The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-11-02
CHAPTER XIV.

True to her instinct for the dramatic
moment, when the telephone interrupt
ed Mrs. Beggarstaff answered with NJ
apparent emotion and nothing more
than a noncommittal "Yes7" followed
Mt a brief interval by Eyes. II yor
please, at once" Then, hanging up the
receiver, she set herself artfully to de
lay Mrs. Merrilees. This Is all very
WE'LL" she announced with cOmplacen'
determination "but l want to kno"
what real evidence you have go'
against Craven"
Nothing" Quoin admitted, beyond
circumstantial evidence, which. how
ever we'll grounded, wouldn't hold to-
gether minute under the analysis OIL
any able-bodied criminal lawyer"
mo actual prOof?"
mot whit. You may be sure Ora
ven never took an active hand In any
Of these affairs: merely engineered
them with his inside information and
superior Intelligence. Be sure. too.
that whenever a job was pulled of he
was always conspicuously somewhere
else.'
"Then what do you propose dOingT"
"Why-Betty permitting-scare him
silly and run him out Of town. don't
think we want more than that-aslde
from the necklace" r.. ,...ee.. 4.
THAT will content me-" Mrs. Merri-
lees affirmed.
Here a knock fell on the door. and
the Dowager Dragon, for all her pro-
tested infirmity, rose with the sprynesS
of youth.
mo, don't 60 yet. It's only some
thing I've been expecting. And l want
one word more with you-about the
girl Lydia. Whatever you do, under
stand, l won't have her run out of
town, or annoyed, or frightened, or
lll-treated in any way"
With this she disappeared down the
hallway. Followed a sound Of voices
Quoin and Mrs. Merrilees fingered in
1oubt and silence, the gaze Of each
seeking the others; while, to one side.
~ these two forgotten, Peter Trait
waited, watching, some little sadness
ind envy in his heart.
Not that he grudged Quoin the guer-
Ion of lifetime's unselfish devotion
Tut he felt quite justified in envying
hem the happiness that was to be
heirs. If he could ever hope to see
lydia Craven look up into his face as
Betty Merrilees was just then looking
Ip at Quoin-
Betty, in a melting humor and q
own representing the finest flower Of
he Rue de la Paix, to Peters fancy
ut figure that filed your eye. And
q such matters Peter esteemed him
elf distinguished amateur.
But once Lydia Craven had entered |
he drawing room Peter no longer
AIRED to look at Betty. A fellows got
My a certain limited amount Of eye
light, after all, and it's no good vast
lg 1t on anything he isn't really crazy
bout.
In the severity of her street dress
he girls figure had a graciousness that
ven Betty's couldn't shadow. And
ydia's face, set against the darkness
f one of those trim little hats which
/ those days were just beginning to
ust the art-nouveau-coal-hod enormi-
rudy hair, the transpar-
Mt pallor of her brow, the fine glow
/ cheeks fresh from the rainy night,
er dark and animated eyes brighten
Il with surprise and half-timid pleas
altogether Peter thought
ydia's fairness was to Betty's as sun
candlelight. !:
But with delight apprehension was
liked in his mind. There were still
me phases of life Peter hadn't faith
ned; for one, the antagonism within
lie sexes-within the sex, rather; for
was the attitudes often adopted
ward one another by the most ami
lie and delightful of women that per-
exed his understanding. n
Now, with real provOcation on her
de, what would be Betty's attitude
ward this rival beauty7
His solicitude was wasted. Either
underestimate the generosity off
,tty. or Lydia's ingenuousness dis