SHEEP'S
CLOTHING
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
THI LOXE WOLF." THE KAM BOWL."
Cmri(l W
CHAPTER VIII Continued.
10
THE CUSTOMS INSPECTORS AT NEW YORK TAKE A HAND
AND THE SUSPICION GROWS THAT LYDIA KNOWS
MORE THAN HER NEW FRIENDS SUSPECT
Synopsis Lydln Craven, traveling umlor Uio nnmo of Lucy Car
teret, runs nwny from her Kngllsh home to go to her father, Tlmddeus
Craven. In New York, who she hasn't seen In flv0 years. Threo nights
out on boanl the steamer Alsatla, sho runs plump Into lier father mnk
Ing love to Sirs. Merrllees, n young widow, engaged to marry him
Later Craven explains his mysterious conduct and supposed bachelor-'
hood by telling Lydla he Is n British secret servlco agent In America
lie gives her a small box to keep fur him. Sho Is attacked. Tho box
Is stolen, but Quoin, n detective, recovers It for the girl.
"Then let, me see you back to your cttTyl"
with grave and alTeetlonnto respect,
i "Graft and all, It's one human young
stateroom, and I'll"
"No, I yd rather wait here. I must
know toulght I can't sleep without
knowing "
Admiration kindled In Quoin's ro-
imril. Ttn llt-ii ,.,, .,i.i o.
been quick ? : & U L ll,e
average woman would have been. '? 1J
"Very well." ho nssented.
Intuition enabled Lydla to Interpret
this utterance as the Invocation to the
lltnny of your tried but true Manhnt
tanlte,
Tho Alsntla was trudging sedately
up tho bay from the Narrows, Quamn
tenderly Irlsnted haze In whoso Ilia
ston It became a city of mother-of'
tw r. ., ...... " became u city or m
m.-i r". V""""u vi'i"""" ""-- pearl suspended between the blue of
companlonway Lydla paused,
"nm you be long?"
"Not ten minutes," Quoin promised.
.Ills figure momentarily eclipsed the
blur of light that stood for the doorway.
haze-veiled sky and the blue of coiitlu
ent waters.
"Arthur Itacklmm must have colored
It," Lydla mused aloud
"Wnlt this Is only the overture
i.n t , till rt I, U T .tl.in.l . ahnm
y . . . ... I JVU nil. .10 a .liu..,. 9 Dill,.,
uu " "ns, "nru,y more inun ten It to you-brldlepaths In Central park
minutes when the doorway was again of n sunny niorninK, Broadway at night
darkened, and Quoin came to Lydla's wlth n fuU hcnd of steam on, South
,,. , , street at noon with the old sailing
us long; 1111 sorry, i nnu to oe ships asleep In the sun nnd their foro
rnther severe before they gave In fcct up on the sidewalk. Fifth avenue
and up." nt evening, lights like big pearls pop-
iou succeeueur- ue laugned qui- ping out through the purplo dusk'
euy. iiere it Is." Ostentatiously drawing n hundker-
Mute In nstonishment. speechless chief from his cuff. Peter mopped his
with gratitude, she took the puzzle box brows. "Beg pardon. Ilelug poetical
irom nis extended hand. under forced draft Is a bit exhaust
"A crook known as Southpaw Smith Ing."
ne deals left-handed had it, togeth- "Your prose Isn't anything to boast
ex with tho futher and mother of all of. Henry James at his most nrro-
DincK eyes. I was almost sorry for gant was never more unintelligible."
mm. -George Trnymore' Is his alias "Oh. you'll wise up to It qulck
on the passenger list. A tall, slender enough. But mind there'll be nothing
scoundrel very, very smooth. Not doing In the poetry line after we're
that you're likely to see him before we married. I know my limitations, and
land. If then. He'll lay very low and I couldn't stand the pnee."
make the quietest getaway from the Here nn apologetic steward caught
dock he can manage " Peter's eye. "Beg pardon. Mr. Traft.
"Mr. Quoin I" the girl Interrupted In but you're wanted In the dining sa
a tremulous voice. loon to acknowledge your declara-
"Yes?" tion."
Her embarrassment was painful. "Thanks," said Peter sulkily. "I
"What can I say to you? Mere thanks presume It's got to be tended to. You.
aren't adequate." too, Miss Craven."
"Please say no more. To know I've "Hut I've already made my acknowl
been of some use Is enough. Besides," edgment, Mr. Traft I'm so sorry t"
he laughed boyishly, "I've had a good "I wish I could believe you were!"
. time bullyragging Southpaw. I like' said Peter vindictively, and went a mo
that sort of thing, you know." rose way without her.
"I shall be always grateful " He would have been less downcast
. "Then do something to oblige me. could he have guessed how soon tho
I sha'n't be easy In my mind until girl was to miss him. Alone and with
you're safe In your room." out distraction, Imagination was ling-
Transition from the gloom of the ridden by the care of that wretched
deck to the brilliantly lighted compan- puzzle box. It was still safe In her
ionway was bewildering. Instinctively possession that was the worst of it
Quoin and Lydla paused. The girl Nevertheless, she had as yet said
smiled wistfully as she offered her nothing to Craven about tho attack
hand. In the fog, fearing lest ho might Insist
"Good-night nnd thank you with all resuming charge of the puzzle box
my heart, Mr. Quoin I" nnd so, perhaps, put himself In tho
"Miss Craven," he retained her way f some perils more vital even
hnnd for a moment "will you tell me than that which had befallen her. And
one thing?" her father was all she had I
"II I may anything " When they were free to stream
His eyes searched hers Jealously, down the gangwny to tho pier Craven,
"Do you know what's in that box?" consigning Lydla to the care of Peter
'No, Mr. Quoin I Upon my word of Traft, rushed off to commandeer tho
honor, no." first available customs Inspectors for
ner eyes were limpid pools of in- himself nnd Mrs. Merrllees. So that
senuous candor. Quoin could no It was Peter who piloted Lydla to
longer doubt Ho nodded, releasing C section, hunted up her trunk, nnd
ner hand. took her plnco in the rank at the
"Thank you." chief inspector's desk ; with tho re-
"But," she lingered, "do you?" suit that the luggage of "L. Carteret,
"I do," he admitted reluctantly. Spinster," was quickly passed, and
'Not through any wish of mine. But I'eter reluctantly leaving her to pass
Southpaw had only succeeded In puz- his own Impedimenta, she was nt lib-
zllng the combination out when I in- erty to garner what diversion she
tcrrupted. I made him put back what might from the trials of others.
hed taken from the box. Don't worry. In that section her fnther wus dutl
I've already forgotten what it was. I fully but persplringly In optimistic
And Southpaw won't bother you again endeavor to persuade Ills particular
I promise you that." Inspector that he hadn't perjured him
ner eyes questioned anxiously, his self In his sworn declaration. Notlc
smiled reassurance. With yet another '"K Lydla's Indignant Interest, Craven
good-night, Lydla turned away. paused only long enough to lift a fur
Ho watched her down the nlleywny tlve eyebrow and draw down the cor
to the door of B75, then turned to seek n" of his mouth, thus signifying n
nis own uertn, snuKing bis head to rid conviction tnat ins troubles were
It of tormenting doubts. wholly due to the pernicious Interfcr-
Softly closing the door, Lydla as ence of his polltlcul antagonists, even
gently shot tho bolt, hoping to gain predicted.
her bed unquestioned. But as she She returned the least of nods. In
moved toward It In darkness the Dow- dlcuting that tho puzzle box was
ager Dragon suddenly switched on tho snfeus It was, In her suede handbag,
lights nnd lifted from her pillow an which, dangling from her wrist by Its
Indignant heud framed In a nightcap, leather strap, had quite escaped tho
uio most coquettiMuy ucrlbboned Imag- attention of the Inspector.
",au10. Then, remembering Craven's hint
en t sne uemanueu tnrtly. "Where that It would bo well not to attract
imvo you ueen, ir you please?" too much attention to their relation-
Lydla showed her u countenance in- shin until clear of the customs, tho girl
nocent or any trace of guile. "On turned away to kill time until her
uuck, sue sum quieuy, removing her father should be free.
fi0a.k mlth 't"8Prl1nkIlDK ot moisture Over tho way, In Section II, Lydla
that glittered like diamond dust. "The found Mrs. Ueggnrstuff, surrounded
foghorn, you tknow-nnd I wasn't by nn array of luggage to do credit
fdeepy, anyway. It's wonderful out to an army corps, light of battle In
v m ,ul " Tn ,nnd un,"nny- her eyes, words of bitter wit upon her
You'd think almost nnythlnc could hnn. .. ,.' .,i..i i... ......
, . ., , 1 ruuuy iiiu, 111 1nn.111.1j tuiuuui will! a
pen, and no one, be the wiser." mJJL .lr-nti.. nt nn m.ni.,i.
O.MWW.W"' " ...... .
Near by, three dock porters, two ship
newsmen, half a dozen assorted cltl-
CHAPTER IX.
"Good old town 1" said Peter Traft zens, and a hraco of customs npprals
Cemovlng his hat, ho saluted Town era whose duties were Immediate and
elsewhere, hung In breathless Interest
upon mo issue of tho fray, ono and nil
grinning broadly.
Lydla gathered an Impression that
tho Dowager Dragon had found n foe
mnn worthy of her steel ; then hurried
on to Section M nnd Betty Merrllees.
Greetltig Lydla serenely, this last
resumed her conversation with her as
signed Inspector. "You'll find every
thing dutiable In the hut trunk nnd
that big dresser trunk over there
tho two upper trays tho receipted
bills In the first tray all except
necklnce. I have that here." sho In
dicated the metal box In her hands,
"and tho bill ns well."
"Thanks, .Mrs. Merrllees." Tho In-
spector looked up from her declara
tion In futile attempt to maintain bin
olllclal Imperturbability; then his eyes
iwiuKieu in n network of wrinkles.
nis nps twitched, nnd ho irrtnned out
rlcht.
"That's nil very, well." said the Indv
Impudently. "Laugh If you llkot But
please Uo your worst as quickly us
possinie."
"Very well, ma'am. I'll hurry you
through as fast as I can."
It became Immediately unnaront
that the man wasn't disposed to doubt
the sincerity of her conversation. Tho
luggage she had Indicated as Innocent
of dutiable goods he passed with tho
most perfunctory examination, while
ho millinery nnd other declared pur
chases detained him only briefly.
"Everything Is quite O. IC. thanks
to you. mu'om. And now If you will
let me hnvo a look at that necklace.
I've sent for the nppralser. He'll bu
along In a minute."
Tho box was already unlocked. Mrs.
Merrllees promptly removed tho leather-bound
Jewel caso and handed It to
the Inspector.
Touching the spring, ho let tho lid
fly up, exposing tho penrl collar. As
If dazzled, he blinked furiously. "She's
daisy I" ho announced with unction.
Finest piece of tho sort that's come
through this year, or I'm no Judge."
Momentarily his Interest shifted to
the bill of tho Pnrlshm Jeweler.
"Three hundred thousand francs
NO REAL BRITISH "NOBILITY"
sixty thousand iollar," ho mused
aloud. v"You got It cheap, inn'nin, It
I'm nny Judge."
"Nonsense 1" Mrs. Merrllees retort
ed Indignantly. "An If nn American
ever got anything cheap In Paris
nnd from Cottier's, of nil places I By
every right you ought to assess the
duty on not more than forty thousand
dollars."
"Well," tho. Inspector suggested In
dulgently, "we'll Just see whnt tho ap
praiser says. There ho Is now. Hey,
Charlie, step over hero it minute, will
you?"
In response to this hall, a slender,
bespectacled young man In O section
nodded assent, picked his way through
the barrier of trunks, and, recognizing
Mrs. Merrllees, touched tho vizor of a
cap hearing the word "Appraiser."
"Mrs. Merrllees has declared her
necklace, Charlie," said (ho Inspector,
handing over tho case. "And here's
tho bill; but she wants you to tako a
slant at It for value."
Nodding ugaln, tho appraiser nar
rowed his eyes and surveyed tho neck
lace with an expression of some inys
tltlcatlon. Then bit pursed his lips In
a noiseless whistle, looked bewilder-
MDWSQfMK
AIRY TALE
BUD3' OECRETO.
"Homo of tho trees," said Dadity,
"wero talking about themselves softly."
" 'It n ho nlco to
bo welcome,' tho
tiny buds wero
saying. 'When wo
yawn and bud
for budding with
us In tho same as
yaw n I tic with
UrownUps nnd
Children w h e n
they are thinking
ot gutting up In
tho morning
they llko to watch
us. Of course
that makes us
very happy I'
11
A Little Fairy
Happened Along-
" 'V..O ...I.I .1 1 .. I ,1. I ...
,,., ... i,u M..--M.. .. i . ' Hiimiier uini, u in u
Ing. threw a brilliant splash of gold ha,r ee ' ' '
athwart the tempered gloom of tho , . 1 ,.
pler-shed. Hero ho subjected tho " "Ul 1"'nlrp l'"I'loned
necklace to minute Inspection with n 1
magnifying glass. Finally, wearing . ' 111 ' no lv"y you
an IllcKlblo expression. b turn.ui "V1' HO como out Into leaves?
back. ix'oplo get up. It Is usually with
"It's a corking good thing." be nn- " ,mmul ",M n Jumi tliouish. of
nouneed In an odd ton.. "Wo don't C,,.,.'"c,( "" ' .
get many like It; but tho workman- . ,,ul '' "fo different.' said tho
ship on this Is Immense I Call It threo ,'"'rJr' ''ves, buds, flowers, grass
hundred at tho outside" "" "" NUe" '"'"K always have rea-
"What!" Mrs. Merrllees blazed In- for whnt ,hJr do- Wo'1 ou
dlgnnutly. "Threw hundred thousand tL'" '" your ""'
dollars I Itldlculousl Look at tho i1''1- " rather buds, seemed
bill" to grow a little larger. For In truth
"No, mn'nni," tho nppralser Inter- tluy woro "illlnj; with pride that the
rtipted with mournful decision, "not lniry WI,B "king to them,
threo hundred thousand, but Just "'Wo a " 'Joy being liked.' snld
threo hundred dollars; duty a hun- ,no "t,' bud who hud grown tho most,
dred and i-lghty (sixty per cent nd Wo ,ovo tu ' encouraged helped
vol.), and If you llko I'll get someoiio I "l0"g'
else to size It up mid see If maybo '"Hut how can anyone help n bud?'
wo can't shade thitt a bit." naked tho Fairy. 'I'd bo only too glad
"Wha-atr Mrs. Merrllees nlmost to help, but I don't know how. ttWi
shrieked. you tell mo?'
"If It was real stuff I'd bo sure. " Tho Sun
ma'am," the appraiser apologized; and smiling at us. The South Wind
"but you can't nlwnys tell about theso whinner
Imitations llko you can regular helped so much by the secrets for tho
stones." South Wlml iin
And she promises us more sunshine,
moro warmth, more brightness. And
then there are the clouds and their
promises. They tell us they will not
forget about tho April showers. They
never have, und I don't believe they
over will.'
" 'Ah, yes,' said Uio other buds, 'how
wo do lovo tho April showers.'
" 'And,' the first bud continued, 'It Is
so glorious to burst Into bud nnd
bloom again lifter a long winter when
The whole party of friends of
Mrs. Merrlleea get the surprlie
of their lives when the customt
lnpector make a certain dis
covery. It's all told In the next
Installment
(TO UU CONTINUKD.)
No Member of the English Peerage,
With Few Exceptions, Can Give
Proof of Ancient Lineage.
Holland to Send Toharrn
This yeur's export of tobacco from tho ,,racl"' "f tho tree are buro, that
Holland to Germany Is to bo financed wo ,lko t0 UH " nlowly and enjoy ov
by tho Netherlands Association of To- ery B-'co'il f It. Besides, tho trco
bncco Dealers, u company specially 'iaH "wn M being lonely thnt
formed for that object with a canltal " would bo too much of a shock If
In England tho Saxon "thnno" was of 20,000,000. With n view to main- ,vo cnmo t once. Wo Just
transformed, after tho Normnn con- t,lllnK exchange rate, Berlin slip- CP forth first of all nnd tell tho
quest, Into a "bnron" unless tho doml- uUltVH t,mt Oermnn treasury bills of trco J'"1' wo are coming, for spring Is
nant power entirely deprived him of two yc',rH' -"' " ' tnken In pay- i'01"0'
his position ns a nobleman. It Is ,nunt for s,lch K0,1h. tllH "HI" l''lng "'0h ,imv '-'V hl tho fairy,
possible that many thanes wero nb- KU'antccd by tho Belchsbank and six " 'A,1l t'"n,' said tho bud, 'wo wills-
sorbed In tho English yeomanry. In ot,1L'r luiifllng German banking Instl- I,l!r 0'"o '"ro uml wo say that soon
France nnd Germany tho prefix "do" t,I,lonH- Should tho present shipping wo will bo In our best spring suits of
and "von," which nrc essentiully lo- tKnrUloii continue, or tho shortage Krecn and make tho tree look very
cal, designated noble rank. Even In "5 cnrK "I"100 '"coino such that tho I'voutlful.
poor old Ireland, whero nearly every Netherlands East Indian tobacco crop "As tho bud was talking tho Sun
man bonsts of his descent from kings, "t I'o transported to tho Dutch looked down to listen.
"O" und "Mnc" nre nrlstocrntlc sym- ,""ket, endeavors will doubtless bo "The south wind was blowing gently
hols, ulthoueh mnnv Irishmen of todnv "m,1 "'P Uio tobacco, or a largo and she stopped to wave over ih tr,
have for ono reason or another discard- I)nrt thereof, to America. This would and bear their secrets while sho told
ed the prefix. But In England tho cus- ol,vluto tho customary pilgrimage of them some of her favorite ones.
torn has died out. American buyers to tho Amsterdam " 'Let's see a little moro today said
Tho wearing of cont armor was for 8nlea- tho other buds, and tho ono who luui
centuries n badgo of nobility, but tho been talking to tho Fairy said:
right to wear coat urmor was grant- c.h.,n.e?e Labor ,or En0"h Plants. '"Yes, wo will noon forin lim
ed so lavishly thnt tho members of "ntisii consuls In Shantung province moro today. Tho Sun Is so kind tho
the English necrnco can. with few ex- "vo ccn nrueu iy tlielr homo South Wind Is so L'.m,i ,i
,,. .., .. L'livornmotit to meruit lnrwi r-i,i.,.... I "
.niijiia, j;no uu iiiiwi ui unf iiiiLiuiii ---- uiiiiiiiiu (jco you a iiuio
lineage. Thcro Is. In fact, no real '"''orers nt Tslngtau, Chefoo and other better whllo wo
"nobility" In England In tho senso VtiH ' ,,l''lr province within tho next tnlk to you.'
In which tho word Is used In contl- threo months. 1 heso laborers are to "So tho buds
nentnl Eurono. It Is a curious clr- o sent to England for work In manu- ra nut fnri...r
cumstnnce thnt many real "gentlemen," f'lcturlng plants. They are to bo paid than thoy had on
in tne Heraldic senso or thnt unfortu- " i"i"iy.wnge ui ?i- snver, together nny day and they
unto word, have never worn coat armor with a monthly allowance of $10 silver lookm! mi fr,.h
nt all and were neither desirous nor or their families. Passage money will nnd groon and
competent to exhibit a cont-of-arms to o defrayed by the British government, soft
the persons who nttacJi value to such "u terms of servlco Is to be threo '"Ah how vnnni?
an empty possession. Heralds have years. j f4,L,(. Hnj(j tn(J
failed to estubllsh any man's right to British army officers have been re- lliiln imii
call himself n "gentleman," and the crultlng laborers at Wellmlwel for "Wo nil feel
majority of genculogles given for tho hihiio time. Barracks have been erect- bo younir too
British "nobility" nnd "gentry" nro In 'd there for the accomiiiodatlon of tho mibi tin. i.
..ii . . .. i.. i i .....i .... : w " " " -
" proiinmiity myinicni or, in me mmirrt, ami uini port win also bo buds.
American vernacular, "fakes." used as a point from which tho Chi- "'You nrn mi
neso coolies will embark for England, wonderfully
8outh Winds Whis
per Secrets.
Australia Drops Foreign Names. young,' said tho Fairy. 'You urn Inula
Tho South Australian parliament re- Big Distinction, wonderful ,,r i ...T ? .1 '",
nnndv nnoar.,1 n 1,111 in rlmmx. I Ho "Of riiiirsit lhi.ra' ,i l.l.r Arr,. I. . . "'" '
w..,., .. - w ...u - - ......... .. u0 jenves r
names of all towns and districts In tho ('co between a botanist nnd u florist." im, iiu .
territory that yero of foreign origin. Hho- (here reaUy?" ,10-08, a JtffJV
xuo imiiies are uuiijk ci.iwibcu ii u.uhu .... .o u ,v,.u nuwws ail unout i,,.- i.ow ..lenun,! (,.,v -vr-. . . i..T. ,
or English or native origin. Tho com- nowors, anu u iiorint Is ono who knows ihlni?s ,! , , 7, .
mlttee In charge of tho task found In nil about the price people will pay for ' L"n thov s.X,? 1 1 ,1C,n' nna
Soutli Australia 07 places that hud them."
been christened to commemorate hoiiio
notublo alien of foreign origin.
when thoy smiled n llttlo moro green
showed.
urm. y-t ...
To n nH D.ri --"o urown-ups mat day snlil.
To ho n irnnil nnlrlnl .L I'UOW tat tllO hudfl CUII10 OUt toduv.
i'ai 4 lllltll lilUDL m. . "
A Hair's Breadth. consider his countrymen ns God's crea- xnoi " Boon Uo Ionvoa u t!l0y beep.
Technically speaking, n hair's tures, and himself us iiccountablo for coin,nK t " tins rate.'
... . ... - nil. M..a ... .
brcauth is seventeen ten-tnousaudths nis acting towurd them, BIsIiod "Ul M,u 1,11,0 LUlT Knw tuo
of nn Inch. luerkeley. crew of tho buds,"
l