Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1917-10-24
d.
VANCE
CHAPTER xVI-continued.

,opld move the door swung open far
enough to admit Craven, and was at
once slammed behind him.
A pace or two from the wall the man
Dulied up and stared at his daughter,
his face dark with temper.
Slowly Lydia rose and confronted
him. hard eyes challenging his relent-
Iessly.
,sWhat's this" he demanded abrupt
~ in an ugly voice, whats this 1 hear
about your bringing Peter Trait here
10 a taxiE"
"What does this mean," the girl re-
torted, "that you send me here to be
locked up, as though / were thief to
be held for the pOlice?
He ignored, if he was sensible to, the
stressed prOnOun. II want an answer
to my question" he said threateningly.
81 demand an answer to NINE" she
returned, unyielding.
With an impatient gesture Craven
advanced as if meaning to seize her
and enforce obedience. But halfway
he paused. let his hand fall, with OBJ
ering and uncertain smile, meant to be
Negotiating; moderated his tone. "Oh,
come nOw!" he said in strained indul-
gence. 1--WE can't go on forever quar-
reling, you and /. Liddy.'
II agree" she replied eOolly. "Any
exclamation you can make"
IT'S all a mistake. Mrs. EllswOrthy,
most jealous woman in-ah-our
service, misinterpreted my message,
believed it imperative you should be
detained, and when you showed temper
committed an objectionable error. I'll
see she apologies; meantime I, your
father, express my sincere regret"
Briefly Lydia analysed words and
tone, and found both hollow with insin-
cerity. She shook her head YEARLY.
You're not telling me the truth. I've
learned too well to know when you're
-inventing. IL you mean what you
say, If you wish to prove you didn't
Instruct that woman to lock me up,
open that door and let me leave this
house at once"
Craven sighed, shrugged tolerantly.
Tery WELL" he urged. Give no wish
to detain you. Just one thing-and
wen go together. First be good
enough to give me that puzzle box"
-Nom Lydia cried out in round
full voice. "NO!''
whats that?" he said, incredulous.
81 said no." Lydia told him. II will
not give you the puzzle Eox. 1t belongs
to Mrs. Merrilees.''
In q breath his face was suffuSed
With blood. "SO that's your style, is
t2' he stOrmed, advancing. well,
wen have this out here and now, my
lady! I'm your father-I Order-I COM
mand you TO hand over that boxl I'm
less, Of course, you prefer me to take
It by force"
lie had come within two feet, was
meuacing her with face and gestures
ot uncomfortable wrath. But she
didn't yield a step.
"YOu can't" she said evenly.
What the devils to preventT"
Because Mrs. Merrilees has it now"
The man fell back as though she had
raised a shape of horror between them
s;ammering and aghast he jabbered
repetition, "Mrs. Merrilees has it
OOwp
Lydia affirmed with a nod.
"YOu-you're not fOoling me, LiddyY'
asked Craven in a stricken voice.
Tn telling you the truth, if you've
The wit to recognize it." she said with
The brutal intolerance of youth for age
allied with depravity. "Sheer chance
fooled you. My cab broke down at
Ftty-tfth street. / walked two blocks
forth to get another at the Margrave-
Hhere Mrs. MerrileeS wasn't stopping,
. @o where you didn't mean to meet me
- 0Ier I'd called here-and by down
.Snt good luck found her with Mrs.
oeggarStaG. So 1 gave her the neck
~ce' aud came on here-Mr. Trait es-
"Eung me, though not at my request.
GOOD heayensr' said Craven again.
us accents quavering. 'Do you know
'ldt you're saying, Liddy?"
I'm afraid know too WELL"
with an inarticulate groan Craven
n ~uH into chair and buried his face in
-s hands. you've ruined mel"
I've saved you, you mean"
lou don't understand. What" he
"SKed up eagerly. what did they say
,esa you-when you gave back the
aeckIace?"
1aey were kind enough to say moth
- 10 pretend Mrs. Merrilees had in
stated the smuggling swindle that
W. w lnVented-to blind me. Even Mrs.
stFoees pretended. in the goodness
81 uet heart- And I was deceived I'M
=, un'S Mrs. Ellsworthy locked me ID,
~ gave ne q chance to think from
sue point of departure. Then I'M
80 ~s'Ood l thought it all out-realized
=, ~ you had stolen the necklace-that
~ were au associate of criminals