Eagle Valley news., May 24, 1917, Image 2

SHEEP'S
CLOTHING
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
AtlVtr tl
THI LONE WOLF." "THE ISMS BOWU"
Ett.
CHAPTER IV Continued.
Rut before she couhl re-collect her
wits and slip quietly nwuy Craven ub
ruptly lifted his head nnd looked di
rectly at his daughter: and now she
knew hhn positively. Though his Jaw
dropped, his mouth piped, and his eyes
stared prominently from a countenance
that In a twinkling darkened portent
ously above the blank pallor of his
shirt bosom. In every lineament he was
Thaddeus Craven of the semplternally
youthful face, showed never a line to
declare he wasn't thirty-one but a
round decade older.
For a moment whose tension lent It
the length of many, father and daugh
ter remained transfixed and staring.
Then his emotion communicated Itself
to the woman In his arms. Startled and
wondering, she unveiled her eyes,
caught n shadowed glimpse of the third
figure, disengaged, and drew away. And
Craven suffered this without a sign to
indicate that he had not forgotten her,
maintaining his poise and stare with a
fixity that, penetrating Lydla's confu
sion, stirred her curiosity.
Taking one step toward him, she
paused again, lifted one hand In a ges
ture at once apologetic and appealing,
nnd said falterlngly. "Daddy "
With visible effort Craven pulled
himself together and made an attempt
to speak; but only a husky whisper
rattled In his throat. Then his glance
veered uncertainly to Mrs. Merrllees.
Abruptly this last, overcoming her
astonishment, precipitated the situa
tion. The blush that had shadowed
her exquisite face ebbed again, leaving
it Incomparably fair. She threw back
her shoulders and took full advantage
of her Inches.
"Iteally, Miss Carteret " she began ;
nnd then her voice of crystal clearness
broke In n cool nnd tinkling laugh.
"Oh, do forgive me, Mrs. Merrllees I
I never dreamed I expected to find
my father alone "
"Father!" With that Iteration of
superb Insolence, Mrs. Merrllees be
came once more completely mistress of
herself; anil If her tone cried scorn
upon a presumptuous girl, her look de
manded explanation of the man.
Hut Craven had needed no more time
to make good his recovery. It was his
familiar self who stepped Into this
breach, amiable, unruffled, perhaps a
hnde too devil-may-care ; but to bul
nnce that there was a not unbecoming
ring of deference In his voice. "I'm
. ufraid," he said, "my surprise knocked
me silly for a moment. Lydin, I'd no
idea you were on board ; but you seem
already to know Mrs. Merrllees. Betty,
permit me to present my daughter."
"Your daughter. Tad?" There was
unpropltlous raillery In the woman's
tone.
Craven replied only by a bow.
"Do you realize this Is my first intl
rnatlon that you were asking me to be
come a stepmother?"
"I've much to tell you, Hetty," Cra
ven answered with grave simplicity;
then, turning to his daughter, "Lydla,
Mrs. Merrllees has Just done me the
honor to promise to become my wife,
and the truth Is "
"To come out!" Mrs. Merrllees sup
plied Incisively.
He laughed a little awkwardly. "Ex
actly ! I mean to say, It was all quite
unpremeditated. It Isn't fifteen min
utes since we found we ah loved
each other; since when I have been
rather too preoccupied to advise Mrs.
Merrllees of all my affairs. In another
hour, of course, she would have known.
As It Is If the fact of my prior mar
riage "
"Tad!" Mrs. Merrllees Interjected
with a spirit that commanded his def
erence. "We're neither of us fools.
Don't overdo things. You're talking
stupidly quite unlike yourself. I
don't cure to hear more until you've
found your bearings; and I wunt time
to find mine, Into the bargain. That's
fair, Isn't it?"
"Nothing more so," he alllrmed choer
fully. "Then I'J1 leuve you to your family
reunion !"
Fugltlvely CravenJs eyes conveyed
what was at once a demnnd and an
appeal. Hut before Lydla could ro
fcpond Mrs. Merrllees anticipated, with
n quick movement crossing to drop her
hands lightly upon the girl's shoulders.
"My dear Miss Craven I" she said
with an odd little catch In her voice.
"I'm not sure yet I ought to call you
Lydla; but I'm awfully fond of your
father, and und If I can get over what
doesn't seem an unfair suspicion that
he's kept mo too long In the dark
I
LYDIA CRAVEN SURPRISES HER FATHER MAKING LOVE
TO ANOTHER WOMAN THERE IS EMBARRASSMENT,
BUT LYDIA MAKES TWO REAL FRIENDS
SYNOPSIS. A well-bred young Ktigllshwoninn, nervous and sus
picious, finds when she boards the steamer Alsntlu, bound from Liv
erpool to New York, that her stateroom mato Is Mrs. Amelia lloggar
staff, a fascinating, wealthy American widow of about sixty years.
The girl Introduces herself as Lucy Carteret nnd says she Is going to
America to meet her father. Lucy's behavior ihikzIcs Mrs. Hoggnr
staff, who Is vastly surprised to Hud her possessing a magnificent
necklace which was stolen from a museum collection some time pre
viously, and passes the news on to her friend, Quoin, a prlvnto de
tective on board. Lucy, dressing In the dark In her stateroom, hears a
mysterious conversation between two men Just outside her window
and recognlr.es one of them as Thaddeus Craven, her father. Amused,
she hurries up on deck, searches about and finds him making lovo to
Mrs. Merrllees. wealthy, beautiful young widow and friend of Mrs. Heg
garstaff, to whom l.uej has Just confessed that she Is really Lydla
Craven.
about you. I shall probably marry him."
"I can't wish him greater good for
tune," said Lydla quietly.
"You are a dear I And so beauti
ful I'm Jealous. Do you think. Tad,
It Is wise to have two blondes In one
family? Don't answer, please. It's a
riddle I must solve to my own satis
faction before l listen to you again.
Hut I'm serious think It over."
With a transient tightening of her
grasp on Lydla's shoulders, a pressure
that conveyed a hint of friendliness
the woman turned away.
"Nol" she Insisted when Craven
promptly ranged himself at her side.
"Let me go for tonight. Tad. I'd pre
fer to be alone to think things out.
Tomorrow, perhnps "
Her smile Hashed uncertainly toward
Lydla as she disappeared round the
shoulder of the deckhouse.
Craven delayed, however, barely long
enough for a word, "Walt here I
sha'n't be long."
Lydin said nothing, but watched him
go with eyes confused with pain, she
who had found herself suddenly rele
gated from the status of a well-beloved
child to that of a stumbling block In
the path of her father's ambition, who
could no longer doubt that he had
planned to keep her existence secret
until his marriage to this Mrs. Merrl
lees of the fabulous fortune should be
a consummated fact.
She stood desolate amid a debris of
illusions, who had never known a moth
er, nnd now had lost a father. Her
eyes filled. He hadn't even kissed her
after five years' separation 1 Hosting
urms upon the tuffrall. she turned a
forlorn face to the night-clad sea, her
mood fraught with vast dlsconsoatlon.
A footfall sounded behind her, and
she wheeled sharply nbout to Join Issue
with her father. Hut It was I'eter
Traft who, briskly rounding the deck
house, pulled up short nt sight of that
tense young person, Lydla, with her
shoulders back, her chin up, and dell
nnce n-gllmmer In her eyes.
"I beg your pardon" He peered
eagerly to make certain; for the moon
was Just then thinly veiled In cloud.
"It's Miss Carteret, Isn't It?"
"Yes, Mr. Traft," sidd the girl qui
etly, relaxing. "Good evening."
Ho seemed puzzled by her manner,
started to say something, reconsidered
sharply, then ventured with engaging
deference. "It's good to see you up and
about again."
"It feels pretty good, thank you,"
she said, with a smile that gave him
courage.
"Hope I didn't startle you, galumph
ing into your solitude without warning.
Fact Is, I was looking for old Tad Cru
ven. We're needing u fourth. I don't
suppose you know Craven, though?"
"Oh, yes, I've known Mr. Craven a
long time."
"Iteally? He's a wonder, Isn't he?"
Traft exclaimed with enthusiasm.
"Everybody's friend not an enemy In
the world. I don't believe there's a
better-liked man In New York our
New York, that is."
"Your New York 7 You see, I've al
ways lived In Englnnd, und have lota
to learn nbout home."
"Sheer snobbery on my part," Peter
admitted cheerfully. "I meant the
very smnll part of New York that wo
Infest, whom my friend Mr. Martin
likes to coll the 'Idle rich.' If he only
knew I"
"Hut are you?"
"I'm UTruld I'm Idle enough; but ns
for riches, I'm poverty's poor relation."
"Hut what do you do?"
"Oh, 1 phiy a good hand at bridge,
a fair rucket at tennis, and am always
on hand . to fill In when Homebody
doesn't show up for dinner." The least
trace of bitterness lluvored this gratu
itous account of himself, und the per
oration was accompanied by an uneasy
laugh, "In short, I'm what your Eng
llsli friends call a waster. Hut please
don't think that I'm bidding for serious
consideration."
"I understand," the girl said quietly.
"I didn't meun to bore you, either."
"You didn't; but you mudo me think
and wonder."
"Why I'm content to be so uso-
less?" .
She nodded, with her shadowy smllo.
A wry grin nnswered that. "You
certainly toko the curso off of it," Traft
averred. "Candor llko yours Is good
! for the egotism. The register of my
self-esteem Is now subnormal."
"I didn't mean to be unpleasant. Mr.
Traft."
"Don't, please. Thus far you've done
me good; but If you sny more, betray
the least real Interest In me. I'll get
chesty and need taking down again.
And I'm forgetting Craven."
"He was here only n few minutes
ago. and promised to come back before
long."
"Then may I wait? You don't mind?"
"No." said the girl. "Indeed, I've
something to tell jvit. You've praised
him to my face, nnd that makes me
want to tell you. I'm not Lucy Car
teret, really, Mr. Traft. My name Is
Lydla Craven. Thaddeus Craven Is
my father."
"Oh. I say I" I'eter stared Incredu
lously. "Not Tad Craven's daughter 1
You're serious?"
"Quite."
He nodded. "I see you are. Hut
well you have surprised me. I don't
suppose a soul who knows him would
believe Tad Craen anything but
convinced bachelor 1"
So It was tnii' Craven had never
mentioned his daughter to his friends 1
Staring seaward. Lydla worked her
hands together gently; nnd, watching
her closely, the man saw her face fugl
tlvely convulsed. And wisely he held
silence.
"Mrs. Heggarstaff knows." the girl
said presently, "and Mrs. Merrllees,
and I dare say by tomorrow all his
acquaintances on the ship will know,
I So, you sec, I'm not violating his con-
"You Are Kind," She Averred Wist
fully, "and I Need Friends."
fidence. Only you spoke of him so
wnrmly that you mudo mo want you
to understand." A quaver touched her
tone; but sho persisted: "I'm afraid
I've made a great mlstako embar
rassed him horribly, turning up this
way. Hut I didn't know ho was a pas
senger. I supposed, of course, ho was
nt home In New York "
Much of I'etcr's charm lay In his in
stinctive recognition of those times
when it Is wisest to say nothing. No
body could lenvo everything unsaid In
n way moro eloquent of sympathetic
comprehension. So ho stood very still,
covertly watching her face und won
dering. "I couldn't help It They forced mo
to It the people I lived with In Lon
don. I knew It wusn't right, hecauso 1
didn't love him. How can ono marry
a person ono doesn't lovo? Hut when
I wrote to daddy ho wouldn't oven an
swer, and I couldn't help It I hud to
run away! And now, of course, ho's
furious with me turning up here llko
tho hud penny "
"Why Miould bo resent that? I don't
seo why ho couldn't hnvo told us ho
had u duughter especially ono llko
you I It seemH to me, tho Innocent by
stander, that Tad hadn't any right to
post "
"Don't I Wo mustn't mlsjudgo him.
You'ro his friend: surely you ought
to muko allowances fog him, If I can.
I'm fluro ho roust hnvo had his rea
sonsgood enough reasons, If wo only
knew. Why must ho take tho world
Into his confidence?"
Duinfoundcd, l'eler stared; (hen
niembered himself that woman nature
was u singular thing, Its mental proc
esses defying masculluti analysis,
"lou're right," he asserted meekly
after a pause. "Of courso you'ro right I
I'vo known Tad Craven a long tlmo
and pretty well, If ho Is n bit older,
and I know he wouldn't do anything
dishonorable or calculated to hurt nny
body. Ilo's not that kind."
Impulsively I.j din's hand went out
to Peter's; but In the long Instant that
they sat hand In hand and eye to ey
each smiling n trace consciously, slg
mils of distress showed In her waver
ing glance, mid wIMiln his grasp the
pressure of her firm young lingers les
sened until reluctantly he released
them,
"What Is It?" Peter asked gently.
"Only my presumptuousnesM lutllct
Ing you with my troubles, demanding
your sympathy, as If I'd nny rlgh
whatever "
"I'm your fathcr'a friend, at least
Miss Craven, and such as I am If
you care to think of me an your friend
too, 1 11 bo very glad not to say vain
glorious."
Sho wouldn't have been a human gtrl
had she lacked coquetry. A suspicion
of mischief lightened the smile with
which she regarded him, bend Judg
matlcally Inclined a hit to one side,
"Mrs. Heggarstaff seems to think well
of you "
"She's kind-hearted and easily
amused."
now you uo continually cry your
self down I What Is one to think?"
"When a man has the grace to speak
humbly of himself. Miss Craven, listen
with gratitude and amar.oiuent : truth
Is rare music In this world!"
"Yet you urge your friendship upon
me."
"It Is all I have to offer." ho dropped
for a moment his bantering tone
"poor currency, perhaps, but not conn
terfelt ; lightweight, but without Hlov."
Then suddenly sh' wan grave again.
"You are kind," she averred wistfully.
and I need friends."
Do you believe that Thaddeu
Craven It an honest man? And
does It occur to you that he may
try to net rid of Lydla In order
to Iniure the success of his
projects whatever they may be7
l TO Hi; NTINUKU.)
WHY THE SPARROW THRIVES
Increase of the Pesky Encllth Impor
tatlon Is Quite Easily Ac
counted For.
Mr. F. L. Hums, the bird census
man, has recently been taking n con
sus of English sparrows, and his omII
mato Is that there are HVi.OOO millions
of this Interesting bird In this coun
try. Wo presume that this Is bo, nl
though we have no accurate- means of
checking off his figures, except that,
Judging by the sound Just outside of
our window In the morning we Hhould
think that possibly Mr. Hums had nil
tlcrcstlmutcd the total.
Tho English sparrow has thus In
creased, from the time he first came
over to this country, much moro than
wo huvo. We are only about 1 111 mil
lions, and hu Is lCi.OOO. How can thin
Increase bo accounted for?
Quito easily. Since he en inn ho has
attended strictly to business. Ho tins
not had tlmo to pass any eugenic
laws; he has hud no medical profc
slon. He Is not interested In politics,
scrums or motorcars. He is not a high
brow. Hu lives In tho fresh air most
of tho time and does nil of his own
housework. He supports no hospitals,
has developed no literature, miirrlea
and unmarrles when he fools llko It
and, In fact, does umbo d pleases.
Why should ho not Increnso? For be
ing what an Amnrlcnn citizen ought to
bo, ho has the best of us beater, to
frazzle. Life.
Smaller Farms In California.
In California tho funns orlirlnnllv
wcro tho old "Spanish land grunts,'
usuully of enormous extent. In a
fashion, theso great holdings vnlldat.
ed by tho American government when
California came Into tho Union hav
remained as ranches. Today tho peo
ple are learning that both fur taxa
tion nnd production, Miiuli fmtnv urn
hotter, nnd ii moveii.di' to bring thin
about Is under way. adlun.ipolla
Nuws.
Easily Channed.
"Is your portable giirngri satisfac
tory?" '
"Oh. yes," replied tho suburban
dweller, "It suits mo very well and I'm
glud for my wife's wiko Unit I bought
tho ponumu num.
"Why ho?"
"Kho'H had It moved half a fln'r.
times because sho didn't think It lool-n
well from !he street."
Proving the Boast.
"Didn't you led m. your dog could
lick anything in sight?"
"Sure I did. lie's licking iho ugr
off tho lop ot your cuke now,"
Not a Bite of
Breakfast Until
You Drink Water
Oaya n ulass of hot water and
phosphate prevents Illness
nnd keeps us fit,
Just an conl, when It burns, leaves
behind a certain amount of Incom
bustible material In tho form of nnhes,
so tins food and drink taken day after
day Iciivch In the alimentary canal a
certain amount of Indlgestlblo mater
ial, which If not completely eliminated
from tho system each day, becomes
food for tho millions of bacteria which
Infest tho bowels. From this mass of
left-over waste, toxins and ptomalu
llko poisons uro formed and sucked
Into tho blood.
Men and women who can't get feel
lug right must begin to tnko Inside
baths. Hoforo eating breakfast each
morning drink a glass of real hot
water with a tenspoouful of llmestono
phosphate In It to wash out of tho
thirty feot of bowels tho previous
day's accumulation of poisons nnd
toxins and to keep tho entire alimen
tary canal clean, pure and fresh.
TIiobo who aro Bubject to sick head
ache, colds, biliousness, constipation,
others who waku up with bad taste,
foul breath, backache, rheumatic stiff
ness, or hnvo n sour, gassy stomach
after meats, aro urged to get a quarter
pound of llmi'Stouo phosphate from
tho drug store, nnd begin practicing
lutarual sanitation. This will cost
very little, but Is sufficient to tunko
anyone an enthusiast on thu subject.
ltcmcmbor Inside bathing Is moro
Important than outside bathing, be
cause the Hklu pores do not absorb
Impurities Into tho blood, causing poor
health, while the bowel wires do. Just
us soap and hot water clonuses, sweet
ens nnd freshens tho skin, so hot water
and limestone phosphate net on tho
stomach, liver, kidneys and bowels.
In The Dill.
"I'm afraid," snld tho Junior member
of thu law firm, "that wo nro caus
ing our client unnecessary trouble."
Oh, units all right,' rejoined tho
senior member; "we'll charge lilui for
It. Hostou Tmuncrlpt.
Hard Prescription.
DoctorMy dear sir, you must glvo
your wife some considerable change at
once.
HusbandCan't do It, doctor; you've
got It all. Ilnltlmoro American.
Send 10c to Dr. Plorco Invalids' Ho-
tel, Huiralo, for largo trial puekngo of
"Anuria ' lor Kidneys, cures tincKnclie.
In New York.
Hotel Clerk Do you wnnt a room
with a bath?
Undo Hiram Waal, no-o, I don't
cnlculnto I'll bo hero Saturday night.
Princeton Tiger.
DON'T CUT OUT
A Shoe Boil, Capped
Hock or Bursitis
FOR
will reduce tlicm and leave no blemliliet.
Stops tamcnm promptly. Does not blis
ter or remove the liair, and Imrie ran be
worked. f2.i bottle delivered. Book 6 M free.
AIISOUIIINP., JR.. tot DUOllnJ. lilt tMtrftU
Unlmcitl M Jb.Hi. IWuIki. Pore, ftwrlllnc. Vaflfr VrlM.
AlUri I'lln tnl Inflirnmitlon. l'rU II taJ tl a bottle at
dracilnt m ddltticd. Will nil too awr II yuu wilt.
W. F. YOUNG, P.D.F., A0 Timpl. St., SpilnglUld, Mm.
NERVOUSNESS
AND BLUES
Symptoms of More Serious
Sickness.
Washington Park, III. "I am tho
mother of four children and linvo suf
fered with femalo
trouble, lmckncho,
nervou.i epulis ami
tho blues. My chil
dren's loud talking;
nnd romping would
mnko mo so nervoua
I could ju.it tone
everything to piocoo
und I would actio nil
over and feel so Hick
that I would not
want anyone to talk
to mo at times. Lydin E. IMnkliam'a
Vcgotnblo Compound nnd Liver Pills ro-
otored mo to henlth nnd l want to manic
you for tho good they hnvo dono mo. I
hnvo hud qui to n bit of troublo ana
worry but It does not uiTect my youth
ful looks. My frlenda say 'Why do you
look so young nnd well 7 ' I owo It nil
to tho Lydla E. rinklmm remedies.
Mrs. KoiiT. HTOI'IKI,, Hugo Avonuo.
Washington Park, Illinois.
If you have any symptom about which
you would llko to know wrlto to tho
Lydla E. Plnkhum Medicine Co,, Lynn,
Mass., for helpful advice given fruu of
charge
IV
it