The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1918-03-30

armed. Constraint was absent from
their meeting: they went at once to
each others arms.
Its so good to find you here, Betty.
oh, good evening. Mr. Quoin-Mr.
TRAIT. good evening. The best part is,
l thought you were stopping here. and
was In despair when l found you
weren't"
| Its dear of you but"
II was so anxious to give you-this ~
AS she spoke the puzzle box left Lyd-
las keeping finally and for all time.
Betty Merrilees uttered low cry.
| ''This?" she questioned In a strange
voice. "What?"
Must l say?" Lydia laughed. II
don't believe you really want me to"
mot my necklace!" the woman
gasped.
There! I didn't tell-did 1. Mrs.
Beggarstaff?"
mo. dear child; but we knew all the
time"
Incontinently Lydia was over
whelmed by very unexpected. un-
called-for, motherly and protracted
embrace; which. while it didn't lack
affection, served as we'll the most dip
lOmatic purpose of preventing the girl
from noticing Betty's halfhysterical
attempts to open the puzzle box and
that the Dowager Dragon was making
significant faces at Quoin over her
shoulder.
Permit me. Betty" Quoin suggest
ed. II think I know the trick"
In another breath the box was open.
the necklace in its owners hands.
Merely my foolish delight to see
you again so soon, my DEAR" A hand
patted affectionately one Of Lydla's
flushed cheeks as. released, breathless.
and wondering, she stepped-b back to
readjust her hat.
you're awfully good to me, Mrs.
Beggarstaff. But can't stop minute.
I've another errand to run for father
he's very busy tonight"
another errand!" Betty Merrilees
parrOted out of q 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 taxicab broke down and"
"Craven coming here?" Betty inter-
rupted incredulously, but checked sud-
denly ut a 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 mis-
take. He said the Margrave distinctly.
But I'll ask for you at the Plaza In
half an hour, IL you don't mind"
mind! On the contrary" Mrs. Mer-
rilees said pleasantly, ''I'll be delight
ed. Tad. too. That will be fun
rather! Wen have supper together
all Of US"
"And so-good night for thirty min
utes," Lydia laughed. II must hurry"
"Wait minute" Peter put in. "I'm
off too. you know. and going your way"
"How do you know you are |" Lydia
smiling back from the door
way.
Because that's the way I'm going"
"But I don't want you now, Mr..
Traft-though l shall hope to see you
again in half an hour. Good-by."
The hall-door closed, leaving Peter
as dashed as Betty Merrilees was
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 that7"
after her. you LOOM" Quoin snapped.
waking up with a start. III Craven
told her to 60 somewhere else first,
be sure he never meant her to bring
that necklace here. Don't you sect"
ASST" Peter groaned. shifting his
forehead. ''Why didn't I think1" Seiz-
ng hat and coat, he threw open
The door even a. the elevator gate
Hanged.
The car had dropped from sight b.
'ore he reached the shaft. Planting .
humb on the push-button. he educed
'nly a thin, persistent grumble from
he annunciator bell. steadily dimin-
shing In volume AZ the car continued
vilfully to descend.
Infatuated. the young man commit
ed the soul Of the elevator attendant
o the nethermost depths Of damnation
md, turning to the stairway. plunged
lown the flights in breakneck haste,
hree steps at time.
Across the lobby he sped AZ one ]
founded by furies. and gained the car
iage entrance barely in time to see . i