The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-12-21
CHAPTER Vii-continued.

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
deprecating 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
rhip 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, unhindcred. leaving her door, a
long cloak effectually Disgusting her
light dinner gown.
Cautiously, with swift glances max
Ing sure that the alleywav was empty
hil uo" II ilS iul htIttl ltIIE III, slit Slplt
forward, slipped quickly through the
port doorway into the welcome blank
ness which closed round her like a
magic garment OF invisibility. At
intervals electric bulbs incased IN
hemisphercs of clouded glass blotted
the obscurty overhead, but lent little
aid TO the girls strainng vision. And.
now thnt most of the passengers were
nbed, every port she passed was dark.
At the fifth stanchlon, 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 busi-
ness: with no warning of any sort, he
was there,
Without speaking, Lydia stretched
forth a hand to his. He suffered her
raress without apparent emotion, and,
peering anxiously into his face, she
saw it set in a mold of care and vigi-
ianCe-eyen now, when they were ut
terly alone
When he spoke 1t was in a preoc-
cupied tone. Hope I haven't kept
you waiting"
"Only a moment"
He shook his head wearily. II was
detained" For several seconds he
seemed deep in thought. Then his
words came swiftly, I'm suspected
watched, Did anyone see your
She thrilled dellclously. 81 think
not I've been here some time, quite
und!sturbed."
Good. But they nearly got mel"
"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
pxNse to the swapping point. he eased
II with a word. Evidence
At this the foghorn whooped like a
demon of derision. Until it was quiet
again Craven stood moveless. chin on
bosom, eyes blank with abstraction.
Yes" he affirmed. "dev'lish good
evidenced Look here. I'll have to tell
you something. We've been sold out
I mean there's traitor in our corps"
But can't you do something"
"RatherW Craven laughed shortly.
I'm fact, l 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
proofs, and I've got the evidence to
discredit him." he paused again,
touched his breast lightly but effec-
lively. "here!"
Again Interrupted by the foghorn, he
started alu., frowned irritably, seem
ing to detect something sardon1c IN Its
accent.
"well-that's all. You understand
now. The point Ia. I'm known to have
-ah-stolen this evidence. But don''
worry. This IL where you come in
From his coat pocket Craven producet
q small, oblons box Of inlaid wood
highly polishsd. I've managed to paca