The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-02-01

attempts to open the puzzle box and
| that the Dowager Dragon was making
significant faces at Quoio over her
shoulder.
-Permit me. Betty" Quoin suggest
ed. II think I know the trick"
In another breath the box vas open.
the necklace in its owners hands.
Merely my foolish delight to sec
you again 30 Boon, my DEAR" A hand
patted affectionately one Of Lydia's
flushed cheeks as, released. breathless.
and wondering. she stepped back to
readjust her hat.
you're awfully good to me. Mrs.
Beggarstaff. But can't stop a minute.
I've another errand to run for father
he's very busy tonight"
Another errand!" Betty Merrilees
parroted out Of a mind perhaps par
donably confused.
"YeS-I sha'n't be long. Father
asked me to bring that to you: but
promised to call for me within an hour.
So was to attend to the other errand
first, and wait here with you for him.
But my tadcab broke down and"
"Craven coming here7" Betty inter
rupted incredulously. but checked sud-
denly at look from Quoin.
"As soon as he can get away" Lydia
affirmed. II mean, Of course, wher-
ever you're really stopping"
1.-THE Plaza"
That's just across the way, isn't it,
It's odd of him to make such a mis-
take. He said the Margrave distinctly.
But I'll ask for you at the Plaza in
half an hour. If you don't mind"
mind! On the contrary" Mrs. Mer-
rilees said pleasantly. ''Tn be delight
ed. Tad, too. That will be fun
rather! Wen have supper together
all Of u.s."
"And so-good night for thirty min
utes." Lydia laughed. II must hurry"
"Wait a minute" Peter put in. I'm
OF too. you know, and going your way"
"How do you know you are!" Lydia
demanded, smiling back from the door
way.
Because that's the way I'm going"
But I don't want you now, Mr..
Traft-though I shall hope to see you
again in half an hour. Good-by."
The hall-door closed, leaving Peter
as dashed as Betty Merrilees was
thunderstruck, as Quoin was thought
full. as the smile Of the Dowager Drag
on was satiric.
There was little pause.
what" Peter demanded, "what do
you know about that?"
AFTER her, you LOOM" Quoin snapped,
waking up with a start. "If Craven
told her to 60 somewhere else first,
be sure he never meant her to bring
that necklace here. Don't you see"
ASST" Peter groaned, shifting his
forehead. "Why didn't I think7" SELF
iDg hat and coat, he threw open
the door even as the elevator gate
changed.
The car had dropped from sight be-
fore he reached the shaft. Planting a
thumb on the push-button. he educed
only thin, persistent grumble from
the annunciator bell, steadily dimin-
ishing in volume as the car continued
wilfully to descend.
1nfuriated, the young man commit
ted the soul of the elevator attendant
to the nethermost depths Of damnatiLn
and, turning to the stairway, plunged
down the flights in breakneck haste,
three steps at time.
Across the lobby he sped as one
bounded by furies, and gained the car
rage entrance barely in time to see
taxicab pulling away from the curb.
Peter gave chase, affording midnight
wayfarers the diverting spectacle of
beautifully arrayed young man-coat-
tails fat to the wind and rain, top coat
streaming wildly from one arm, the
other brandishing the dernier cri in
toppers-in mad, mute pursuit of a
self-contained taxicab proceeding stol-
idly about its business.
Happily for Peter. its business in
volved observance Of traffic regula-
tions; and when 1t paused to give pre-
cedence to a Fifty-ninth street cross
town car Peter caught up-if some
thing more rudely than he had thought
to. Unable to check quickly on the
greasy asphalt, he skidded against the
door with crash.
Hold hard!" he begged between
breaths. "Give me a chance!"
"What the" commented the chauf-
fear suspiciously.
But at the same time Peter jerked
the door open, and-a Gravity, sinking
sensation deserted his midst: the fare
was Lydia. after all!
She greeted this breathless appari-
ton with an inarticulate cry.
You forgot something" Peter
gasped in response, climbing in.
"WhatT'
Mel" he declared settling into the
place by her side; then thrust his head
out Of the door and painted, 'It's all
right, driver. Cut along-and don't go
too fast-slippery pavements-"