The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-06-17
CHAPTER XVIII.

never heard one" quOth Johnny.
The trio had taken refuge below, IS
the rain was falling heavily and there
was no cabin accommodation above.
81 learned the code, you know, COM
ing over" he confided to Betty. won
der what they're saying? Listen"
Johnny's knowledge was not very
extensive. He deciphered the words
'Tyoga," great haste" make all ell
forts to save life,"' and III. H"
well, we're on the trail of the story,
anyhow" he cheerfully unused. That
ought to be some consolation"
All night the three were crowded n
space not big enough for two OF
them. The yacht made good time, and
when it finally stopped with a jolt,
Meta sought them out and babe them
go ashore
They were landing at the wharf OF
what might have been conventional
English seaport country place. AT the
end of driveway, over which every
body limped except City Editor Bur-
ton, who Benoni had left tethered in
the yacht rambled pretentious house
of Gothic architecture. A modern
glass covered piazza was built along
one side of the place, and as they
mounted the steps Betty recognized
within this enclosure Tyoga in cap and
apron, in charge of pair of children,
approximately and 10 years old. The
boy was the larger of the two, slight
dark lad, with a petulant expression
and awkward movements. Later Betty
saw this awkwardness was caused by
loft of no he oil ri w. G
palmer of face than her brother, but
her figure had the perfect symmetry of
all wild things that live in the open
air.
Tyoga was mending white gar
ment, but at sight of the pilgrims she
dropped her work and went forward to
greet them, leaving the children star
ing after her.
She bowed before Betty and the two
other Americans, kissed Meta warmly
on the cheeks, and embraced Benoni
passiOnately. When these two were to-
gether the relationship of mother aud
son was easily discernible.
"Ah, so you came safely away" she
sighed. in relieved manner. II was
SO alarmed. Hamley came home this
morning. He and the old man had a
dreadful argument. They are upstairs
now It has been frightful But you
must not mind. l do not know whai
I am going to do with the children
They are getting so old now. I can't
put them off with fairy tales any long
er. It is racking" She turned to Bet
ty. I'm glad your friends found you.
Poor child! The strain on you has
been terrible. but the snarl is nearing
5ts end. You shall soon see."
The interior of the house was as con-
-Xentional as it's exterior. Betty, Larry
Morris and Johnny felt that the Pc
qnumbra of mystery was at length be-
ing pierced by the return of reason.
But if Mr.. Wayne finds these peo-
ole here he may kill Them" objected
Benoni.
HE shall not see them" assured
1Tyoga. Nor Hackleye. neither. They
and the children must all be out OF
sight before he comes down stairs
Since she is dead Hackleye cannot
abide the sight of the children any
more. And all her things-he wants
them out of sight down here. yet he
lives in her old rooms. Take them tc
the north wing. Meta, and will bring
the children"
The north wing had four bedrooms
a sitting room. and small alcOve. II
was done in English chintz. and several
canaries sung and swung in the win
dows. In Betty's room had been placed
garments more conventional than those
she wore, and a dozen little toilet con-
yeniences, not the least welcome OF
which was a box of hairpins in assert
ed sizes. She fingered long at hel
dressing-why shouldn't she have done
so? In all this time she had not been
so near the accustomed luxuries OF
life. The bath tub was delight, the
brushes creams and powders brought
back visions of civilization, and even
the makeshifts for fashionable clothing
were a comfort. True, the skirt LAID
out was plainly Tyoga's and needed 8
dozen reefs and tucks: but for wais
there was an old fashioned polonaise
and this was better suited to Betty.
size. When she was finished she real.
ly felt proud of herself, and awaited
the reunion with the boys In the ait
ting room with great authorization
They had. Jared better in the matter ,
WGT(
too long and Larry's were at half ma ST
While they criticised, commented. an.
compared the children burst in upo,
them. The boy limped quietly in. bu
the girl stormed through the door
like q whirlwind.
where you live when you were
little girl?" she flashed at Betty. .Di
they always have something dom,
around that you couldn't see intor"
"Of course they did," said Betty
Those things always happen whe1
you're children"
But don't believe 1t was like It /
here" persisted the child. Her
things are 30 funny. they make 20
creep II you don't want to- You needn'
scowl brother. you know it's true. Any
BODY can see 1t. And why did thes
people come here in those skin clothes
And Why has Tyoga been so worried
And Why won't papa see us, and wlaef
= mother! Do youoh, tell med
you think our mothers dead?, Ii
Cn4I0 Cried