The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1913-10-18
Saturday Short Story
ssMa'an?''
illustrated by Dom J. LAWN

And either I'll walk to the hotel or hire another
trap"
"Why!" exclaimed the lady, ssare you bound for
Carcasonne Housef So ami"
In that case" said Saterlee elegantly, "wey go
the whole hog together"
Quite So said the lady prirnly
You'd ought to make Carcasonne House by mid
night, said the proprietor.
"Heavensr exclaimed the lady. "And if we don't
make it by midnight?' .
I'VE will by one or two clock
The lady became very grave.
"Of course" she said, cit can't be helped But
1t would be ever much nicer if we could get in be-
fore midnight
II take your point, Ma am" said Saterlee can
promise nothing It's all up to the horses
Of course said the lady, cit doesn't really mat
ter BUT and she spoke little bitterly, several
times in my life my actions and my motives have
been open to demonstration, and they have been
misconstrued have suffered, sir, much''
"Wel, Ma am said Saterlee, "my reputation as
a married man and father of many children is
mixed up in this, too If we in ate-or out late
rather.and there any talk guess can quiet
some of it. rather guess cam.
The proprietor entered the conversation with an
insnuating wedge of voice.
Il don't like to mind other folks business" he
said but If the lady is fretting about bein out all
night with total stranger, feel it my dooty to re-
mark that in Grub City there is justice of the
peace" He bowed and made gesture which either
indicated his whole person, that SNUG and bullying
portion OF it to which the gesture more directly
applied.
Saterlee and the lady did not look at each other
and laugh They were painfully embarrassed.
Saterlee brought down the whip sharply upon the
bony flank of the old horse. But not for whole
minute did the sensation caused by the whip appear
to travel to the ancient mares brain Not till reach
ing deep puddle did she suddenly aware Of
the fact that she had been whipped Then however.
she rushed through the puddle covering Saterlee and
the lady with mud, and, having reached the other
side, fell once more into hating walk.
Once more the ROAD ran under a shallow of water.
And once more the old mare remembered that she had
been whipped, and made rush for it. Fresh mud
was added to that which had already dried upon
them by the dry miracle of the air.
"She ought to have been a motor-b boat" said
Saterlee, the mud which had entered his mouth grit
ting unpleasantly between his teeth.
The mare rushed through another puddle.
The lady laughed "Please don't bother to hold
her, y she said ~ don't mind-now
"I guess your dress amt really hurt - commented
Saterlee. II remember my old woman-Anna- had
a brown silk that got mud bath, and came through
all right"
"This is an old rag, anyway said the snowy LADY,
who still snowy in spite of wart- like knot OF
dried mud on the end of her nose. And she glanced
at her spattered but graceful and expensive white
linen and hand embroidered dress.
stWell, can one thing said Saterlee, that
you made up your mind to go through this expert
ence like good sport, wish didn't have to take
up much room. =
ssNever mind she said, 1T liketo think that
could go to sleep without danger Of falling out =
sThat so-that s so, said Saterlee. "Maybe it's
Just as well we're something OF tight tit. !"
sWhat air this is exclaimed the lady; what de-
licious air. No wonder it cures people with lung
trouble. Still, I'm glad mine are sound"
"Im glad to hear you say that Ma am 8 said Safer
lee sWhen you said you were bound for Carcasonne
House, thought to myself 'Mebbe she's got it, and
[ felt mighty sorry
"Do Hook like a consumptive9' she asked.
"Bless me-no," said he. ssBut you're not stout,
and, considering where you said you going, you
mustn't blame me for putting two and two together
and getting the wrong answer. =
II don blame you at all, 2 she said, but htt!7
stiffly. s9It was perfectly natural No. she said
smy daughter is at Carcasonne House. She had
very heavy cold and other troubles and 4 W0 doc
tors agreed that her lungs were threatened. Well
perhaps they were. sent her to Carcasonne House
on the doctor s recommendation. And It seems thAk
she s just as sound as am. "
"What relief to you, Maam, said Sateriee
hastily.
ssYes, she said, but without enthusiasm g great
relief. But hesitated you see she has made
up her mind to marry young man whom scarc6Iy