The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-04-26
AUTHOR Of THE LONE
WOLF" THE BRASS
BOWL."ETC
COPYRIGHT eYtotus to<rpu uanCr
COPYRIGHT BY LOUIS JOSEPH WArcE

Lydia? Not that he didn't like Quoin.
In fact, Peter admired that man tre-
mendously: so much the more reason
to fear his influenced
And Lydia, leaning on the rail, a
vision more radiant even than the day,
was looking up into Quoin's dark face
and laughing.
"WellT" Craven demanded with par
donable Impotence.
Peter started and batted his eyes.
"Eh?'- he inquired stupidity.
what do you thinkT"
"Ah-about what?"
Good heavens! !" Craven exploded
a full, deep note of evaporation.
"Here ! sit yammering at you"
Sorry" said Peter. "Fact isl
know Mrs. Merrilees won't mind being
let into my confidence on the ground
hoor-fact is, I'm in love with your
daughter, Tad. And Quoin's talking
to her. So, naturally, I'm sick with
jealousy"
"It's like your cheek" observed
Craven. Have you mentioned the
matter to Lydia?"
Certainly mott She's having too
good a time. Women won't listen to a
gratuitous lover unless bored or ac-
lively unhappy"
"Then why bother me with your
lovesick vapors?"
"Well, l wanted to see how rusty
xoufd mt nm pnCf1nC Mrs Rnuunr.
staff has discovered my hideous Sc
cret, and Is now busy-or about to
be-distributing handbills."
"Can't you shut her upf"
1.-THE law forbids cruel and inhuman
punishments. Besides. I'm not sure
I want her hushed. I'm not ashamed
of the fact, and If l let the Beggarstaff
alone, sooner or later she or someone
win mention the matter to Lydia, and
then-well, Gus a woman's curiosity,
and half your battles won"
Craven turned to inspect the pair
at the rail. "She might do worse" he
observed.
Thanks !"
'"Than Quoin, l mean"
"Curse iti' said Peter, flushing.
SIN in earnest, Tad"
az believe you are" Mrs. Merrilees
interjected with dispassionate scien-
tifc interest. 81 really believe you
are. Peter. Certainly you were never
so intolerably stupid when in love
with me-"
Peter, by this time recovered, fixed
her with a reproving glance. Uttered
in the presence of a third party" he
said severely, ISLANDER is actionable.
Merely because / didn't like to show
my distaste for your infatuated adj
vances, you take up with an emergen-
cy ration like Tad here, and then get
sore because l don't forbid the banns-
peevish child!"
"Just for that" said the woman,
"just for that, Peter, I'm going to
heap Goals of fire upon your migrate
rul head-and heaven knows / hope
they'll scorch and blister"
'Marble?" Craven suggested with
open i~ncredulity.
BE quiet, Tad, and run an errand
for me, like a biddable child" Mrs.
Merrilees loosed the drawstring of a
lacework wristbag, took out a tiny
pocketbook, and from this last extract
ed a slip of paper. Take that to the
purser and bring me what IL calls for"
With assumed reluctance Craven
heaved up from his place and rolled
forward, while his fancee Graded her
chin in her hand and regarded Peter
with a whimsical smile.
"Quit ii /" he said GROSSLY. "You
haven't got anything on me, you
know"
"How about the othersf"
"Others? 1 never looked cross-eyed
at a girl before this"
"Peter!"
"well, hardly ever. And, anyway,
from now on I'm going to wear a sign
board here" He sketched the site
upon his waistcoat:
Private. No ~Thoroughfare. This means
you!
sit seems so funny-youl" Laugh
Ing quietly, the I'M looked up tc
review Lydia with a long glance
"She's a dear girl" she observed.
promise never TO call me mamma,
and I'll do my best for YOU"
"What chance have l got, witt
Ouoln making the pace? He's a regu
lar fellow-I'm only a drawing room
entertainer"
Hes a strange man." Mrs. Merri
lees unused. "If he hadn't taken vi
such an impossible profession"
"Do you suppose he has a case II
hand now; aboard this vessel,
mean?"
Call him, and I'll ask"
Peter complied with the best grac'
imaginable. "Quolnl l say. Addison
come over here a minute. A beautiful
lady wants to ask you something.
In a lower tone he added, you're tn
best little diplomat ever. I'll be crate
full as long as / live" And rising wit
the sunliest of smiles, he drew u
~hairs for lydia and OuOin.