The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-05-28

twenty-five shlllings. That's one
of Lincoln BENEFITS best" Then.
with a kindly eye on Maurice, |
proceeded to relate my entertain
ing experiences.
When ! had finished there was
short silence. 1t was broken by
Miss York.
"B-b-but that was murder"
she stammered, 'cold-blooded
murder" she stammered. cold
blooded murder!"
Il should describe II rather as
hat slaughter" ] said coolly, but
the intention seems to have been
pretty obvious"
Maurice broke in with an oath.
TITS those Internal marshmen!
he cried. I've had trouble with
them before, but never anything
of this kind"
what do you mean" asked
Vane, looking up from the hat.
why, there's gang of scoun-
drels round the coast who make
their living shooting duck. They
think they own the marsh. and
that no one else has right to
shoot there"
Don't worry about It. Maur-
ice" | said. These little acct
dents will happen"
l went to bed early. and slept
like log. The next morning,
telling Maurice / wanted to see
how the repairs on my auto were
progressing, / went down to the
Plough to visit Billy.
Heard anything more of Mer-
cia?' | asked him.
I've seen her." he announced
Last night | slipped out and
went up to the Hollies. There
was window open on the sec
ond floor with light In the room
Well, to cut the yarn short, ]
climbed up one of the trees near
est the house and had a squirt
in"
"And you actually saw Mercia?'
| demanded.
Il saw the whole charming
bunch of EN-" said Billy. There
was Dot-and-carry-one; and The
gentleman who put a bullet
Though your hat; and a frowsy-
looking sort of female; and last
but not least, your own particular
bit of trouble. At least, I sup.
pose it was. A well-built sort OF
girl, with stunning eyes?"
I looked at him with pity. "You
have your points, Billy" / said
but don't try to describe a beau
tiful woman. What were they do
ing?"
s"Jawing at her, as far as
could make out" he answered
"Of course, / couldn't hear any.
thing was too far away; but
could see them wagging theii
hands and struggling their shoul'
ders. Looked to me as If they
were trying to persuade her to dc
something she didn't want to
stick knife into you, | expect.
Don't worry about me, Billy
] said. "Mercia's the one to
worry about. She's in danger,
Billy, and we must rescue her."
Guess you're right" Billy an
swered Looked to me last night
as though they might be beating
her or starving her most any day
now"
And so Billy and laid our plan.
He was to send me telegram
that afternoon, which | was to
pretend to Maurice and his friends
came from London, calling me
back to the metropolis on bust
ness. Then Billy and | were to
take the auto that night, go to the
Hollies, rescue Mercia and take
her to town.
AS IL turned out there was an
other telegram due. 1t was bona
fide, addressed to Maurice and de-
Ilivered to him that afternoon In
the presence of his two guests,
Aunt Mary and myself.
watched him as he read the
wire, not knowing what its con-
tents might be until he an
nounced:
"Im afraid l shall have to go
to London tonight. There's some
COMPOUNDED trusteeship or some
thing my lawyers want me to talk
over with them Immediately"
Just for an instant as he looked
in my direction l caught a CLEAN
of hatred, triumph and incredulity
In his eyes. He crushed the wire
In his hand and the expression
vanished as though 1t had been
wiped off with sponge.
Maurice rushed upstairs, pack
ed his bag and was off just in
time to catch the 4:30 train. The
rest of us sat around talking, APP
parently waiting only for dinner.
| at least was waiting for some
thing else-Billy's telegram.
Shortly before six 1t arrived.
ut never rains but what II
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