
less. of course, you prefer me to take
" 1t by force" -
He had come within two feet, was
menacihg herewith face and gestures
Of uncomfortable wrath. But she
didn't yield step.
"You can't" she said evenly.
"What the devils to prevent"
Because Mrs. Merrilees has it now"
The man fell back as though she had
raised shape of horror between them
stammering and aghast he jabbered
repetition, Mrs. Merrilees' has it
noww ,s,... >. a..
Lydia affirmed with nod.
"You-you're not fooling me- Liddyf
asked Craven in stricken voice.
"Pm telling you the truth, if you've
the wit to. recognize It," she. said with
the brutal intolerance Of youth for age
allied with depravity. sheer chance
fooled YOU. My. cab broke down at
Fifty-ffth street. i walked two. blocks
north to get another at the Margraye-
where Mrs. MerrileesE wasn't stopping,
and where you didn't mean to meet me
after I'd called here-and by down
right good luck found her with. Mrs.
Besgarstaff. So gave her the neck
lace. and came on here-Mr. Trait es-
corting me, though not at my request"
aGood heavensI' said Craven again,
bisincceuts uuavering. n"Do you know
what you're sayings Liddyl" So.
sPm afraid know too well"
with an inarticdlate groan Craven
sank into 8 chair and buried his face in
his hands, you've ruined me"
sFve saved you, YOU mean" :.,.I
8 @You uofFt understand. What He
looked uIp eagerly. "What did they say
when you-when you gave back the
necklaceT'
.sThey were kind enough to say moth
ipx. to pretend Mrs. Merrilees had in
stiRstef the smuggling swindle that