Evening star., 1913-03-09


the moment, he made examination of the
others, lifting out the trays and satisfying
himself that there were no new garments or
| articles among the contents. When he re-
turned to the other trunks he called ST.
perior, who went carefully over the list and
values, glanced at some of the articles, made
computation, and turned to Mrs. Blenner
hassett.
with the ne-hundred-dollar allowance
for each of you deducted, the duty on the
remainder of your purchases will be five
hundred and forty-two twenty-four. You
can pay at the desk"
"You see to the payment, Dear, said Mrs.
Blennerhassett, handing a roll of bills to her
niece. Il want to attend to the closing up
of these trunks
Ten minutes later in a carriage bound for
the St. Francis, Mrs. Blennerhassett, leaning
her eyes, "My dear, wouldn't 60 through
it again for worlds!" she said family.
TT was a new Mrs. Blennerhassett. calm,
dignifed, and refreshed, who sailed ma
jestically in to breakfast the following morn
ing. She enjoyed her fruit and the real
cream to which she had been stranger so
long. When she was still at the table a card
was brought by one of the house servants.
With little cry of surprise and delight, she
turned to Kathryn.
"My DEAR" she exclaimed, assistant Sec
retary of the Treasury Runnells is here from
Washington. want to present him to you,
and l will also carry out a little plan that
occurred to me last night; although | had
thought it would be necessary to wait till /
returned to Washington" She penciled
line on the card and sent it back by the
servant.
Il have asked Mr.. Runnells to take tea
with us this afternoon in Our apartments,
and, my dear, am going to tell him about
our tea."
you're not going to confess, Aunty-not
now, after going through all these days of
strain!" Kathryn demanded in amazement.
3Wait and see," was her only reply.
The Blennerhassett apartments were at
tractively decorated, and steaming silver
kettle was bubbling musically when the as
sistant secretary was announced.
"Mr. Runnells, my dear, said Mrs. Blen-
nerhassett, following the introduction, us in
charge of the governments customs affairs.
want him to have cup of my tea"
Runnells looked a trife bored, but was
game. Zone lump, please, and lemon.
Thank you."
Mrs. Blennerhassett waited only for him
to take sip. 3You like it,"
"Delicious!" said Runne1ls, and it sounded
as if he really meant it. Mrs. Blennerhassett
smiled enigmatically.
@My dear Mr.. Runnells, you are now par
ticebs cyiminis, and l have confession to
make" She beamed on the mystifed official,
who waited politely for her to continue.
The whole story was told with wealth of
detail that made it vastly entertaining.
$50 you see,' she said slyly at its conclu-
sion, Il am smuggler; but you have ac-
cepted part of the loot, and are involved to
some extent. If you 60 on and have another
cup, now that you know the facts, you will
have accepted it with full knowledge of the
offense and can't denounce me without in
volving yourself
at is delicious, perfectly wonderful, Mrs.
Blennerhassett! Let me have another
cup
His hostess served him, laughing merrily.
He stirred the tea refectively.
@Your offense is officially condoned," he
remarked gravely. 4But to make the record
complete l must tell you that there is no
duty on tea.
Mrs. Blennerhassett, smuggler, dropped
her teacup.
A GERMAN EXPLOSIVE