The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-05-28
N Next week novel will be Torchy by Sewel Ford
~ the author who has been ncknamed "The Philosc.
: pher OF Slang" lie begins Monday.

party this afternoon, unless I'm
much mistaken" | said.
Looks like it," answered
Billy grimly. The only other
thing | heard was about your girl
with the pistol what's her
name-Mercia.
We'll, after the little confab
was over, | gave old Dot-and-
carry-me time to get back into
the road, and then | followed
him. He went straight back TO
Woodford, and turned into
pub.-not the Plough; another
one this side of it. I followed
him in.
After our pal had cleared off,
/ asked who he was. Oh said
the landlord, that's an Eyetaiian
gentleman, Moosyer Berretti.
He's just taken the Hollies,
Colonel Paton's house. Moved in,
yesterday.
There's Dot-and-carry-me, and
a lady he calls his wife, and
another chap who arrived today.
| asked whether he had a broken
nose, and the landlord said no;
so it can't be Francis"
Il expect it's the gentleman /
owe this stiff shoulder to-" |
said. where is the Hollies?"
Billy jerked his head up the
road. Quite close" he said,
Just outside Woodford, l mean
to inspect it tonight" Then he
paused. Jack" he said, I'm
not quite happy about this shoot
ing business.
Neither am l." answered
truthfully.
Suppose I get hold of a boat
and cruise around outside the
sea wall while you're shooting"
said Billy.
Right you are, Billy" l said,
and returned to Ashton.
After breakfast Aunt Mary
called me aside.
She looked at me thoughtfully.
You seem to me to have
| changed a great deal lately"
This was in the nature of a
frontal attack. but | met it calm
ly. Yes, said, Il have
changed"
And for the better" she
added. Stuart, when you first
came back from South America.
disliked you intensely. | dreaded
your influence over Maurice. But
since you have been down here
this time, | seem, somehow, to
have reversed all my previous
opinions of you"
Then she hesitated a moment.
81 am afraid Maurice is getting
into bad hands," she went on
There is something on his mind
There is no one | can speak to
about 1t except you, Stuart. |
want you, if you will, to try and
help him. If 1t is only a matter
of money, we might be able to put
things right between us; only |
don't like to question him myself
He would take it so much better
from you"
II give you my word" I said
simply, that I'll do anything
can to keep Maurice out of trou-
| BILE"
Late that afternoon, after a
day spent on the tennis court,
Maurice, Vane and l, guns in
hand, set out for our duck shoot
ing. The dogs ranged ahead of
us and a couple of nondescript
gentlemen in corduroy trousers
brought up the rear.
About half-past five we arrived
at the bank of a long saltwater
creek. The only object in sight
was an old punt. moored to a
stake under the bank.
1--WE must split up now said
Maurice. There are four or
five places where you can get a
good shot at the duck as they
come over, and this is one of
them. What do you say, Stuart?
Would you like to stay here?"
Suits me-" said. What's the
program
He pointed to a small, sandy
spit covered with reeds, half
way across the creek.
You must punt over to that"
he said, and tie up the boat this
side. About half-past six the
duck will come right over you
and If you're we'll hidden you
ought to get in a couple of good
shots at least"
Where will you her" | asked.
He jerked his head toward the
right. "Oh, We shall be down the
coast. Do you think you know
your way to the house,"
Il guess l can find it," / said.
"Well, them" said Maurice,
'p'raps you won't mind finding
your own road back when the
flights over. 1t will save us
coming round this way again."
Thew tramped off, leaving me