The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-04-26

tCepyriwht. 1914, BY Newspapers
Entcrrrise Assoctstioab
When Dick came home to din
ner last night / knew Immediate
ly that something important was
on his mind and that he was try
ing to decide whether he should
tell me about 1t or not. l kept
perfectly still, for / knew that II
was very probable II asked him
what was the matter he would
shut up like a clam with a laconic
nothing"
He did not eat much dinner,
and / began to worry little, for
Dick usually has healthy appe-
lite. When he does not eat or
sleep well | may be sure that he
is greatly worried about some
thing or that he is physically
more or less ill.,
could see his refusal of some
of her famous gingerbread with
hard sauce made a distinct i'm
preston on Aunt Mary, but she
also said nothing. Aunt Mary is
. very diplomatic woman.
After dinner Dick went into
our bedroom and / heard him
rummaging around and asked:
us there anything l can do for
you, Dick"
Come here. Margie,'" answered
Dick. When | got into the room
! found him packing a grip.
Are you going away" was
my surprised question.
Yes, | suppose it's up to me
70 CO." he answered, and for a
few minutes was silent; then he
asked: Have you heard from
Mother or Mary today
mo, DEAR" was the answer.
Mother has had letter from
Jack was his somewhat surpris-
ing announcement.
Where is he?" I asked, as my
heart sank with the thought that
we would have to go through all
the worry of his escapades again.
He is in hospital in st.
Louis, very i'll. He has no money
and he has written a pitiful let
ter to mother asking her to have
Mary come down and bring him
home-to die"
"Well?" l Intercepted as Dick
stopped.
"Oh, of course, mother thinks
that her boy is dying and she
went Immediately over to see
Mary, supposing, of course, that
Mary would jump at the chance
to go to him and nurse him back
to health and devilishness. You
see. mother has the old idea of
'cherishing in sickness or in
health.
MARY, however. seems of diff
ferent mind. She told mother
that she would not go near him;
that she would not leave the store
without II costing much more
than just her expenses, besides
she was not sure that Jack was
really sick-he had deceived her
so often before.
"Of course Mother is crazy,
and she wants Mary turned out
Immediately and someone put in
the shop until Jack is well enough
to run it."
But you are not going to do
that, Dick?" / said in alarm.
mo, of course not, but / can't
tell mother 80 Just at present
when she is seeing pictures of
her Jack on his dying bed. /
really think Mary should have
gone"
Would you have thought Jack
should have gone after Mary II
she had cut the didoes that Jack
hast"
Perhaps not, but I don't see
why should be called upon to
go after him when he has wife
that he wanted instead of me-"
"a wife he has repudiated be-
cause she would not let him steal
from his own mother, Dick"
4 "Oh, know all about Jack, -
answered Dick impatiently, but
that doesn't make 1t any easier to
leave my business and 60 after
Him. Mary ought to do this for
AL our sakes. She was not happy
until she married him."
a. Would you like me to go over
there and find out how she feels
about 1t? Mary, you know. is q
girl of very decided opinions but
she also has = great sense of
honor"
=. "Will you, Margie. see II you
cant get her to co." prompted
Dick. In tones of relief.
sssN CONTINUED Tomorrow.