The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-03-10

among the little ancient oaks, the
rosemary, and the bastard-spruce.
His trail ran to the left of a
black pool, wimpled by tadpoles,
as by falling rain, but fate turned
him to the right, past clump of
palmettoes, the tall huckleberry-
bushes lashing him with fragrant
bloom. He stopped to pass under
them, paused, and let the boughs
return without a rustic to their
position. Under the bushes lay
the light, portable, telescope go
devil of submarine; and under
it man.
Wilmer smiled, and started for
ward; paused; retreated out of
sight, and stood as if revivified
by wine; hurried away to the Ia
COON; drew a boat from conceal
ment; and rowed rapidly over to a
hotel, half mile off on the north
shore.
The submarines boat had
come ashore in the night, and her
crew were awaiting, with many
curses, no doubt, a sea in which
they could re-embark. The one
man was sleeping away the alb
sence of his mate. But why was
this of interest to Wilmer? I'm
less he were a revenue spy, they
were apt to be people of whom il
was better to know little than
much.
At the desk Of the hotel Wilmer
got paper, envelopes and bit OF
copying carbon, sat down, wrote
a letter, and addressed it to him
self, in care of the chief of police
of Mobile, to be turned over to
the collector of the port, and by
him opened If not called for by a
certain date. He carefully copied
the address of the original upon
the envelop of the carbon copy,
took them both to the clerk, hand
ed him fine cigar, and asked him
as a favor to certify on the back
of the copy that he, the clerk, had
personally placed in the mail the
Original, addressed precisely as
was the copy.
Don't know what your game
lis, old man," said the clerk, "but
1 hope you get away with it all
right"
Mr.. Wilmer rowed straight
back, and made his way to the
boat under the bushes. The man
was sitting up. now, smoking. Wiz
ner walked into camp jauntily.
Hello, Faville," said he; "ain't
you pretty near lost?"
Faville started and dropped his
hand to his hip; but changed his
attitude and shook hands cordially.
NO." said he, "but you are. /
should think. Where'd you drop
|from?"
you're ashore at a bad time"
said Wilmer. where's the
|Stickleback?"
"Oh," replied Faville, "Im not
on her any longer"
Funny you brought away her
boat!" said Wilmer. "And her
captain, tool"
This latter remark was evoked
by the arrival of third person,
wiry, smooth-shaven, with a
dark face, dead-black eye, a
straight line of mouth, three fin
gers missing from his right hand,
giving the impression that he was
Iperpetually pointing at something,
and thin, palpitant nostrils, like
those of a trapped rabbit. He came
lazily in, and dropped to the
lground.
Hello, Winner" said he.
Hello, Captain Reagan" re-
Iplied Wilmer. Can you give me
ia snack "
Sure" said Reagan. Lets
eat, Faville; I've got grobeck
for dinner"
The "groebeck" was big,
toothsome bird, like a bittern, in
appearance. While the meal, was
cooking Wilmer sat joking, like
a man enjoying himself. while the
Others grew more and more taci-
turn. A couple of bottles of ex-
cellent wine washed down. the
meal. and the men sat looking at
one another and smoking, In an
atmosphere tense with misunder-
standing.
Which way you going, Wiz
ner??" finally asked Reagan.
"I thought I'd go aboard the
Stickleback." replied Wilmer.
THE hell you did" replied
Reagan, with an easy laugh.