The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-22

piece of paper and wrote. Il
propose to build the trestle for
twenty-five thousand dollars, I"
dated IL and signed his name.
The old man Instantly gathered
up all the papers in a tight little
roll and stuffed them in his peck
ct. Brooke. with a queer expires
sion on his face. told Willy to
make for the wharf.
Meantime Halsey and Miss Grey
had spent the morning on the
yawi. their feet dangling idly
over the side toward the sea.
Their conversation had not been
particularly clever. Halsey seem
ed out of sorts.
You had a guest TO dinner
last night" he said At length.
Miss Grey looked at him
curiousIy.
Perhaps before you leave the
island" ruminated he. he may
become a part of your household
permanently.
She surveyed the bows on her
shoes with interest. Then she
looked up brightly.
is there such possibility ."
she asked, naively.
Well, Mr.. and Mrs. Brooke
| mean Mr.. Brooke and Mrs.
Brooke-are seeing a great deal
of each other"
She made a little mouth.
Don't you think il Is strange. !"
he went on, as IL endeavoring to
interest her with new idea.
that they should both be named
Brooke?"
Why" she said, with no in
-" to deceive. Il think one
OF them might very well have
been named---say, stream"
She looked at him with a cheer
full, impudent smile. He did not
| quite understand her banter.
Il wish to say that you are very
exasperating," he said at length.
ask you for information, and
get nothing but dimples."
After all. Mr. Halsey, if there
were choice between the
She smiled. lie polished his
glasses reflectively.
! Well, If IL we're reduced to
that he began.
"Yes-"
Il think I might dispense with
the information"
lie was silent for a moment.
But" he continued, you are
the only girl"
He hesitated. She looked at
him curiously, wondering what
this talk was leading to. ..=
The only girl-what shall /
say-whom 1 ever enjoyed con-
versing with. There seems 60
be a sympathy between us"
He was looking straight into
her eyes. Then he reached for
ward and took her hand. She felt
everything was going too fast.
She must do something TO divert
him. With a deft movement she
pushed her watch through her
belt and 1t fell on the deck. That
broke the spell-and at the same
time the crystal of the watch.
He instantly forgot what he
was going to say and reached for
the watch. In a second he had
the back of IL open and was ex-
aiming it's interior with the aid
of a pocket magnifying glass.
Having pronounced that unin-
jured he delicately and skillfully
removed the crystal from his own
watch and replaced IL on hers.
When they were walking back
up the beach ten minutes later,
he had apparently forgotten their
previous conversation.
Il don't see the use," re-
marked Mrs. Gilpin. at the lunch
con table that noon, of my hav-I
ing two men as guests If they
always run off and leave me with
no one to amuse me but my hus-
band"
Halsey, who had never given
the subject thought before, felt
shifting of his conscience.
I'm sorry" he said. Il fear /
have neglected my hosts"
Brooke looked up cheerfully.
That's not the WY to proceed
with this conversation, Herbert, /"
he interrupted. You'll get stung
sure as fate If you do. What you
should say Is, Mrs. Gilpin, IL is
very sweet of you to notice our
absence"
Mrs. Gilpin laughed.
las though I could help MOTTO
ing it," she exclaimed.
Gilpin leaned back in his chair.