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About Eagle Valley news. (Richland, Or.) 191?-1919 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 1917)
I - .1 i StMLVS CLOTHING LomsSsEPH VANCE CHAPTER XVI Continued. 15 A key prated almost Inamllbly In the lock. Lydla started; but before sho could move the door swung open far enough to admit Craven, and was at once slammed behind him. A pace or two from the wall the man pulled up and stared at his daughter, his face dark with temper. Slowly Lydla rose and confronted htm, hard eyes challenging his relent lessly. "What's this," he demanded abrupt ly In an ugly voice, "what's this I hear about your bringing I'eter Traft here In a taxi?" "What does this mean," the girl re torted, "that you send mo here to be locked up, as though I were a thief to be held for the police?" He Ignored, If he was sensible to. the stressed pronoun. "I want an answer to my question," he said threateningly. "I demand an answer to mine," she returned, unyielding. With an Impatient gesture Craven advanced as If meaning to seize her and enforce obedience, nut halfway he paused, let his band fall, with ob vious effort relaxed; mustered a flick ering and uncertain smile, meant to be Ingratiating; moderated his tone. "Oh, come now!" he said In strained Indul gence. "We can't go on forever quar reling, you and I, LIddy." "I agree," she replied coolty. "Any explanation you can make " "It's all a mistake. Mrs. Ellsworthy, a most zealous woman In ah our srvlpp. misinterpreted my message, believed It Imneratlve you should be detained, and when you showed temper committed nn unnardonable error. iu see she apologizes; meantime L your fnthpr. pmress inv sincere regret. nrieflv Lvdla analyzed words and tone, nnd found both hollow with lnsln pprltv. She shook her head wearily. ' "You're not telllnc me the truth. I've learned too well to know when you're Inventing. If you mean what you say, If you wish to prove you didn't Instruct that woman to lock me up open that door and let me leave this house at once." Craven slzhed. shrugged tolerantly "Very well," he urged. "I've no wish to detain you. Just one thing and we'll go together. First be good enough to rive me that nuzzle box " "No!" Lvdia cried out In a round full voice. "No!" "What's that?" he said. Incredulous, "I said no," Lydla told him. "I will not give you the puzzle box. It belongs tn Mrs. Merrllees." In n breath his face was suffused with blood. "So that's your style, Is it?" he stormed, advancing. "Well, we'll have this out here and now, my ladv I I'm your father I order I com mand vou to hand over that box! Un less, of course, you prefer me to take it iv force." He had come within two feet, was mpnnelnc her with face and gestures of uncontrollable wrath.' But she didn't yield a step. "You can't," she said evenly. "Whnt the devil's to prevent?" "Uponuse Mrs. Merrllees has It now." The man fell back as though she had rniori n KhaDc of horror between them; stammering nnd aghast ho Jabbered repetition, "Mrs. Merrllees has it now!" T.vriin nfllrmed with a nod. "You you're not fooling me, LIddy?" oairori Onvcn In a stricken voice. "I'm telling you the truth, If you've the wit to recognize It," sho sold with the brutal Intolerance of youth for ago allied with depravity. "Sheer chance ini vnn. Mv cab broke down at piftv.flfth street. I walked two blocks north to get another at the Margrave n,hori Mrs. Merrllees wasn't stopping, nnd where you didn't mean to meet me after I'd called hero and by down right good luck found her with Mrs Tiarrrrnrttin ft. So I enve her tho neck lace, and came on here Mr. Traft es corting me, though not at ray request." wn,wi heavens I" said Craven again. his accents quavering. "Do you know what you're saying, Llddy?" fm nfrnlrt I knOW tOO WCll." With an lnartlculato groan Craven Bank Into n chair and burled his face In Us hands. "Xou'vo ruinea mor urfva snved vou. you mean." : "Vnn don't understand. What" Uo looked up eagerly. "What did they say when you when you gavo bnfk tho necklacer ' They wero kind enough to say noth ..... n ni-otnnd Mrs. Merrllees had In Btigatod the smuggling swindle that AUTHOR of "THE LONE WOLF," "the: BRASS DOWLTTC COPYRIChT DY LOUIS JOilfH VAIICr you Invented to blind me. liven Mrs. Merrllees pretended, In tho goodness of her heart. And I was deceived un til this Mrs. Ellsworthy locked mo in. and so cave me a chance to think from a true point of departure. Then I un- .iNinn i ihniifiit it nil out realized thnt vou hnd stolen the necklace that you wero an associate ot criminals that I was tho daughter of a common thief 1" Groaning, Craven covered his faco again. "Now." said the clrl. "let mo go. 1 don't know what action they mean to take ngnlnst you, but, as for me, i as nothing better than to bo permitted to go and forget you." "You mean you won t nppear ngainsx me?" he asked. "Not if I can manage to loso myself another name, perhaps " "It won't be necessary," Craven In terrupted In a voice of chill despair. He rose, stood staring at her with eyes deett sunken In sockets that had been suddenly hollowed out by despair. "I'm done for I" A certain slmnllcltv In that declara tion convinced nnd struck fear Into a heart that had been Impregnable to nil other appeals. What do you mean? bather, wnai do you mean?" 'You remember the knavo of dia mondsthe knnvo of clubs? There's one more knave In the series spades nnd that spells death I" "Father I" "It's an old story too long to detail. The knaves are warnings. I hnven't had spades yet; but I'll get It within six hours unless I produce the necklace to he sold nnd shared. And that's now removed forever beyond my reach I" "Father 1" the girl reiterated witicss- lr. Sho enneht the arm of a chair to steady herself, unconsciously sank Into It, and sat staring nnd terrified. 'The trouble," said Craven In t broken voice, "tho trouble Is. Tvo al ways wanted to run straight always. I guess every crook does, down deep And when I saw a chance to marry money I shook Smith and Gordon. Only they wouldn't be shaken. And then ran short, and to keep up nppearances until after tho marriage made up my mind to turn nnn lnst trick the nccK- lace and then." ho laughed bitterly, virtue! But they were on tho same Job. And then you turned up. Other wise I could havo come through wiw the loot and saved myself. Now lie paused an Instant, profoundly speculative. "I may have a chance yei for a getaway. They don't know where I am: though they may suspect, ii only I can get nn hour's lead out of town" The sound of sobblnc disturbed him, What lies had conjured up fear, dls gust, contempt tho truth had exor clsed : the rags and tatters of her child hood's love for htm alone remained Spent, broken In heart and spirit, humbled nnd torn with the horror his confession lnsnired. Lydla sat huddled In misery, rncked with tearing sobs, Craven moved to her side, touched her hair with hesitant fingers. "Well, woll I" he unlit huHkllv. "We were fond of each other, weren't we. while It last ed, little girl? And your mother I loved her. Well well " Ho turned and without her know! edge gained the door; paused for n Hlnirlo. nrolonced backward glance: shook Ids head uncertainly ; shrugged ; deftly inserted a key In the slit In tho doorknob: nnd let himself softly out rtnlv the muffled 1ur of the closing door made her understand that sho was alone. CHAPTER XVII. To the right of tho hallway, as ono entered, stood a conventional inn- hoguny hat and cont ruck, framing a mirror. On this i'eter nouccu tno rain coat Craven had worn. Ills hat lay nn the floor near the foot of tho stair way. Immediately opposite tho mirror nn nrch admitted to the drawing room. a room in darkness tempered by tho glow from tho hallway. Just within the nrch lay tho body of rri.iniiir.iiH Craven, stinlne. limn, with arms outstretched. Kneeling bcsldo tho body Quoin looked up at Mrs. Kllswor thy und demanded in nn irritable voice, "T.lrrlir. nleasol" Tho woman moved away Jnto tho gloom. A Bwltch clicked sharply; tho room was rendered brilliant by half a dozen sconces. Tn this Illumination tho body of Cra rcn wore an aspect even moro terrible and rcpcllaiit. Death conferred no inn loRtv mi lit elnv. Tho unturned face was deeply congested and hideous, with eyes bulging and gnuod, wun tips swol len, purple, nnd half parted. Quoin bent nn ear to tho bosom, above tho heart, cat up and felt for tho pulso lu a swollen red wrist, bent ngnln to hold his our cloSO tO tllO gaping 1 1 Us. Then ho got up and, locking from Mrs. Kllsworthy to roter, nouued suuer rem tatlon of any lingering doubt. "Qonol" ho suld. "Not n flicker ot heart or breath a stroke of apoplexy or something. !' no doctor." "How did It happen?" "Ho was coming downstairs," Mrs. Ellsworthy replied with dltllculty. Quoin Interrupted brusquely, "What was ho dotng upstatrs, plcaso?" "His daughter talking to her." "Sho's up thero now? Safo? Un molested?" "Locked In tho sitting room safo, yes." "Doesn't know of this as yet li?" "No. With the door closed, tho room Is soundproof. Besides, thero was no noise." "Go on. How did ho come here, nnd why did he send his daughter on ahead?" "If vou nlcase." tho woman begged. "one moment. I am fearfully shocked." "Tnko your time," quoin consented. And while she turned away nnd. with n imndkiTchlef tiresscd to her llns. struggled to recollect herself, tho de- teetlvo explained to i'eter in nn under tone, "Widow of ono Kllsworthy, In his dny a world-known collector of stolen property I menn n 'fence,' of course. Always lived most respecta hlr niurh ns vou see. Craven nrob- ably did a lot of business with him first nnd lost, and afterward with Mrs. Ells- worthy, who carried on tho business In a smaller way, but qulto as successful ly, as far as keeping out of trouble was concerned. Feeling better, Mrs. Ells worthy ?" 'Yes thank you. Mr. Craven called up about half-past ten to say his daugh ter was coming to see me, bringing with her n valuablo property I havo no Idea what nnd thnt I was to find some pretext to detain her until he, fol lowed. She got here nbout eleven In a taxlcnb with this gentlemnn. When sho heard Mr. Craven was coming alio refused to wait, and I had to lock her lu tho room to keep her. Mr. Traft I'm sorry I put off with a nolo ostensi bly from her. When Mr. Craven enmo ho went directly to tho girl. Whllo ho was upstairs two men of my acquaint ance came to tho basement door, and I let them In." "Southpaw Smith and Colonel Gor don?" "Yes. Mr. Crnvcn had business re lations with thorn, I believe. They For an Inntant Quoin Contemplated the Knave of Spades. Frovvnlno Thoughtfully. forced their way upstairs, declaring timv tmiHt son iiltn. When ho cnmo ilnwn thnv wero waiting for him In here In shndow. Smith stepped out and said something to him In a low tone I didn't hear. Mr. craven shook his head and mndo nn innudtblo reply. Smith lost IiIh temner nt that, and said aloud, You Hot Permit mo to present you with this token of our esteem. "And thnt wns" Quoin prompted. "This," said tho woman, pointing down to Cruven's clenched right nana. With an exclamation of surpriso nnd. after some dltll culty with tho stiffening fingers, stood up, exhibiting n knave 01 spauea. 'Anil Minn?" "Nothing. They went away, Smith nmi finriinn. hv tho basement." "Thero was a quarrel blows wero struck?" "No. Mr. Craven said something to ii, iu ,.frncf 're thnt Is your decision. very well so bo It I" Smith merely luughed unpleasantly, called Gordon, nmi inmrwi iimvn tho basement stairs. Afterwnrd I heard tho goto slum as they loft." "And Craven" "Ho stood looking at tho card, sway in? nnd mumblhiK to himself. I won- ,inm,i if im hnd been drinking. Then I noticed ho wns holding ono hand to his side, as though his heart wub pain wr Jim m Ins him. I was nlnrmed, and linked If " ... mm . t . 4 - I could do anything. 110 looium ni ivra as If ho didn't know me, took n step or two this way, and suddenly roil as If ho had been shot. And Immediately I telephoned for a doctor" "I understand, Mrs. Kllsworthy." For an Instant Quoin contemplated tho knavo of spades, frowning inougiu- fully. "Odd." ho mused, looking up nt Traft, "odd how theso things run. It's not a month now slnco an Italian in n low coffeo house up on Ono Hundred and Tenth street loft his chair for a minute, with his hat on It by way of reservation. When ho roturnod nnd picked up tho hat thero was a playing enrd beneath It tho death card In his case tho four of hearts. Five minutes later ho wns shot dead whoro ho sat It only goes to show how tho criminal Imagination Inclines to molodramn glvo your victim wnrnlng, so thnt ho may dlo a dozen Imaginary deaths be fore you kill him. In this caso Craven's heart spoiled their fun; but tho chances aro ho would never haro got back to his hotel alive." Ho paused, looked pityingly down at tho dead man. sighed, "Well poor devil I" then, unfolding n handkerchief, placed It gently over tho livid ami uis torted mask. "Better not move him till tho doctor comes; though I fancy wo can save you tho trouble of nn Inquest, Mrs. Ellsworthy. And we'll do our best to keen It out of tho imnors. We'd bet ter draw tho portieres whllo I'eter gets Miss Craven out of tho house, xcs, that's your Job. I'eter; but better not tell her anything until you get her away. Take her to Mrs. BeKgarstaff don't vou think? Yes." ncreed I'eter. "for n few days or weeks as long as she needs to got over It." "And then?" asked Quoin curiously. "Why." said I'eter In surprise, "dtdn' you know wo wero going to bo mar ried?" (THE END.) FROM PRIVATE TO GENERAL EnlUted Man In U. 8. Army Has Nln Steps to Climb Before tie Arrives at the Top. Tho nrlvato soldier, standing at the bottom of tho army stairs, has nlno steps to climb before ho arrives at tho top, a general. Ills first promo tion Is to corpornl nnd tho next 10 xcrceiint. IIu Is elevated to these irrndes by his regimental commander, Tho next step to u commission bear- lnc tho nrcs dent's name was former Iv tho most dl mailt to negotlnte, but thauks to tint army's pressing neco of olllccrs It Is now fairly easy to tako for men who honestly possess Mm nnnllllpH nccessnry to innko tho right kind of ottlcers, says Hlchard Smith In Leslies. After ho becomes a second lieuten ant tlmo and opportunity will glvo tho soldier his lirst lieutenancy nnu Inter n cntitalncy. Next he becomes n innlor. Direct y ntiovo tno major stands the lieutenant colonel, who Is nnn lrrmln lielnW 11 Colonel. At the ton. for final reward. Is a generni s stnr. Easy as the ascent seems to tho laymen, a superficial examination of Mm fuels will nrovo It a iiiincuii climb, hut by no 'means a forlorn hope, Witness tho fact that ono or the most caste-controlled nrmlcs In tho world, tint British, has nt Its head a general In chief who began as a ranker. Even on n peace footing enlisted men of niiilltv In our army have been ablo to securo commissions through study fitul n nnlleiitlon to duty. On n war basis this opportunity Is much greater Pronhetlc. sir Hubert Herkomcr, tho well known artist, used to tell an amusing ci.rv nt n London art dealer. This man had two beautiful reproductions of tho painting "Tho Approaching Sturm." Ono of theso pictures ho plnced In the show window, but It did not sell. At iinifth. In order to draw attention to tho picture, ho put n card on It on which ho printed tho words, "Tho Ap proaching Storm, especially sultablo for a wedding present. Donkey Meat Fine, Moravians Learn. According to n newspaper account, hn povernor of Moravia, in Austria Hungary, has given Instructions thnt tho population of tho provlnco should cat donkey meat ns much as posslblo In order to savo tho Inndequnto supply nt other meats. Tho llcsh of tho donkey tastes Hko that of tho finest game, It Is stated, nmi pxner mcnts hnvo proved com plctely satisfactory. Donkey meat lias fow peers as n tnblo delicacy, the nowspnper nrticio ucciarcs. Alkali Salts. Alkali salts follow water when tho courso Is downward nnd flowing to lower lovels, but ns well It rises to .tho ..i.fnn i.v cnnlllnrltv. nnd when the wnter evaporates tho enlta remain fixed and wo sco tno niuaii on uio surface. Tho City and the Farm, rriftv vcars ngo two-thirds of nil Americans lived on farms. Yet every year life on tho farm grows easier and every year it grows nnrucr in mo .city. AREFUL IN SHIPPING Utmost Vlgllanoo Urged to Pro- vent Foods From Spoiling. ! Weather Reports Should Oe Utilized In Studying Conditions Shipper Should Co-Operste Closely With Carrier. (From the UnltoJ Htatee Department ot AKriCUilure,; Hhlimers at this tlmo should exer cise unusual enro In tmcklng nnd load ing their perlshtiblo products. They should grade their product cnreiuny with reference to tho degree or meir innturltv and select a nearby market for tho ripened products and n distant market for tho products that will noui up tho necessary tlmo In transit to reach tho distant mnrkct. Weather ro ports should bo utilized In a study of tho weather conditions thnt aro pro vnlllni? tn tho different laruo markets, to tho end that foodstuff that normal ly nro consumed In largo quantities In warm weather may not be sent to mar kets where cool or cold weather I prevailing. Thero should be a fuller recognition of the Joint responsibility of tho ship per with tho cnrrler for tho sure cur rliign of food products to destination, tho specialists of tho United States de nnrtment of acrlculturo point out. Shipper should co-operate closely with carrier by giving nrnplo Instructions with reference to refrigeration and ventilation, to tho end that food Prod ucts mny bo properly conserved In transit and reach channel or consump tion, ltallroad agents could render useful service If they wero Instructed In some of tho most fundamental thlnes connected with tho proper euro of perishable shipments during tho pe riod of loading carload shipment at country stations. Khlntiers too frenuentlv. through rnrideHNticMS and a lack of kuowledgo of the proper methods of protecting perishable shlpmentM, leave wagon loads of them exposed to the hot suit for hours at a time Instead of loading them promptly Into a refrigerator car and keeping the doors of tho car cIonisI between loads. The carrier's representative or local agent usually lakes notice of such condition only ror tho miriMise of recorilluu tho clrcum- Ktunces for consideration In connection with damage claims that may ho filed. Tho fact frequently Is overlooked thai the carrier mnv render definite nsslst- iincit In Mm roiiNiTViilliin of foodstuffs by co-opernting with the shippers and Kivlng them all the Information wiucn It has. ns to tho proper methods that should bo Used". Shlmicrs should Invnrlnlily notify consignees ns soon as shipments nro forwarded rrom point or origin. Whoro I he distance to market Is short, tho no tification should be given by wire, so that tho consignees mny bo In a posi tion to tn kit moro nrninnt delivery of shipments on arrival and thus cllin- luato the deterioration that so fre quently tnkes place by the holding of shipments long periods of tlmo after arrival at tho market. HUMUS ONE OF ESSENTIALS It Prevents Cohesion of Soli drains Into Solid Clods Farmers Aro Urged to Rotate Humus Is one of tho essentials In sotls. It prevents cohesion of tho soil grains Into solid clods. It prevents land from becoming sticky. Every farmer Is urged to rotate his crops, plowing under a good sod of clover or some legume ns often as tho rotation calls for, the purpose being to Increaso humus. Stable mnntire, In which Is mixed tho straw and corn stalks, an swers tho snino purpose. By all means put back Into the soil as much humus ns tho fields hnvo grown or you will cnmo faco to faco with lessened fer tility and difficult farming. FOR SUCCESS WITH ALFALFA Any Typo of Soli, Well Drained, Freo of Weeds and of Reasonable Fertility Will Do. Alfalfa may bo successfully raised on almost any typo of soil providing that it Is woll-dralned, free of weeds and In rcasnnablo stato of fertility. Good dralnago must bo provided. Tho ground must bo made free of weed soeds. Sotls lacking In fertility should bo woll-manured, as alfalfa requires liirga amounts of plant food, If sufilclcnt mnnuro is not to bo had, It should bo supplemented with n commercial fer tilizer rich In phosphoric add and potash. If tho soil is sour, It must bo limed before alfalfa can do well, Inoculation of tho soil will general ly bo necessary. , Use 8anltary Precautions. Sickness nnd death among farm ant mnls may bo provented In a great majority of cases by ohsorvlng bensl bio sanitary precautions, I ,4