The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-06-23
Prisoners and CapfiYes
BY III. s. MERRlMAN
4ApTER yIIT.-(Continued.)


Winter. with her pleasant laugh: "of
course. Please don't tell me any more
M stall was number-number two hun
drsd and sixty-
-Four" suggested Tyars In such
manner that it was In reality no sugges-
ttsA at oil.
Yes; two hundred and siKty-four.
These was an empty seat On my right
hand"
HAnd an old gentleman sccHpied that
On yoR left"
sMy father" she explained. simply
but h the tone Of her pleasant voice
there was something which made Tyars
look graveIy at her with very slight
bow as IL in apology. Oswin Grace
glanced at his sister with raised eyebrows.
and she nodded almost imperceptibly. He
Aad not heard of old Mr.. Winters death
n less skilled hands this incident
taighk have led to an awkward silence
but Agnes Winter had not spent ten
Sesas of her life in whiri Of society for
nothing. She knew that ones own feel
inss are of strictly individual value.
"Tou." she continued, took the va
can't seat"
There was something very like ques-
tien IN her glance. Oswin Grace did not
iosk pleased, and his eyes turned from
one face to the other searching'y. Then
she seemed suddenly to have received an
answer to her query. for she turned to
Helsn and launched inte narration gayiy.
Il will tell you," she said. why these
details are engraven 50 ndeiibly upon
such poor substance as my memory.
It vas rather q grand night; royalty
was present, and the theater was almost
fun. In front of me were two men who
I'd net appear to be taking an absorbing
interest in the play. for one was draw
Ing something which I took to be map
upoa his program
ct was q map" confessed Tyars, light
While he whispered earnestly at in
tecyah to his companion. [ came to the
coaeission 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 I thought he was adj
niring or at least noticing. the new
diamond star in my hair. but subsequent
events proved that he<.was looking over
my head. 1 was disappointed" she added
aside to Tyars.
x 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.
''WelI," continued Miss Winter, "at
the first interval this irreproachable
young man left his seat, came round.
turned back the chair next to me, and
shook hands with the man in the pit !"
The pith of the story lay In its nara
tioa. which was perfect. The lady knew
her audience as an able actor knows
hts house. By some subtle trick Of voice
the incident was made to rebound to
Tyars' credit, while its tone was distinct
II 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 . special invitation. He is not quite
ct home on carpets yet"
have heard about Muggins." said
Helen to Tyars as they went downstairs
together. land am quite anxious to make
his acquaintance"
So Muggns was introduced to his new
friends, standing gravely on the dining
room hearthrug with his sturdy legs set
well apart, his stump Of tail jerking
nervously at times, and his pink trimmed
eyes appraised 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 DESTROYS of acquittins
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
cd, and Tyars was almost enthusiastic
on the subject, somewhat to the amuse-
ment Of Miss Agnes Winter, who was not
q great lover OIL OOgS.
The dinner passed of very pleasantly.
and many subjects were discussed with
greater or less edifcation. Miss Winter
seemed to take the lead. in virtue of her
seniority over the young hostess, tonch.
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 tihis by the
bluntest direct question.
II once" said the old gentlemen aw.e
en committee with west country baro.
net of your name-a Sir WHbert Tvsrs
lis he any relation of yoarsr
~Yes," Tyars answered, with last suf;
Client interest to prove his utter ind;ffer.
snce. "Yes; he is my uncle"
There was a short pause; some furthe,
remark was evidently, expected.
have not seen him for many wear. .
b added. closing the incident.
When Mis- Winters carriage was an
nounced at quarter to eleven Tyar. rp,,
and said goodnight with an unemotiona
ease which might equally have marked
the beginning OF intimacy OF. ehs consum
nation of q formal social debt.
When Agnes Winter came dounstair,
HRn 1oA T. "A