The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-07-14
CHAPTER XIII.


not afraid of clever women. Miss Win
ter must almost have heard the laugh.
vvbile there was still a smile on his race
a. he bowed before her.
~ have never" he said. as ne seated
himself been at an entertainment OF
this description before. l am only De-
xinner. In our country we manage Things
differently: and l cannot yet understand
how much talking and 80 little action can
benefit any cause.
"Rut" said Miss Winter, you are not
new to England There is nothing about
you to lead one to that conclusion"
THANK you," he replied, gravely. MY
ciaw-hammer coat was made IN Piccadu-
". 40 | suppose it is all right"
He looked down at the garment IN
question, and, busted the sleeves lightly
witt. a perfectly gloved hand.
$40 Won like itY he inquired simply
Miss Winter was becoming interested.
e,ho therefore ouelled q sudden desire to
laugh, and answered:
YES: it is a very nice coat.
II am not" he said, after pause. new
to England, but | have not moved much
In London society. l suppose the men
do al! the moving in your society they
seem to. The women sit mostly still and
walt till the men come to them. With US
It Is different" :
.The women" replied this womanly
lady, ARE beginning to move with U.S. ana
from what / have seen OF the result, l
rather incline toward the old policy Of
sitting still"
He turned and looked at her with
little nod. There was in his queer, rest
less eyes a distinct glance Of approval
"Yes," he said, Eyes. SO l should sur
mise Our ladies are very fascinating
and very clever, and all that, but-but
the young men do not seem to make such
a pretty show of loving them as we read
of In olden times. At all events. they do
not continue to show them that regard
which. | remember, my father showed
toward my mother"
Il myself am an humble admirer OF
the womanly school"
"And l." added Easton. "Now. he
continued. after a pause. do tell me.
what do all these good people think they
are doing here to-riight?'
They think firstly" replied Miss Win
ter, that they are getting their names
into the fashionable society papers. Sec
ondly, that their natural or artificial
adornment is creating a distinct impress
sion. Thirdly, and lastly, that they are
assisting in some indefinite way toward
the solution of a problem of which the
rudiments are entirely unknown"
'"rhen in England, as we'll as in my
own country charity is a recognized play
thing of society,"" suggested Easton.
Eyes. We take it up in late autumn
and winter. when there are no races, no
tegattas nor lawn tennis parties
"Ah then" said the American, $50
ciety is very much the same here as else
where"
At this moment Oswin Grace passed
within earshot of them. He heard the
remark, and recognized the voice. When
he turned, his surprise at seeing Miss
Winter and Easton together was so mark
ed as tc cause a little frown to pass
across the queer. wistful face of the
American. He returned the young Eng
lishman's comprehensive bow, however,
with perfect equanimity.
You know Oswin Grace" inquired
Miss Winter.
''Oh, yes" was the cool reply; 'Tyars
brought him to my rooms one evening""
Miss Winter skillfully concealed eager
ness.
"They are great friends" she said
lightly.
"Ye-es. Yes. Tyars constantly talks
of him.
4 suppose" continued Miss Winter, in
the same indifferentiy conversational way.
that they have many interests in COM
mon both being sailors. At least, L be-
lieve Claud Tyars considers himself a
sailor now
This was clever, and the wary little
man paused. He felt convinced that Miss
Winter knew less Of the past life of Tyars
than she would have him believe More
over. he suspected that she had never
hitherto called him Ciaud Tyars. The
Implied familiarity was a trap, womanly,
clever and subtle; but Easton avoided It
with equal skill. He maintained an easy
silence. Immediately afterward, how
ever. he made a blunder.
"Oswin." said Miss Winter, "is a great
friend Of mine. and think Helen is nv
greatest friend"
"A sisterr' inquired Easton, rashly.
Yes. Mr.. Tyars has not spoken of
her. them"
mo. Tyars did not tell me that Grace
had . sister"
There was a short pause. Perhaps the
American heard -the little sigh 81 relief
given by his companion, marking, as It
were, the relaxation of an effort: such
q sigh as an athlete gives when he has
scored 4 success and his weary muscles
tall into repose. He became insta nt1y
conscious Of his blunder. He had been
outwitted by this pleasant woman. He
Matthew Marx Easton-a born in
triguer. man with real genius for con-
spiracy.
"Ahw reflected Miss Winter, "wbv Ia.
Mr.. Tyars omitted to make mention If
Helene existenceT And with feminine
Intuition she made hasty mental note Of
this important item.
80" unused Easton, during the same
pause. there 10 a Miss Grace, and Iva -
never mentioned her. 1 must he very
careful. Seems to me that there are two
men at stake here. not one; and cannot
anord to lose two sailors such az these. -
Miss Winter was now drawn into 4
vortex OF iiyht-hearted idlers bent upon
systematic inspection of the pictures.
and from their ranks Easton took the first
opportunity Of dropping away unobserved.
They did not speak again during RI. even.