Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-01-10
o.
LOUISJOSEpH
VANCE
CHAPTER xVI--continued.

tOGh. Ayuld SldTleus DuI DSIOES chc
rould move the door swung open far
enough to admit Craven, and was at
cnce 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
him, hard eyes challenging his relent-
lessly.
whats this" he demanded abrupt
~ in an ugly voice, whats this l hear
about your bringing Peter Trait here
N taxiT
"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
10 my question:" he said threateningly.
81 demand an answer to mine," she
returned, unyielding
With an impatient gesture Craven
advanced as if meaning to seize her
he paused, let his hand fall, with OBJ
vious effort relaxed; mustered flick
ering and uncertain SMILE meant to be
lngratiating moderated his tone. ooh,
come now!" he said in strained indul-
gence. eve can't go on forever quar-
reling, you and I, Liddy."
II agree" she replied coolly. "Any
explanation you can make"
tits all a 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 !, your
father, express my sincere regret"
Briefly Lydia analysed words and
tone, and found both hollow with insin-
certify. She shook her head YEARLY.
you're not telling me the truth. I've
learned too well to know when you're
--invening. If you mean what you
gay, 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.
very WELL" he urged. give 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 a round
full voice. mol"
whats that?" he said, incredulous.
ST said no." Lydia told him. Il will
not give you the puzzle box. 1t belongs
to Mrs. Merrilees."
In a breath his face was suffused
with blood. $50 that's your style, is
it?" he stormed, advancing. "Well,
well have this out here and now, my
lady I'm your father-I order-I COM
mand you to hand over that boxi I'm
less, of course, you prefer me to take
1t by force"
He had come within two feet, was
menacing her with face and gestures
of uncomfortable wrath. But she
didn't yield q step.
"You can't" she said evenly.
"What the devils to preventY'
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
nowl'
Lydia affirmed with nod.
"You-youre not fooling me, Liddy?'
asked Craven IN stricken voice.
I'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-ifth street. / walked two blocks
north TO get another at the Margraye-
where Mrs. Merrilees wasn't stopping,
and where you didn't mean to meet me
after I'd called here-anC by down
right good luck found her with Mrs.
Beggarstaff. So / gave her the neck
lace, and came on here-Mr. Trait es-
corting me, though not at my request"
"Good heavensi" said Craven again,
his accents quavering. "Do you know
what you're saying Liddy?"
I'm afraid know too we'll"
With an inarticulate groan Craven
sank into a chair and buried his face in
his hands. "You've ruined mel"
1--WE saved you, you mean"
'You don't understand. What" He
looked up eagerly. "What did they say
when you-when you gave back the
necklace"
"They were kind enough to say moth
ing, to pretend Mrs. Merrilees had in
stigated the smuggling swindle that
you invented-to blind me. Even Mrs.
MerriIees pretended, in the goodness
IF her heart. And I was deceived I'M
.il-this Mrs. Ellsworthy locked me in,
and so gave me chance to think from
true point of departure. Then un-
6erstood | thought it all out-realized
that you had stolen the necklace-that
you were an associate of criminals
that was the daughter Of common
thief ~
Grooming, Craven covered his face
again.
n