The St. Mary banner., 1918-03-16
CHAPTER XI-continued.
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startled. she turned and ran into the
atoining room, pulling up with a cry
q deht OF her father. His face. a
.,icken mask, mottled, CHASTITY: sweat
81 s1.cd ont upon his forehead, his lips
1,,mhled. his eyes sick with fear. The
]. tl.res OF his knees loosened. ne
SsWayed.
81 one ouivering hand he held play
~ card-a knave of diamonds.
he enunciated with difficulty. "Wha
vhat-" With half frantic gesture
y tore at his collar. "Where did that
Snne from?" he cried hoarsely. "How
<Aow did it get in that d. box7"
k He made a strangled sound. reeled.
- fell back heavily into chair. the
h xIrd futtering from his grasp to rest
fpee upward ut his feet.
Daddy, what can do? What's the
4 4 natteri II only you'd speak to mel"
a Yneeling at her fathers side In pas
- Of anxiety, she fondled hand
1saet and frightfully cold.
HIS position unchanged, Craven wore
<yey indication Of complete physical
! g1ollapee. A hand-his left-clutched
\ at ~ coat, above the heart.
Dut as Lydia moved to rise and tele-
4 phone for the hotel physician the man
slirred. His lips quivered. She bent
aaear % catch their whisper:
sBnndyv'
sT1l order 1t at once"
But IL fingers, knitted with hers. re-
slEained her with singular strength and
& 1nafatence. "No-flask on my bureau"
sxA dearest. Let me 60 and get it,
Noat your
.go-let me-all right now"
y II nanaged to lift head and shoul-
- lrum the chair: then again col
Il od, his fingers relaxing.
s h bureau top In his bedchamber
4 - llttered with a confusion Of ar
xlln turned out haphazard from Cra-
sSea1 dressing case. For q moment
I0dk4 searched the disarray, at a loss
~ 1nsle out anything resembling a
Ask. Then a low cry Of stupefaction
ke1eaped her: in clear space to one
~ the puzzle box lay open.
n its shallow oblong drawer, upon
layer Of cotton wool. blazed the pearl
I'D diamond collar stolen from Mrs.
ofrilees- -0r the imitation?
Int Immediately the mystery and the
ndef Of this was lost in her sOlici-
~ and, another glance discovering q
~ leather-bound flask, she seized it
'1n back to the other room.
Gkaven's eyes were open and, she
ed. informed with look Of al
nightened inquiry as she unst0p-
oo the flask, dashed generous
at Of brandy into a glass, and
- toward silver water pitcher.
- husky whisper stayed her
e-straight-"
= put the glass to his lips, invert-
g aowly, while he gulped and splut-
prel" he demanded with his first
Aeeath. "A little water"
- this second draft, which be
unaided, he seemed more him
1hr the first time he ceased to
his side; little color crept back
hee. He remained silent, how
gaze bent upon the knave Of
eadg at his feet, his countenance
h perplexed.
IDMAfh HAn
= It daddy9 Can't you tell
ne muttered, IAN old afrec-
osning to worry about but that
eeled me over-rather /"
What-what does 1t mean9"
wouldn't understand. It's some
scfet, code signal to me to-l
xpecting it in the box"
thought he left unfinished,
1e something indistinguishable.
eyes flashed toward his daugh-
ee. then were quickly averted.
ne box with the necklace, you
Lydia prompted evenly.
ouidn't reply directly. "Gave
q q shock!" After a moment
ce ne cried out In accents Of ex-
on. But how In the name Of
q i ever get there3"
ek checked Lydia's reply. With
Ctaven pulled himself together
Al let the waiter see me like
toa let him in-will your
enaged . slow but unwavering
q Ms room. When he was out
Lydia turned to the door, ad-
me waiter with his heavy tray;
f the neal and tipped and dis