The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-01-11
CHAPTER xl.

From the manner of the room clerk
Lydia inferred that the name Of Thad-
deus Craven was well esteemed by the
management of the Great Eastern. Nor
was this impression at all modified by
the rooms to which she was shown-a
suite so complete and luxurious in ap-
pointments that its appeal was strong
TO the sybaritic strain with which
heredity had endowed the girl.
Toward six o'clock she dropped, worn
out. into an armchair beside an open
window In the living room. Wearily
the girls eyelids drooped. Insensibly
she drowsed, drifting into sort of
halfwaking nightmare, wherein she
with her father waged incessant war
against powers Of darkness, shapeless,
featureless, inscrutably malign-
The last rays of the sinking sun flood
ed her face, even as it impregnated her
dream. with the hue of blood. Twilight,
succeeding, caught together the gap
Ing arras Of the sky. Minutes wove a
web of hours
Abruptly Lydia found herself on her
feet, low cry shuddering in her
throat, aware that the room was ablaze
with light, that she was no longer
alone. Then, calming, she realized
nothing more terrible than Craven's
return
He stood near the center of the room,
staring, evidently at loss to account
for her agitation, his face slightly
flushed yet lowering.
bn 10, IL. u bo
the deuce is the matter with you?"
"You-you startled me-" she fall
tered with n tremulous smile. II must
have fallen asleep. waiting for you
and then l had horrible dream"
Craven's look swept her from head
to foot, captious and ugly. You
haven't dressed" he said-meaning
that she hadn't changed for dinner.
Been asleep long?'
"Why-some hours. presume What
time is it? II was just sunset, the last
1 knew
after nine o'clock now. Then you've
had no dinner?"
Lydia shook her head. II was wait
ing for you"
You shouldn't have" he grumbled.
Thought l told you not to count on
me. I've been busy Of course, flying
round all afternoon, getting Betty set
tied. Otherwise should have been home
long ago"
Il have been worried about Betty
Mrs. Merrilees-''
'Oh. that business !" He smiled
grimly. ut was over sooner than ex-
pected. Unpleasant for her-to submit
to being searched by a female inspec-
tor. But of course they found nothing,
and had to let her go. And now she's
threatening all manner of trouble"
"Then the necklace was really
stolen? I'm so sorry
YES" Craven eyed her curiously
for an instant. Yes, 1t was stolen.
right enough and a clean-cut job. if
you ask me. The thief must have been
laying for somebody to buy the thing.
He had the counterfeit all ready, of
course"
But that's what don't understand"
''Simplest thing in the world.
Chance is he found the copy ready made
to his hand. Nine out of ten of these
smart Frenchwomen. like the original
owner of the collar, have their best
pieces duplicated in paste for public
wear. Somehow or other he must have
got hold of that. The only question is,
when did he make the substitution? ?
Betty swears 1t was the genuine ar
ticle she received, and 1t hasn't been
out Of her possession since. except
while in the purser's safe. and when
brought it to her, up there in the
veranda cafe, day before yesterday.
Looks as if it was up to the purser-
unless you care to point the well-knOwn
finger Of suspicion at me-or Peter"
'How absurd!'
Think SO? Well, I'm glad you do,
my dear" His humor had softened.
Drawing near. he pinched her cheek
anectionately. mot that there's any