Williams news., 1918-01-10
LoUI5JOSEpH
 VANCE
CHAPTER XVI-Continued.


 could 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 pulled up and stared at his daughter, his face dark with temper.
 Slowly Lydia rose and confronted bim, hard eyes challenging his relent- lessly.
 "What's this," he demanded abrupt Iy in an ugly voice, "what's this hear about your bringing Peter Trait here In a tad?"
 ''What does this mean," the girl re torted, 'that you send me here to be locked up, as though I were thief to be held for the police?''
 He ignored, if he was sensible to, the stressed pronoun. q want an answer to my question:" he said threateningly.
 "T demand an answer to mine," 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 ob- vious effort relaxed; mustered flick ering and uncertain smile, meant to be ingratiating; moderated his tone. ooh, come nowi" he said in strained indul- gence. "We can't go on forever quar- reling, you and I, Liddy."
 q agree" she replied coolly. "Any explanation you can make"
 'It's all mistake. Mrs. Ellsworthy, a 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 l, your father express my sincere regret"
 Briefly Lydia analysed words and tone, and found both hollow with insin- cerity. She shook her head wearily. You're not telling me the truth. I've learned too well to know when you're -inventing. If 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. Every we'll" he urged. 'Pve no wish to detain you. Just one thing-and we'll go together. First be good enough to give me that puzzle box
 ''No!" Lydia cried out in round full voice. "Nol"
 "What's that?" he said, incredulous.
 "I said no," Lydia told him. "I will not give you the puzzle box. It belongs to Mrs. Merrilees."
 In a breath his face was suffused with blood. "So that's your style, is it?" he stormed. advancing. "Well. xUosII bavo fhiS ont haro and nOrU Tnv lady I'm your, ,father-I order-I com mand you to hand over that box! Un- less, of course, you prefer me to take it by force."
 He had come within two feet, was menacing her with face and gestures of uncomfortable wrath. But she didn't yield a. step.
 "You can't" she said evenly.
 ~What the devils to prevent?'
 Because Mrs. Merrilees has it now"
 The man fell back as though she had raised a shape of horror between them ;; stammering and aghast he jabbered repetition, 'Mrs. Merrilees has it. now!''
 Lydia affirmed with a nod.
 "You-you're not fooling me, L:Idy ?'' asked Craven in a stricken voice.
 -T'm 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 Fifty-ffth street. I walked two blocks north to get another at the Margrave- where Mrs. Merrilees wasn't stopping, and where you didn't mean to meet me
  right good luck found her with Mrs. Beggarstaff. So I gave her the neck lace. and came on here-Mr. Trait es- corting me, though not at my request 9
 Good heavens !" said Craven again, his accents quavering. Do you know what you're saying, Liddy?"
 "Pm afraid-I know too well.''
 With an inarticulate groan Craven sank into chair and buried his face in his hands You've ruined me!'
 'Pve saved you, you mean"
 'eYou don't understand. What,' He looked up eagerly. ''What did they say when .you-when you gave back the aecklace?"
 ''They were kind enough to say noth- ing, to pretend Mrs. Merrilees had in- stigated the smuggling swindle that you invented-to blind me. Even Mrs. Merrilees pretended, in the goodness of her heart. And was deceived un- ti1-this Mrs. Ellsworthy locked me in, and so gave me chance to think from a true point of departure. Then un- derstood. thought it all out-reaiized that you had stolen the necklace-that you were an associate of criminals tHat was the daughter of a common khfefi''
 Grooming, Craven covered his face again.
 ''Now," said the girl, "let me go. ] 4on't know what action. they mean tD