The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-08-25
Prisoners and CaptiYes
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CHAPTER XIII.
By II. s. MERRlMAN

who think quickly who give quickly. Ihls
man had something to give, something to
tear away from his own heart and hold
out with generous, smiling eyes, and, De-
fore Miss Winters door had closed De-
hind him. the sacrifice was made. lie
called a hanson cab and drove straight
to Tyars' club He found his friend at
work among his ships papers, folding
and making I'D in packets his recelpted
bills.
Morning" said the Englishman
"These papers are almost ready to De
handed over to you. All my stores are
on board"
"Ahw
Tyars looked up sharply, and as sharp
" returned to his occupation. Easton
was grave, and Tyars knew that he had
come with news of some sort. He waited.
however, for the American to begin, and
continued to fold and arrange his papers.
II have" said Easton, sitting down and
tapping the neat toe of his boot with his
cane, shit quite accidentally upon dis
covery-"
Poor chap. muttered Tyars, abstact-
eddy.
(Which will make difference in your
crew."
"What?" exclaimed Tyars, pausins in
the middle Of knot.
Zone rule" continued Easton. his queer
little face twisting and twinkling with
some emotion, which he was endeavoring
to conceal, was that no sweethearts or
wives were to be left behind"
What are you driving at:' asked
Tyars, CURLY, in a singularly hfeiess
voice.
well, old man, 1 have discovered
sweetheart"
Tyars threw the papers In heap and
rose suddenly from his seat. He walked
to the mantel piece.
"Of course" he said, "your discovery
can only relate to one person..
"Yes; you know whom | mean
Tyars nodded his head in acquiescence
and continued smoking. The little Amer
lean sat looking in curious way at this
large, impassive, high-bred Engllshman,
as il gathering enjoyment and edlflcat1on
from the study of him.
"Well," he drawled, at length, you say
nothingr'
There is nothing to say
"On the contrary" returned Easton.
"there is everything to say. That is one
of the greatest mistakes made by your
people. ! have noticed 1t since | have
been in this country. You take too much
for granted You let things say them
selves too much, and you think it very
fine to be impassive and apparently pdif-
ferent. But it is not fine thing, it is
silly and unbusiness like. Do you give
up Oswin Grace?"
Certainly; if you can get him to stay
behind"
He will run his head against wall If
he can. That is to say, is there is thick
enough wall around"
Tyars hesitated. II am not quite sure
that it is my business" he said. Il hate
meddling in other peoples affairs, and
after all, l suppose Grace knows best
what he Is doing
Men rarely know what they are doing
under these circumstances" observed Eas
ton.
He waited patiently. hat in hand. to
hear what Tyars had to say. While he
stood there, Muggins. the bullterrier. rose
from the hearth rug, stretched himself and
looked from one to the other in an in
quiring and anticipatory manner. He
took it to be a question of going for
q walk. and apparently imagined that the
casting vote was him.
"All right" said Tyars, suddenly, Il
will speak to him again.
To-day" pursued Easton. following
I'D his advantage, "or tomorrow at the
latest"
YES tomorrow at the latest"
Then the American took his departure
and Muggins curled himself up on the
hearth rug again with yawn n disap-
pointment.
Oswin Grace was seated in the bright
little cabin at a table writing out lists of
stores. Many of these same stores were
piled on the deck around him. and there
was a pleasant odor of paraf1ine in the
air. Tyars closed the cabin door with his
elbow.
Il do not see.'' he said. slowly and un-
comfortably, show you can very we'll go
with u.s."
Grace laid aside his pen and raised his
keen, gray eyes, His brow was wrink led,
bis lips set, his eyes full of fight.
Because" suggested Grace. in a hard
voice, Il am in love with Agnes Win
ters?"
Tyars nodded his head and stopped to
pick up his gloves, holding them subse-
Quently close to The bars of the stove.
where they steamed gayly. There was A
silence of some duration, and every Sec
ond increased the discomfort of Claul
Tyars.
'And you," continued Grace. at length.
very deliberately. 'love Helen
Tyars stood upright so that his head
was very near the beams He thrust his
gloves into his pocket and stood for some
seconds, grasping his short pointed bea I'd
meditatively with the uninjured hand.
YES" he said. II do"
Grace returned to his shin chambers
bills with the air of barrister who
having established his point, thinks if
prudent to allow time for it to sink into
the brains of judge and jury.
Il do not mind telling you" he added
carelessly, almost too carelessly. that
Miss Winters is perfectly Indifferent on
the subject"
Do you know that for certain?. asked
Tyars, sharply.
She told me 30 herself,' answered
Grace, with peculiar little laugh which
was not pleasant to the ear.
He waited obviously for a reciprocal
confidence on tho mort oe U,,,. -.