Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-06-14
Prisoners ard Captives
CHAPTER yIII.-(ContiuuedD
BY II. S. MEkPIMAN

NOW l remember, interrupted MISS
Winter, with her pleasant laugh; 'o1
course. Please don't tell me any more
My stall was number-number two hun
dred and sixty"
-Four" suggested Tyars in such a
manner that it was in reality no sugges
tion at all.
Yes; two hundred and sixtyfour
There was an empty seat on my right
hand"
And an old gentleman occupied that
on your left
My father" she explained simply
but In the tone of her pleasant voice
there was something which made Tyars
look gravely at her with very slight
bow as if in apology. Oswin Grace
glanced at his sister with raised eyebrows,
and she nodded almost imperceptibly. He
had not heard of old Mr.. Winters death.
In less skilled hands this incident
might have led to an awkward silence /;
but Agnes Winter had not spent ten
years of her life in whirl of society for
nothing. She knew that ones own feel
ings are of a strictly individual value.
YOU" she continued, took the va
cant seat"
There was something very like a ques-
tion in her glance. Oswin Grace did not
look pleased, and his eyes turned from
one face to the other searchingly. Then
she seemed suddenly to have received an
answer to her query, for she turned to
Helen and launched into narration gayly.
Il will tell you," she said why these
details are engraven so indelibly upon
such a poor substance as my memory
1t was rather a grand night; royalty
was present, and the theater was almost
full. In front of me were two men who
i'd not appear to be taking an absorbing
interest in the play for one was draw
ing something which | took to be map
upon his program
1T was a map" confessed Tyars, light
ly.
While he whispered earnestly at In
tervals to his companion. | came to the
conclusion that he was trying to persuade
him to go and look for Livingstone, which
suggestion was not we'll received. At last
he turned round. l thought he was ad-
miring, or at least noticing, the new
diamond star in my hair, but subsequent
events proved that he was looking over
my head. | was disappointed" she added
aside to Tyars.
IL both noticed and admired he ex-
claimed in self-defense. There were
two diamond stars, one much larger than
the other
All except Oswin laughed at this feat
of memory.
Well continued Miss Winter, "at
the first interval this irreproachable
IoeS
turned back the chair next to me, and
shook-hands with the man in the pit y
The pith of the story lay in its nara
ton, which was perfect. The lady knew
her audience as an able actor knows
his house. By some subtle trick OF voice
the incident was made to rebound to
Tyars' credit, while its tone was distinct
ly against him. The easy. CHEEKY, honest
humor of voice and expression was ire
sistible. Even the Admiral laughed-as
much as he ever laughed at joke not re-
lated by himself.
He was," explained Tyars in his un-
satisfactory way, "a friend of mine."
At this moment the door was opened
by Salter, who announced that dinner
was ready. AS they were moving toward
the door Oswin suddenly stopped
Where is Muggins!" he asked.
"On the mat" replied Tyars. HE
was rather shy, and preferred waiting
for a special invitation. He is not quite
at home on carpets yet"
"I have heard about Muggins," said
Helen to Tyars as they went downstairs
together, ''and am quite anxious to make
his acquaintance"
So Muggins was introduced to his new
friends, standing gravely on the dining
room hearthrug with his sturdy legs set
we'll apart, his stump of tail jerking
nervously at times, and his pink-rimmed
eyes upraised appealingly to his masters
face. He was endeavoring to the best of
his ability to understand who all these
well-dressed people were, and why he was
forced into such sudden prominence.
Moreover, he was desrous of acquitting
himself well; and that smell of oxtail
soup was somewhat distracting to a sea-
farer.
He formed the subject of conversation
while this same soup was being discuss
ed, and Tyars was almost enthusiastic
on the subject, somewhat to the amuse-
ment of Miss Agnes Winter, who was not
a great lover of dogs.
The dinner passed off very pleasantly
and many subjects were discussed with
greater or less edification. Miss Winter
seemed to take the lead, in virtue of her
seniority over the young hostess. touch
ing upon many things with her light and
airy precision, her gay philosophy, her
gentle irony.
Admiral Grace was the only person who
succeeded in getting a piece of personal
information from Tyars, and this by the
bluntest direct question.
II once" said the old gentleman, "was
on a committee with west country baro-
net of your name-a Sir Wilbert Tyars
is he any relation of yours?"
"yes," Tyars answered. with just suffi-
cient interest to prove his utter indiffer-
ence. Yes; he is my uncle"
There was short pause; some further
remark was evidently expected.
II have not seen him for many years."
he added, closing the incident.
When Mis- Winters carriage was an
nounced at quarter to eleven Tyars rose
and said goodnight with an Unconditional
ease which might equally have marked
the beginning of intimacy or the consum-
nation of a formal social debt
When Agnes Winter came downstairs
arrayed in a soft diaphanous arrange
ment of Indian silk he was gone, and
the three young people as they bid each
r.zI- fzrh~ In h. h,n