The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??, 1918-02-15

with the cold assurance that Craven
was now with his daughter. Whatever
old Tad's shortcomings. Peter couldn't
believe he would suffer a hair OF
Lydia's innocent head to be harmed
Only
What the deuce was keeping the two
Of them there 80 long1
Then abruptly a second taxicah
swung round one Of Park avenues
scrubby little ovals Of grass and shrub.
berry. slid into Seventy-sixth street
checked briefly in front Of 9S. dis.
charged two passengers, and slipped
away toward Madison avenue. Peter
recognized something familiar in the
association Of a long and slender figure
with one short and stoutish. as the
two lodged hastily into the basement
area Of number 9S and disappeared.
Musical comedy rogues." unused the
scoundrel and the short fat sharper
Messrs. Southpaw Smith and Gordon,
of course. What In thunder Confound
It'll she must be all right! Craven
would never let anything happen to
her."
He began to fume impotently. No
good trying the front door again.
Then he thought Of consulting Quoin
by telephone, and had started back
through Seventy-sixth street toward
the corner drug store, when a taxicab
shot round from the avenue. passed at
a sharp clip. and Immediately slid to
us smart a stop, while the door swung
open and man. jumping out. hailed
sharply:
"Peteri"
"Quoin-thank heaven! How in the
name of wonder"
"Found Craven had left the Great
Eastern, TAXED back to the Margrave,
got the address Miss Craven gave from
the carriage porter. Luckily you made
such a sensation boiling after her taxi
that 1t had fixed the number in the fell
lows memory. Now what's upT"
Briefly Peter detailed the inconclu-
sive and unsatisfactory circumstances
of his vigil.
"In through the basement, you sayr
Quoin pondered this darkly. Looks
like q move to trick somebody-Cra-
ven, at guess. Come along"
Grasping Peters arm. the detective
trotted him rapidly back toward num-
Der SO.
what are you going to dor
"Let developments guide u.s."
"You mean to try to get int"
"NO: I mean to get in," Quoin cor
rected grimly.
How'll you make 'em admit your"
Don't know precisely, as yet. But
we're going to find out something
we're going to see Miss Craven and get
her personal assurance she's all right,
or raise the deuce Of a row in this
quiet neighborhood. Not only that, but
I'm still pining for a chat with Cra-
ven."
They were ascending the brownstone
steps. Quoin rang imperatively.
"Stand back a moment" he suggest
ed. Let me do the talking"
Peter had barely time to withdraw
to one side when the woman of the
house came out through the vestibule
and hurriedly opened the outer door.
As it opened Quoin entered. Peter
heard him say pleasantly GOOD eve
ming, Mrs. Ellsworthy," and after that
a sort of strangled gasp from the wom-
an. A moment later, Quoin moving on,
Peter saw her clearly.
She had fallen back against the
closed door. blanched and trembling,
destitute now of every shred Of her
amiable self possession of half an hour
earlier. Her eyes were fixed in terror
on Ouoin's face. She made an effort
to speak, but evoked only q dry, rasp-
ing sound.
you're not i'll, trust, Mrs. Ellis
worthy7"
There was a sardonic infection in
Quoin's voice that seemed to Peter q
trifie unnecessary.
II thought" she gasped, and gulped,
II thought you were the doctor"
"Otherwise you wouldn't have let me
in, presume? Is there anything really
serious the matter?'
"Craven-" the woman painted.
Quoin started with horror. "Craven !"
he iterated; then, controlling himself,
II was understanding Of the sort.
You've phoned for doctor, you say?
While we're waiting let me have a look
at the poor devil"
CHAPTER XVI.
IN