The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-04

i WI itcsuOiuS tdflt III anu
Joined us. There's only one
way out that | see," he said mild
ly. Two women have been fool
enough to have a name tattooed
over their hearts. No woman
ever thought enough of me to
have my name put on her."
Il hope not" I retorted. Mr..
Reynolds first name il Zacariah.
But, as Mr.. Holcombe said, all
that had been proved was that
Jennie Brice was dead, probably
murdered. He could not under
stand the defense letting the case
go to the jury without their put
ting more stress on Mr.. Howell S
story. But we were to under
stand that soon. and many other
things. Mr.. Holcombe told me
that evening of learning from
John Bellows of the tattooed
name on Jennie Brice and of how,
after an almost endless search he
had found the man who had cut
the name away.
At eight O'Clock the door bell
rang. Mr.. Reynolds had gone to
lodge, he being an Elk and sew
eral other things, and much CIV
EN- to regalia in boxes, and having
his picture in the newspapers in
different outlandish costumes.
Mr.. Pitman used to say that man,
being denied his natural love for
Darbaric adornment in his every
day clothing, took to the different
fraternities as an excuse for deck
Ing himself out. But this has
nothing to do with the door bell.
1t was old Isaac. He had a
basket in his hand, and he step
ped into the hall and placed it on
the floor.
Evening, Miss Bess," he said.
can you see a bit of company to-
night?"
Il can always see you," | re-
piled. But he had not meant him
self. He stepped to the door, and
opening it, beckoned to some one
across the street. 1t was Ida!
She came in, her color a little
heightened, and old Isaac stood
back, beaming at us both. | be-
lieve it was one of the browning
moments of the old mans life
thus to see his Miss Bess and AL
mas child together.
| Isis he here YETI" she
| asked me neryously.
II did not know he was COM
ing" There was no need to ask
which he" There was only one
for Ida.
HE telephoned me, and asked
me to come here. oh, Mrs. Pit
man, I'm so afraid for him." She
had quite forgotten Isaac. |
turned to the school teachers
room and opened the door. "The
woman who belongs here is out at
a lecture" | said. Come in
here, Ikkie, and I'll find the even
ing paper for you"
" Ikkie'!" said Ida, and stood
staring at me. l think l went
white.
1.-THE lady heah and I is old
friends" Isaac said, with his
splendid manner. Her mothah.
Miss Ida, her mothah-"
But even old Isaac chicken up
at that, and I closed the door on
him.
How queer!" Ida said, look
ing at me. so Isaac knew your
mother? Have you lived always
in Allegheny, Mrs. Pitman?"
81 was born in Pittsburgh"
evaded. II went away for a long
time, but always longed for the
hurry and activity of the old home
town. So here / am again.
Fortunately, like all of the
young, her own affairs engrossed
her. She was flushed with the
prospect of meeting her lover,
tremul0us over what the evening
might bring. The middle-aged
woman who had come back to the
hurry Of the old town, and who.
pushed back into an eddy of the
flood district, could only watch
the activity and life from behind
a Rooms to Let" sign, did not
concern her much. Nor should
she have.
Mr.. Howell came soon after.
He asked for her, and going back
to the dining room, kissed her
quietly. He had an air of resolve,
a sort of grim determination, that
was a relief from the half-frantic
look he had worn before. He
asked to have Mr.. Holcombe
brought down, and so behold us
all, four of us, sitting around the
table-Mr. Holcombe with his
note book, I with my mending,
and the boy with one OF Lida's
hands frankly under his on the
red tablecloth.
II want to tell all iof you the