Emmons County record., 1917-09-06
CHAPTER TX.

"Good old town." said Peter Trait.
Removing his hat, he saluted Town
with grave and affectionate respect.
"'Graft and all, It's one human young
cityi"
Intuition enabled Lydia to interpret
this utterance as the invocation to the
aitany Of your tried but true Manhat.
tanite.
The Alsatia was trudging sedately
up the bay from the Narrows, Quaran.
tine ten minutes astern. New York
looming over the port bow through
tenderly irisated haze in whose illu-
sion 1t became a city Of mothcr-of-
pearl suspended between the blue Of
haze-veiled sky and the blue of confiu.
ent waters.
"Arthur Rackham must have colored
It." Lydia mused aloud.
'Wnit-thls Is only the overture
wait till you see 1t as mean to show
1t to -bridlepaths in Central park
of sunny morning, Broadway Mt night
with a full head Of steam on, South
street Mt noon with the old sailing
ships asleep in the sun and their fore.
feet up on the sidewalk, Fifth avenue
at evening, lights like big pearls pop
ping out through the purple dusk"
OstentatiOusly drawing handker.
chief from his cuff, Peter mopped his
brows. "Beg pardon. Being poetical
under forced draft is a bit exhaust
ing"
'Your prose isn't anything to boast
of. Henry james Mt his most AFRO
giant was never more unintelligible." ;"
"Oh. you'll wise up to 1t quick
enough. But mind thcre'll be nothing
doing in the poetry line after we're
married. l know my limitations, and
I couldn't stand the pace"
Here an apologetic steward caught
Peters eye. "Beg pardon, Mr.. Trait,
but you're wanted in the dining sa.
loon to acknowledge your declara'
tlon.'
Thanks" said Peter sulkily. u
presume it's got to be tended to. You,
too, Miss Craven"
"But I've already made my acknowl'
>edgment, Mr.. Trait. Pm so sorry!"
II wish / could believe you We're y
said Peter vindictively, and went a mo.
rose way without her.
He would have been less downcast
could he have guessed how soon the
girl was to miss him. Alone and with.
out distraction, Imagination was hag'
ridden by the care Of that wretchcd
puzzle box. 1t was still safe in her
possession-that was the worst Of It
Nevertheless, she had as yet said
nothing to Craven about the attack
in the fog, fearing lest he might insist
resuming charge of the puzzle box
and SO, perhaps, put himself In the
way of some perils more vital ever
than that which had befallen her. Ant
her father was all she had!
When they were free to stream
down the gangwuy to the pier Craven
conslgning Lydia to the care Of Petel
Trait, rushed off to commander thu
first available customs inspectors fol
himself and Mrs. Merrilees. So tina
1t was Peter who piloted Lydia t
@ section, hunted up her trunk. ant
took her place in the rank Mt tn
chief inspectors desk; with the re
suit that the luggage Of IL. Carteret
Spinster," was quickly passed, and
Peter reluctantly leaving her to pas
his own impedimenta. she was at lib
erty to garner what diversion sh
might from the trials Of others.
In that section her father was dutl
fully but perspiringly in optimisti
endeavor to persuade his particula
inspector that he hadn't perjured him
self in his sworn declaration. Motto
ing Lydln's indignant interest. Crave
paused only long enough to lift fur