Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-11-08
CHAPTER xI-continued.


Abruptly the door to Craven's room
few open with an echoing bang, and
she heard him call her in voice in
stinct with mortal terror.
Startled, she turned and ran into the
adjoining room, pulling up with a cry
at sight of her father. His face, a
stricken mask, notified, CHASTITY: sweat
stood out upon his forehead, his lips
trembled, his eyes sick with fear. The
hinges Of his knees loosened, he
swayed.
In one quivering hand he held play
ing card-a knave of diamonds.
He enunciated with difficulty, 'Wha
what" With half frantic gesture
he tore at his collar. 'Where did that
come from?" he cried hoarsely. "How
how did it get in that d. boxw
He made a strangled sound, reeled,
and fell back heavily into a chair, the
card futtering from his grasp to rest
face upward at his feet.
Daddy, what can do? What's the
matter? e only you'd speak to me !"
Kneeling at her fathers side in pas
sion of anxiety, she fondled hand
inert ana frightfully cold.
His position unchanged, Craven wore
every indication Of complete physical
collapse. A hand-his left-clutched
at his coat, above the heart.
But as Lydia moved to rise and tele-
phone for the hotel physician the man
stirred. His lips quivered. She bent
near to catch their whisper:
Brandy"
'I'll order it at once"
But his fingers, knitted with hers, re-
strained her with singular strength and
insistence. "No-fiask on my bureau"
Eyes, dearest. Let me go and get it,
won't your"
"No-let me-all right now"
He managed to lift head and Shout
ders from the chair; then again col
lapsed, his fingers relaxing.
The bureau top in his bedchamber
was Uttered with a confusion of ar
ticles turned out haphazard from Ora
ven's dressing case. For a moment
Lydia searched the disarray, at loss
to single out anything resembling a
flask. Then low cry of stupefaction
escaped her: in a clear space to one
side the puzzle box lay open.
In it's shallow oblong drawer, upon
a layer of cotton wool, blazed the pearl
and diamond collar stolen from Mrs.
Merrilees-or the imitation?
But Immediately the mystery and the
~ - r., sns
tude, and, another glance discovering a
small leather-bound flask, she seized it
and ran back to the other room.
Craven's eyes were open and, she
fancied, informed with look of al
most frightened inquiry as she unstop-
pered the flask, dashed a generous
amount of brandy into glass, and
turned toward silver water pitcher.
But his husky whisper stayed her
hand.
"No-straight-"
She put the glass to his lips, invert-
ing it slowly while he gulped and splut-
tered.
More" he demanded with his first
free breath. "a little water"
After this second draft, which he
drank unaided, he seemed more him.
Belf. For the first time he ceased to
clutch his side; little color crept back
into his face. He remained silent, how
ever, his gaze bent upon the knave of
diamonds at his feet, his countenance
darkly perplexed.
At length Lydia ventured anew,
what is it, daddy? Can't you tell
meT
Heart" he muttered, "an old affec-
ton. Nothing to worry about; but that
card keeled me over-rather
But what-what does it mean?"
"You wouldn't understand. It's some
thing secret, code signal to me to-
wasn't expecting it in the box"
That thought he left unfinished
mumbling something indistinguishable.
But his eyes flashed toward his daugh.
fer's face, then were quickly averted.
Tn the box with the necklace, you
mean?" Lydia prompted evenly.
lie wouldn't reply directly. "Gave
me devil of a shockr - After a moment
of silence be cried out In accents of ex.
ASPIRATION. But how in the name OF
God did It ever get there?"
A knock checked Lydia's reply. With
start Craven pulled himself together
and rose.
Mustn't let the waiter see me like
this. You let him in-will you?"
He managed a slow but unwaverine
return to his room. When he was out
OF sight Lydia turned to the door, ad
uniting the waiter with his heavy tray
signed for the meal, and tipped and dis
missed the man.
CHAPTER XII.