The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1918-04-13
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

~
q CHAPTER xv-continued.
4 ~
q II certainly looked all right: no Ques-
lion about that woman being straight
xo.,ds. OF course Lydia might have
s3s.en decent enough to write more ex-
1licit excuse to Dear Peter" instead
~ "Dear Mr.. Trait" but, then, cor
dependence card conveyed through the
!: lands Of third person with whom the
lear girl couldn't feel well acQuaint-
"Where to, sir?"
Peter came out Of morose reverle to
md himself hesitating beside the taxi.
IN be darned IL dol" Peter replied
actly.
whats thatr
~Oh, beg pardon-no offense-was
thinking. Just wait, please" Peter
threw himself back into the cab. slam
4 ming the door. "Rotten flx," he grum-
s1led. "Why, she said she'd come back"
Regarding the note critically, he enun-
dated somber doubt, "Don't believe
1he wrote you. It's all plant"
The handwriting was Enthusiastically
that Of a woman of culture. How was
be to say it wasn't Lydia's hand. who
had never seen scrap Of it?
He would have kissed 1t, could he
have been sure.
hn I'D vrvfn hn
commanded perspective Of the south
erly sidewalk as far as to Madison ave-
nue.. where surface car, swinging up
town, hesitated with grinding brakes,
and then rumbled on.
A moment later the shadowy shape
at man darted across the street and
toward the taxicab, and Peter recOg-
ni1ed Craven's characteristic gait. But
Tor that he wouldn't have known the
man, who was all but disguised to eyes
fhat had never beheld him out Of dress
clothes after nightfall-Craven wear
Ing bowler with q shabby. tapping
eaincoat, at a midnight hour, was a
sight unprecedented.
Peter sat up. Barely in time devi-
Nus thought engaged his fancy, and he
sacted on it promptly. Ready to his
land rested the mouthpiece Of a hex-
s1ble speaking tube, ending in a fixed
searpiece close by the chauffeur's head.
Five dollars" Peter said distinctly
Into the mouthpiece. If you don't let
% I'm inside, in case this man Ques-
lions"
The chauffeur didn't even signify he
Aad beard, SO positive became his i'm
Nobility at sound Of those magic syl-
E11hles, "Five dollars"
Il Hastily Peter dragged his overcoat
1cross the bosom Of his shirt and
crowded himself into the corner near
st the curb.
h Bearing out his premonition, Craven
topped to speak to the chauffeur
lnd the eavesdropper cursed bitterly
ID hear no more than the confused
rumble Of their voices.
Then without the least warning the
eaF shot away at q round pace west
guard
s lmmering with profanity. Peter
|selsed the speaking tube to below a
nand for incontinent halt; but on
cond thought permitted the car to
fto9nd into Madison avenue before he
I've the order.
Again at pause, this time halfway
oWn the avenue block, the cab elected
Infatuated fare.
What the blank did you do that
Why in blank shouldn't r. the
an6eur demanded as hotly. "You
80 me not to let on. didn't you3 Here
'-come through with that flvel"
Choking, Peter found his money, dis
sDu1sed. "How did It happen?"
Why the old gink says, did bring
II goung lady and was waitin' for her,
- 1 says yes, an he slips me three
es-the clock says two-forty-and
"a to clear out, I won't be needed.
- what did you want me to do about
- SEEM you didn't want him to
80 you was inside2'
U, all right" said Peter YEARLY.
4ou did precisely the right thing. Only
didn't quite understand" He eyed
aexedly the colored lights Of
store across the way.
al. what's the good word now,
& II you're done with me, I'm on
way"
Peter insisted, I'm keeping
Run across the block and wait
ont of sight on Park avenue. I'll
~ back"
ftoning t0pcoat to chin and sacri-
! his Bond street topper to the
ents. Peter trudged back to Sew