The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-08-16
CHAPTER xI-continued.


flew open with nm echoing bang, and
stinct with mortal terror.
Startled, she turned and ran into the
adjoining room, pulling up with n cry
at sight of her father. His face, n
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 %cuivering hand he held a play
ing card-a knave of diamonds.
He ~enunclated with difficulty, "Wha
what" With a half frantic gesture
he tore ut his collar. "Where did that
come fromT' he cried hoarsely. How
how did II get in that d. boxf"
He made n strangled sound, reeled,
and fell back heavily into a chair, the
card fiuttering from his grasp to rest
face upward at his feet.
Daddy, what can l do? What's the
matter?f IL only you'd speak to met
Kneeling at her fathers side In a pas
sion of anxiety, she fondled a hand
inert and frlghtfully 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
"Tll order Ii at once"
But his fingers, knitted with hers, re-
strained her with singular strength and
insistence. "No-flask on my bureau,
"Yes, dearest. Let M go and get 1t,
won't you?"
"No-let meAall 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 n confusion of ar
ticles turned out haphazard from Cra-
ven's dressing case. For a moment
Lydia searched the disarray, at a loss
to single out anything resembling a
flask. Then a low cry Of stupefaction
CotuDth hti AZ NANah 'I'NN oeN
side the puzzle box lay open.
In its shallow oblong drawer, upon
n layer of cotton wool, blazed the pearl
and diamond collar stolen from Mrs.
Merrilees-or the imitation?
But Immediately the mystery and the
wonder of this was lost in her solicit
tude, and, another glance discovering q
small leather-bound flask, she seized 1t
and ran back to the other room.
Craven's eyes were open and, she
fancied, informed with n look of al
most frightened inquiry as she unstop.
pered the flask, dashed a generous
amount of brandy into n glass, and
turned toward n silver water pitcher.
But his husky whisper stayed her
hand.
"No-straight-"
She put the glass to his lips, invert'
ing 1t slowly while he gulped and splut
tered.
"Morel" he demanded with his first
free breath. "a little water"
After this second draft, which ht
drank unaided, he seemed more him
self. Fol the first time he ceased t.
clutch his side a little color crept bacl
into his face. He remained silent, how
ever, his gaz bent upon the knave O.
diamonds at his feet, his countenanc,
darkly perplexed.
At length Lydia ventured anew
"What is it, daddy? Can't you tel
mel"
Heart" he muttered. "an old affec
ton. Nothing to worry about; but tina
card keeled me over-rather I"
"But w~hat-what does 1t mean?"
"You wouldn't understand. It's some
thing secret, a code signal to me to-
wasn't expecting 1t In the box"
That thought he left unfinished
mumbllng something indistinguishable
But his eyes flashed toward his daugh
ter's face, then were quickly averted.
"1n the box with the necklace, yo'
: mean?' Lydia prompted evenly.
He wouldn't reply directly. "Gav
me devil of a shock !" After n momen
J Of silence he cried out in accents of OK
: ASPIRATION, "But how in the name o
God did 1t ever get thereT
A knock checked Lydia's reply. Wit
: a start Craven pulled himself togethe
I and rose.
> Mustn't let the waiter see me lik
this. You let him in-will your
He managed a slow but unwaverin
return to his room. When he was on
! Of sight Lydia turned to the door, nc
hitting the waiter with his heavy ira,
. signed for the meal, and tipped and dis
missed the man.