The Jasper news., 1917-10-04

their meeting: they went at once y
each others arms.
Its SO good to find you here, Betty.
oh, good evening, Mr. Quoln--Mr.
Trait, good evening. The best part is,
I thought you were stopping here, and
was in despair when found you
weren't"
ITS dear of you; but
II was so anxious to give you-this |"
AS she spoke the puzzle box left Lyd-
las keeping finally and for all time.
Betty Merrilees uttered low cry.
"This?" she questioned in a strange
voice. "What?'
Must I say?" Lydia laughed. "T
don't believe you really want me to-"
mot my necklaceI" the woman
gasped.
"Therel I didn't tell-did 1, Mrs.
Beggarstaff?"
"No, dear child; but we knew all the
time"
Incontlnently Lydia was over
whelmed by very unexpected, I'M
called-for, .motherly and protracted
embrace; which, while-it didn't lack
affection, served as we'll the most dip
lomatic purpose Of preventing the girl
from noticing Betty's half-hysterical
attempts to open the puzzle box and
that the Dowager Dragon was making
significant faces at Quoin over her
shoulder.
Permit me, Betty" Quoin suggest
ed. 81 think know the trick"
In another bfeath the box was open.
the necklace III It's owners hands.
MERELY my foolish delight to see
you again so soon, my dear" A hand
patted affectisnately one of Lydia's
flushed cheeks as, released, breathless,
and wondering, she stepped back to
readjust her hat.
you're awfully good to me, Mrs.
Beggarstaff. But can't stop a minute.
I've another errand to run for father
he's very busy tonight"
Another errand" Betty Merrilees
parroted out of mind perhaps par
donably confused.
"Yes-I shan't be long. Father
asked me to bring that to you; but
promised to call for me within an hour.
So was to attend to the other errand
first, and wait here with you for him.
But my taxicab broke down and"
"Craven coming here?" Betty inter-
rupted incredulously, but checked sud-
denly at look from Quoin.
GAS soon as he can get away" Lydia
affirmed. II mean, Of course, wher-
ever you're really stopping"
1.-THE Plaza"
"That's just across the way, isn't 1t T?
It's odd of him to make such mis-
take. He said the Margrave distinctly.
But I'll ask1 for you at the Plaza in
half an hrpr' ifsou don't mind" "r'~'
mind On the contrary" Mrs. Mer-
rilees said pleasantly. "rll be delight
ed. Tad, too. That will be fun
rather! Well have supper together
all of U.S."
"And so-good night for thirty min
utes," Lydia laughed. II must hurry"
"Wait q minute" Peter put in. I'm
off too, you know, and going your way"
"How do you know you are" Lydia
demanded, smiling back from the door
way.
because that's the way I'm going"
"But 1 don't want you now, Mr..
Traft-though shall hope to see you
again in half an hour. Good-by."
The hall-door closed, leaving Peter
as dashed as Betty Merrilees was
thunderstruck, as Quoin was thought
full, as the smile of the Dowager Drag
on was satirc.
There was a little pause.
what" Peter demanded, "what do
you know about that?"
"After her, you loon," Quoin snapped,
waking up with start. "f Craven
told her to go somewhere else first,
be sure he never meant her to bring
that necklace here. Don't you seer
"Ass" Peter groaned, shifting his
forehead. "Why didn't thinkf" Seiz.
ing hat and coat, he threw open
the door even as the elevator gate
changed.
The car had dropped from sight be
fore he reached the shaft. Planting q
thumb ON the push-button, he educeo
only thin, persistent grumble from
the annunciator bell, steadily dimin
ishing in volume as the car continued
wilfully to descend.
Infuriated, the young man commit
ted the soul Of the elevator attendant
to the nethermost depths of damnatior
and, turning to the stairway, plunged
down the flights in breakneck haste
three steps at time.
Across the lobby he sped as ONT