Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-10-23
D.
LOUI5JOSEpH
VANCE
CHAPTER xvI-Continued.


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.
whats this" he demanded abrupt
iy In an ugly voice, whats this / hear
about your bringing Peter Trait here
In a tauT"
what does this mean," the girl re-
torted, that you send me here to be
locked up, as though 1 were thief to
be held for the police?"
He ignored, If he was sensible to, the
stressed pronoun. II want an answer
to my question" he said threateningly.
Il demand an answer to mine," she
returned, unyielding.
With an impatient gesture Craven
advanced as IL meaning to seize her
and enforce obedience. But halfway
he paused, let his hand fall, with OBJ
vious effort relaxed; mustered a flick
ering and uncertain smile. meant to be
ingratiating moderated his tone. "Oh,
come nowl" he said In strained indul-
gence. 1--WE can't go on forever quar-
reling, you and 1, Liddy."
II agree" she replied coolly. ANY
explanation you can make"
Its all mistake. Mrs. Ellsworthy,
q most jealous woman in-ah-our
service, mislnterpreted my message,
believed 1t imperative you should be
detained, and when you showed temper
committed an objectionable error. I'll
see she apologies; meantime !, your
father, express my sincere regret"
Briefly Lydia analysed words and
tone, and found both hollow with insin-
cerity. She shook her head YEARLY.
You're not telling me the truth. I've
learned too we'll to know when you're
-inventing. If you mean what you
say, IL you wish to prove you didn't
instruct that woman to lock me up,
open that door and let me leave this
house at once"
Craven sighed, shrugged tolerantly.
"very WELL" he urged. 1--WE no wish
to detain you. Just one thing-and
Wen go together. First be good
enough to give me that puzzle box"
"Nop Lydia cried out in round
full voice. "Now
whats that7" he said, incredulous.
81 said no." Lydia told him. II 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'll" he stormed, advancing. "Well
wen have this out here and now, my
lady I'm your father-I order-I com
mand you to hand over that box I'm
less, OF course. you prefer me to take
It by force"
He had come within two feet, was
menacing her with face and gestures
of uncomfortable wrath. But sh'
didn't yield step.
"You can't" she said evenly.
what the DEVILS to prevent?"
Because Mrs. Merrilees has 1t now.
The man fell back as though she hat
raised a shape of horror between them
stammering and aghast he jabbere'
repetition, Mrs. Merrilees has it
nowp
Lydia affirmed with a nod.
"You-you're not fooling me, Liddy :?
asked Craven In a stricken voice.
I'm telling you the truth, II you'v
the wit to recognize it," she said wit
the brutal intolerance of youth for ag
allied with depravity. "Sheer chanc
fooled you. My cab broke down a
Fifty-fifth street. / walked two block
north to get another at the Margrave-
where Mrs. Merrilees wasn't stopping
and where you didn't mean to meet m
after I'd called here-and by down
right good luck found her with Mrs
Beggarstaff. So / gave her the neck
lace, and came on here-Mr. Trait es
corting me, though not at my request.
"Good heavens p said Craven agar
his accents quavering. do you knoN
what you're saying, Liddy?"
'Tm afraid know too we'll"
With an inarticulate groan Crave
sank into a chair and buried his face 1
his hands. you've ruined mel"
'Tve saved you, you mean"
'You don't understand. What" Fl
looked up eagerly. "What did they sa
when you-when you gave back tn
necklaceT
"They were kind enough to say notl
ing. to pretend Mrs. Merrilees had II
stigated the smuggling swindle thi
YOU invented-to blind me. Even Mr.
Merrilees pretended, in the goodnes
of her heart. And was deceived III
til-this Mrs. Ellsworthy locked me Il
and so gave me chance to think frol
a true point of departure. Then l III
derstood. thought it all out-realize
that you had stolen the necklace-thi
you were an associate of criminals
that 1 was the daughter of commo
thiefp
Groaning, Craven covered his fac
again.
Nov" SAID the girl, "let me go.
don't anow what action they mean