The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-08-13

Just what I said. He's In love
with Miss Page. And I'm going
to help him get her."
thought and thought. And
then. without exactly meaning TO,
l spoke my thought out loud.
II believe I'll help you help
him." says l.
She want bit surprised.
'Humphi" she says. That's no
news. You've been trying to help
him for ever so long"
What do. you think of that?
There want anything slow OF
dull about~that Sparrow girl
not enough to fret yourself over,
there want.
The next day Eureka was
a-telling me of a dress pattern she
wanted awful. / asked her why
she didn't buy IL and she said
twas two dollars and a half and
she couldn't afford it. Hartley
heard her say IL and he loafed
out into the kitchen and began
to ask questions, pumping her,
sort of quiet, to find out what
she done with her money. After
she'd gone home he says to me
skipper. that girl is robbing
herself to support that old
loafer. her father"
He thought a spell. well, I
mean to look into the matter" he
says. Sol, I want you to find out
who owns that apology for a house
they live I'm. Don't ask Eureka.
We must keep IL a secret from her
or she'll interfere. And me may
as well not tell Van. either. He's
so careless that he might give IL
away"
"AlI right" says I. "In ask
Scudder. He knows most all of
every body's business and Hubby
Ann knows the rest"
So when Nate come, after
breakfast next morning, I asked
him.
WELL" he says, ct don't mind
telling you. Hubby Ann, my
wife, owns the place, IL you want
to know"
was surprised. He was a reg
ular sand-flea for bobbing up
where you didn't expect him.
She does?" says I. Say, Nate,
for the land sakes how much
more of this country belongs to
you and Hubby? And how much
did you pay for it?"
He went on with a long rigma-
role about a mortgage and a sec
ond mortgage and 'foreclosing to
protect himself" ard so on. All
see in IT was more proof that
lambs fooling with Nate Seudder
was likely to lose, not only wool,
but hoofs, hide and tallow.
When l told Hartley he seemed
real pleased.
THAT makes IL easy" he says.
"Scudder will accommodate me
by doing a little favor, won't hep"
Sure thing!" says I, sarcastic.
Amt he been accommodating
you ever since you struck town"
Yes he says, "he has, Scud-
der is a generous chap" And he
meant 1t, too!
Him and Nate was pretty thick
for the next few days. Something
was up, though as yet I want in
the secret. Hartley made one or
two trips to the village and he
took neither me nor Van with
him. He asked me where the doc
tor lived and a lot more questions.
But in a little while Hartley's
secret comes out. One day Van
took a notion to go down to Half
Moon Neck cunning for peeps.
He wanted Scudder to sail him
down, but Nate was too busy, so
he hired Eureka's brother, Lycur-
gus. The two sailed away in the
Dora Bassett to be gone all night.
want invited.
That afternoon late Hartley
comes over from the main, rowed
by Scudder. The pair of 'em
seemed mighty tickled about
something.
well, Mr.. Hartley" says Nate,
well see you tomorrow morning.
It'll work all right; you see.
"Will he work." laughs Hart
ley. That's the question"
81 ca1'late he'll make the
bluff" smokers Scudder. 81 don't
know where he'll sleep nights IL
he don't. Land of lovel Did you
see his face when you sprung it on
him? Hawi Hawi"
When we got to the house Hart
ley calls in Eureka.
You're going to stay here to-
night" he says to her. "Mr. Pratt
and I have an errand ashore early
in the morning and Mr.. Van Brunt
will be back soon after, and hun
CRY, | imagine. So you must be
ready with his breakfast. It's all
right. Your father understands.
Eureka was some surprised, but
she said she'd stay.
All through supper Hartley was
laughing to himself Just afore
bedtime he calls me out on the
porch.
Sol" he says, what would
you say if Mr.. Washington Spar
row consented to go to work."
CHAPTER v