Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-12-27


though yon don't resemble him in III.
least-rather, fancy, your niuther.'
"You knew my mother?" Lydia asked
eagerly.
/ ''No. Won't you sit down? No; Tad
Craven has always been a confirmed
bachelor in everybody's esteem since
I've known him. Is it true he means to
marry again?"
EYES," said Lydia; and opening her
wrist bag produced Craven's note.
| "No-please don't RISE" interrupted
Mrs. Ellsworthy, crossing to her. "Mr.
Craven mentioned this over the wire.
Pardon"
Taking a chair beside the reading
lamp, she opened and scanned the mes
sage with careless interest. A nod con-
firmed evident foreknowledge of it's
contents. Folding the note distracted
ly, Mrs. Ellsworthy seemed for some
moments preoccupied.
| But Peter Trait had claims not long
to be disregarded, and presently Lydia
stirred restlessly, with an inquiring
| look ready for the eyes that her hostess
then lifted from the carpet.
you've met this-ah-Mrs. Merri-
lees, no doubt?" Mrs. Ellsworthy
queried unexpectedly. rs she then
such beauty as they say?"
"She's very beautiful" Lydia re-
turned, land I'm very fond Of her. But,
if you don't mind, Mrs. Ellsworthy, i
have another appointment; in fact,
with Mrs. Merrilees and my father"
''Oh, beg your pardon, my dear"
Mrs. Ellsworthy assumed convincing
look of contrition. $50 thoughtless Of
me. quite forgot to tell you: Mr..
Craven wants you to wait for him here,
rather than keep the appointment at
the Margrave."
The Margrave again!
1.-THE Plaza" Lydia corrected absent
ly; then in breath remembered. I'm
sorry" she said, rising, 'but I can't
wait. If daddy's coming here, he'll
get the answer from you personally;
so there's no need" here Mrs. Ellswor-
thy rose in her turn. "And-I left
friend waiting in the taxi"
| "a friend?"
1t was none of Mrs. Ellsworthy's af-
fair, but quite automatically Lydia an
swered, "Mr. Trait
"But really hadn't you better wait?
I'm sure Mr.. Craven won't be long
now"
Mrs. Ellsworthy was moving slowly
toward the door, as if she didn't really
expect her objection to avail, an effect
heightened by her manner, which con-
tinued to be perfect, lacking anything
but gracious interest.
Lydia, however, was quite settled in
her determination to wait no longer.
Craven could lose nothing by being
anyway, in all fairness, she owed his
wishes little consideration-he who
was little enough considerable to her
and below in the taxi all earthly hap
piness waited.
"I'm sorry" she repeated mechanic
ally. "You're very kind; but really
don't think"
At this point she was interrupted by
shrill-tongued electric bell down.
stairs. Mrs. Ellsworthy started nerv-
ously, eyed the girl fugitively with
what seemed trace Of doubt, and
darted toward the door.
1.-THE telephone! !" she said indistinct-
1y. "Forgive me if L"
Her hand caught the knob as ii
thoughtlessly; but the slam Of the door
cut short her words emphatically
enough to have wakened her to appre-
citation, had her act been really
thoughtless.
For an instant Lydia paused in
amazement. The thing was incredible,
preposterous, outrageous!
None the less the door remained OBJ
durately shut, mutely testifying that
the incredible was an accomplished
fact.
With little cry of indignation the
girl tried the knob. 1t turned freely,
but without engaging the latch. Infuri-
ated, she caught it with both hands,
braced a knee against the wall, and
pulled with all the strength Of her 1.-THE
and vigorous young body but failed to
bulge the door by SO much as hairs
breadth. And the only discoverable
keyhole was in the knob itself--a thin,
irregular slit for a combination latch
key, lacking which the door, once
closed. could never be opened, but only
hewed or battered down.
| Examination proved the room a
veritable stronghold. 1t had only the
one door. The sashes of the two win
dows were guarded with locks requir-
ing key; through the panes closed
steel blinds with hasps and padlocks
were to be seen. There was not bell
button on the walls; and the telephone
on the desk yielded no response to the
girls manipulation of the receiver
Enthusiastically an extension cut off
from the main line.
At length Lydia yielded to the newt.
able, sat down, composed herself to the
best of her ability, and strove to fit
some reasonable explanation to this