The Jasper news., 1917-08-23
CHAPTER VlI-Continued.

She had begged to be permitted to
help him, and Craven promised to
command her services, If ever need
should arise; but his tone In promising
had been mellow with an indulgence
dcprecating the implication that
Downing Streets secret ambassador
could ever need the aid of woman's
hands and wits In his occult and mo-
mentous affairs.
YET already that time had come
She was half wild with delight.
After some minutes the quiet of the
ship was made musical with the mel
low and deliberate sounding of eight
bells, midnight. She had still half an
hour to wait-an almost insufferably
protracted vigil, with. every faculty
tense in apprehension Of the prema-
ture return of her Dowager Dragon.
But tonight nothing happened to
change this custom; and the stroke of
one bell of the midnight watch found
Lydia, unhindered, leaving her door, a
long cloak effectually Disgusting her
light dinner gown.
Cautiously, with swift glances max
ing sure that the alleyway was empty
all down its darkened length, she stole
forward, slipped quickly through the
port doorway into the welcome blank
ness which closed round her like
magic garment of invisibillty. At
intervals electric bulbs incased In
hemispheres of clouded glass blotted
the obscdrity overhead but lent little
aid to the girls straining vision. And,
now that most of the passengers were
abed, every port she passed was dark.
At the fifth stanchon, midway be-
tween two of the overhead lights, she
found no one waiting; and, since she
had encountered no one on the way,
she groped on to the sixth, found 1t
deserted, and, returning, settled down
to wait.
Suddenly Craven stood before her
the effect as mysterious as his busl-
ness: with no warning of any sort, he
was therel
Without speaking, Lydia stretched
forth hand to his. He suffered her
caress without apparent emotion, and
peering anxiously into his face, she
saw it set in mold of care and vigil
lnnce-even now, when they were ut
tcrly alone!
When he spoke 1t was in a preoc-
cupied tone. Hope l haven't kept
you waiting"
"Only a moment"
He shook his head wearily. 81 was
detained" For several seconds he
seemed deep in thought. Then his
words came swiftly, "rm suspected
watched! Did anyone see youT
She thrilled deliciously. "I think
not I've been here some time, quite
undsturbed."
"Good. But they nearly got me 1"
"Who?"
He smiled family. "The other side"
Lydias grasp tightened on his
plump fingers. "You-you're not In
danger?"
Don't be alarmed. They'd never
dare attempt anything aboard this YES
sci. But I've stolen a march on them
and something else, something more
valuable" Straining dramatic
pause to the swapping point, he eased
it with word, evidence |"
At this the foghorn whooped like
demon of derision. Until 1t was quiet
again Craven stood moveless, chin on
bosom, eyes blank with abstraction.
"Yes," he affirmed, "devlish good
evidence! Look here, I'll have to tell
you something. We've been sold out
, mean there's traitor in our corps"
"But can't you do something?"
= "Rather" Craven laughed shortly.
I'm fact, have done something al
ready, He won't go far; for his word
"a squealer's word-won't have much
weight with the other side. lacking