Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-08-23

rivers edge The bonthOuse had an
open window. Hardened by his ex
trcmity into Incredible alucrity In such
enterprises. Tom was through it IN
twinkling and we'll pleased with his
discovery. The boat WAS still hiber-
mating keel upward on trestles. 1t
would he IL very strange thing If that
day, Of all others. were chosen for
launching her for the summer. Deter
mined. at any rate, to risk 1t. the run
away climbed into little loft which
might have been made for him and
settled down for the day. He rolled
himself up In several folds OF straw
berry netting and made another quaint
pillow Of the box of moving ma
chine. whereon he slept soundly for
several hours.
When Tom deemed it dark enough
for a judicious exit the wet earth was
rs fragrant as n flower He shifted 1t
joyously through the open window by
which he had entered. The garden
path was washed very yellow and bor-
deNd BY twin canals. There was more
light than he had thought when In the
loft. Still, not soul was in view, and
1t had been lighter yet when he arriv-
ed. 1t was necessary, however. to get
out Of the window legs first and back
ward, and when Tom had done so and
turned around he beheld standing on
the yellow path between the two ca
mails and Quizzically regarding him the
Quaintest and the tiniest old gentle
man he had ever encountered.
He was certainly not more than five
feet high, but he carried himself su-
perbly and fixed the intruder with
steady. jocular. light blue eye which
inspired respect before fear. He SEEM
ed, indeed. the essence Of contempla-
tive geniality, but 1t was his powdered
hair, black knee breecheS and white
silk stockings that gave him the pic
ture book appearance at which even
Warveled more when the old gentle
man made him courtly bow and said
In high. chirping tones:
Il am delighted to see you, sir!
fear my boathOuse will have afforded
you but Indifferent shelter ON so vile q
day. Such as 1t has been. however,
you are welcome to 1t indeed"
"Welcomew exclaimed Tom.
"And why nOtT' chirruped the other.
surely we who have must give to you
who have not. be 1t roof or boot? I
am sorry, however, to see you bare
footed, for you will permit me to OBJ
serve that such stockings as you have
on are worse than none. II you will
have the goodness to come with me
you shall be shod afresh and join me
in a glass Of negus before you Co."
"But, SIR
Tut! l know what you would say
you have trespassed already and have
no wish to trespass further. Very
we'll. sir; SO be 1t. You shall have your
way and pay the penalty. condemn
you to a glass Of negus and new pair
Of Shoes"
And with the utmost bonhommie the
tiny gentleman drove Tom before him
to the house and through open French
windows to a basement room where q
s0Anp anu AAC WCAC Jul nAAlS du0 u NIT
tie singing ON the hob.
Hungry" he chirped, giving Tom
playful push In the ribs.
Il had provisions In my pocket"
stammered the youth, in deep embar-
rassment Il shall do very well. In
iced. your Kindness
Tut. sir. tut! You will please me
best by saying no more about that.
You are hungry. and shall order you
something upstairs. But here's the
sherry and there's the boiling water.
You can brew your own negus while
I am gone, and this Is today's Adver-
tiser. Make yourself ut home, l begw
And. With twlnkling eyes and brisk
gestures, the little old gentleman de-
parted, of Ill Toms good Samaritans
assuredly the prince and king.
No sooner was he alone than Tom
caught up the Advertiser and found
half q column about the murder. and,
yes. there was his name. The Adcocks
had volunteered it, together with full
description. whose accuracy tempted
Tom not to wait for his supper, but to
rush through the open window and
swim the river in his clothes. Yet there
was more that must be read. The case
against him was stronger than ever
The threatening letters had been found
among the dead mans effects. The
hackney coachman had told his story.
and here 1t was. But one name was
gratefully absent-that Of Harding did
not occur in the closely printed half
column. which SO strangely fascinated
Tom that his quaint Samaritan was
back before he had put the paper down.
What! Feeding the mind before the
body? Well. well, to be surev
II hadn't seen today's paper" said
Tom feebly.
"Aha! I know what you were read
ing too" The old gentleman chuckled
As he poured sherry into two tumblers.
Il know-I know"
"What?" asked Tom hoarsely.
my eyes are good. My eyes are ex-
cellent You were reading the Hamp-
stead murder" Tom held his breath.
II never read such things myself" pur-
sued the other. but did when I was
young. oh. Lord, yesl Blood was my
negus then"
And. with his childlike laugh, he
handed Tom one steaming tumbler.
mixed another for himself and insisted
ON cllnking glasses before they drank.
Tom split some Of his portion upon the
fOor, but his kind host never noticed It.
He was next invited to take q pinch
from silver mounted horn snuffbox.
This he refused rs politely as lbs state
Of mind would permit. He trembled to
know whether the old gentleman had
really eschewed all accounts Of IL
murder. To make certain he hazarded
q leading question.
1T seems to be a queer affair. sir.
Do you think they'll ever catch himf'
my good fellow, I haven't read the
case"
Tom drew a deep breath and tossed
on his negus at gulp. At that mo-
ment there came a knock at the door
and small maid entered
Ready. MaryT
Eyes, SIR"