The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-07-27

thio pldCe lOT yOu-yeS, iOT you,
my dear. l am not blind-and
last night you refused to let him
bring you up"
''He told you'll" l famed.
"He wondered what he had
done. And as you wouldn't let
him come within speaking distance
of you, he came to me-"
81 am sorry, Anne, since you are
fond of him." Isaid. But to me
he is impossible -intolerable. My
reasons are quite sufficient"
exit is perfectly right, Anne"
Leila broke in. Il tell you, there
is something queer about him"
she added in portentous whisper.
Anne stiffened.
''He is perfect" she declared.
"Of good family, warm-hearted,
courageous, handsome, cluever--
what more do you ask?"
Honesty" said Leila holly.
THAT a man should be what he
says he is"
Anne and l both stared.
ut is your Mr.. HARRISON" Leila
went on, who tried to escape from
the house by putting a board
across to the next roof"
81 don't believe it," said Anne.
"You might bring me a picture of
him, board in hand, and l wouldn't
believe it,"
Don't then" Lottie said cruel
ly. Let him get away with your
pearls; they are yours. Only as
sure as anything, the man who
tried to escape from the house had
a reason for escaping, and the pa
pers said a man in evening dress
and light overcoat. l found Mr..
Harbison's overcoat today lying in
a heap in one of tn emaid's rooms,
and 1t was covered with brick dust
all over the front. A button had
even been torn off,"
"Pooh!" Anne said, when she
had recovered herself a little.
There isn't any reason, as far
as that goes, why Flanagan
shouldn't have worn Toms over
coat, or-any of tn eothers."
"Flannigan!" Leila said loftily.
Why, his arms are like piano
legs; he couldn't get into it. AS
for the others, there is only one
person who would fit, or nearly
fit, that overcoat, and that is Dali
las, Anne"
While Anne was choking down
her wrath, Leila got up and darted
out of the tent. When she came
back she was triumphant.
Look" she said, holding out
her hand. And on her palm lay
a lightish brown button. 81 found
it just where the paper said the
board was thrown out, and it is
from Mr.. Harbison's overcoat,
without a doubt"
OF course l should not have been
surprised. A man who would kiss
a woman OH a dark staircase-a
woman he had known only two
days-was capable of anything.
Exit has only been little keen
er than the rest of u.s." Lollie said.
"She found him out yesterday"
Upon my word" said Anne in
dignantly, preparing to go, eff II
didn't know you girls so WELL, II
would think you were crazy. And
now, just to offset this, / can tell
you something. Flanagan told
me this morning not to worry;
that he has my pearl collar spot
ted, and that young ladies will
have their jokes!"
Yes, as / said before, 1t was a |
cheerful, reproducing situation.
/ sat and thought it over after
Anne's parting shot, when Leila
had flounced downstairs. Things
were closing in: gave the situa-
ton twenty-four hours to develop
At the end of that time Flanagan
would accuse me openly of know
ing where the pearls were; II
would explain my silly remark tol
him, and the mine would explode !
Aunt Selma.
/ was sunk in detected reverie
when some one came ON the roof. |
When he was opposite the opening
in the tent, saw Mr.. HARRISON,
and at that moment he saw me.
He paused uncertainty, then hel
made an evident effort and came
over to me.
"You are-better today?"
"Qpite we'll, thank you"
81 am glad you find the tent
useful. Does it keep Off thel
wind?"
ut IS quite a shelter"-frigidIy.
He still stood, struggling forl
something to say. Evidently Moth
ing came to his mind, for he lifted
the cap he was wearing. and, turn
ing sway. began to work with the