The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-04-21

soty eApiains was a present from her
Iather on her fifteenth birthday, The
widow shows the brooch to Quoin, an ex-
secret service a who Identifies 1t as
part OF the stolen Joachim collection, and
- Lydia, daughter of Tad Craven. now
ABOARD the Alsatia-
CHAPTER IrI-Lydia discovers that
per Iatner Is aboard and, telling Mrs.
to him. starts out to find him
CHAPTER. Iv-she finds her father
gagged. and con1des to Peter Trait that
she fears she Is In the way.
F~ugitively Craven's eyes conveyed
what was at once q demand and an
appeal. But before Lydia could re-
spond Mrs Nerrilees anticipated. with
a quick movement crossing to drop her
hands lightly upon the girls shoulders.
My dear Miss CravenI" she said
with an odd little catch In her voice.
I'm not sure yet l ought to call you
Lydia but I'm awfully fond Of your
father, and-andh l can get over what
doesn't seem an unfair suspicion that
he's kept me too long IN the dark
about you, l shall probably marry him."
Il can't wish him greater good for
tune" said Lydia quietly.
you are a dearl And SO beauti-
ful-Tm jealous. Do you think, Tad,
ii is wise to have two blondes In one
family? Don't answer, please. It's a
riddle | must solve to ny own salts
foaffon hofara T Tfctop 70 yot. oUoin
But-Im serious-think 1t over"
With a transient tightening of her
grasp on Lydia's shoulders, a pressure
that conveyed a hint of friendliness,
the woman turned away.
mol" she insisted when Craven
promptly ranged himself at her side.
Let me go for tonight, Tad. I'd pre-
fer to be alone TO think things out.
Tomorrow, perhaps"
Her smile flashed uncertainty toward
Lydia as she disappeared round the
shoulder of the deckhouse.
Craven delayed. however. barely long
enough for a word, "Wait here-I
sha'n't be long,"
Lydia said nothing, but watched him
go with eyes confused with pain, she
who had found herself suddenly rele-
gated from the status of a well-beloved
child to that of a stumbling block in
the path of her fathers ambition, who
could no longer doubt that he had
planned to keep her existence secret
until his marriage TO this Mrs. Merri-
lees of the fabulous fortune should be
a consummated fact.
She stood desolate amid a debris Of
illusions, who had never known a moth
er, and now had lost a father. Her
eyes filed. He hadn't eve kissed her
after five years separation Resting
arms upon the taffrail, she turned a
forlorn face to the night-clad sea, her
mood fraught with vast disconsolation.
A football sounded behind her, and
she wheeled sharply about to join issue
with her father. But it was Peter
Trait who, briskly rounding the deck
house, pulled up short at sight of that
tense young person, Lydia, with her
shoulders back, her chin up, and def
ance a-glimmer In her eyes.
81 beg your pardon" He peered
eagerly to make certain; for the noon
was just her thinly yelled in cloud.
Its Miss Carteret, isn't It'll"
"Yes, Mr.. Trait" said the girl qui-
city, relaxing. "Good evening"
He seemed puzzled by her manner,
started to say something, r~econsidered
sharply, then ventured with engaging
Difference, Its good to see you up and
about again"
at feels pretty good, thank you"
she said, with a smile that gave him
courage.
slope / didn't startle you, galumph-
ing into your solitude without warning.
Fact is, l was looking for old Tad Cra-
ven. We're needing a fourth. l don't
suppose you know Craven, thought"
"Oh, yes, I've known Mr.. Craven q
long time"
Really? He's a wonder, isn't her
Trait exclaimed with enthusiasm,
"Everybody's friend-not an enemy In
the world. l don't believe there's a
better-liked man in New York-oui
New York, that Is"
"Your New York? You see, I've al
ways lived In England, and have lots
to learn about-home."
"Sheer ~snobbery on my part" Peter
admitted cheerfully. Il meant the
very small part Of New York that we
infest, whom my friend Mr.. Martin
likes to call the idle rich If he only
knewi"
"But are your"
"Pm afraid I'm idle enough; but as
for riches, I'm poverty's poor relation
but what do you dof"
"Oh, 1 play a good hand at bridge
a fair racket at tennis, and am always
on hand to fill in when somebody
doesn't show up for dinner" The least
trace Of bitterness favored this gratu'
itous o of himself, and the per
~-.tfon MAS aecomDanied by an uneaHy