The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-05-20

attempted TO lit ner pelore H"u
and spilled her vanity bag.
Out of our mutual embarras
r.ont and the situation the Il
had contrived grew my acquair
anceship with Anna Sterling.
Having helped ner restore u
scattered vanity articles TO u
little leather bag, we Nalkt
through the ferry and entered
beach car with spontaneon
though unspoken deterniinatt
to prolong a pleasant episode.
had come up on the Owl tn;
forming from the Kern coun
oil fields, where my business
selling oil we'll machinery oftc
took me for extended trips.
Always after l have been on
in the desert for some time tn
lure of San Francisco, my adopt
ed city, comes to me with re
newed force. On incoming trail
and ferry l revel in anticipation
OF pleasant adventure. 1t is cit,
of magic possibilities.
It was that kind of a prospec
] faced now. My firm. in recogs
milton of substantial sales durint
the four years l had been trust
ed representative, always allowed
me one day to myself before re.
porting in at the end of a Ions
trip. / was free to do what
wished for the next "a hours.
In burst of easy confidence
inspired by Anna Sterlings en-
gaging candor, l had told he.
rather freely about myself anG
my work, and about the pleas
ant surprises anticipated in my
home-comings.
"And this time" she queried
with arching brows.
>cIt was you," supplied bold
Iy. Its an i'll fog that blows no
body any good"
"How's your foot?" she con-
tinued irrelevantly. ~ must have
given 1t quite kick"
ooh, the foot--yes, I'd almost
forgotten about that"
Both of us had now accepted
the Filtration without pretense.
Meantime, we had been carried
out as far as Van Ness av. Anna
Sterling had confided, with Just
a hint of mystery, that she work
ed in the city, and that this, too
was her day Of freedom.
"How far out do you go?"
asked.
ooh, I'm just riding today;
don't know just where I'll go.
guess the beach is the limit or
this car.
Say" she interjected abrupt
ly, Fare you married or single!
Not that 1t makes much differ.
ence with me, but want to know
whether I'm liable to get my haii
pulled"
"Single," I chanted. ''Don't
care for homemade pies, and
would rather buy new pair Of
socks than wear 'em darned. Any
thing else?".
And rather proud Of your
self" she continued, squirting
her eyes and nodding with con
viction.
Lets get a bite at the Cliff
house-we're almost there"
"well, l might" she Knocked
sjust little bite"
"Irl match you to see wht
paws she challenged, aftel
chicken. artichoke and tea.
felt immensely relieved wher
/ failed to match the five-dolal
piece in her palm, and paid thu
bill.
Afterward we climbed to a ter
race in Sutro park, overlooking
the sea, and sat on o bencf
around which the bees mumblet
and where the sun drew sweet
ness from the grass and grotesqu'
\ expresses gave as seclusion fol
our chatter and condolences.
Your arms" II hazardedi
"aren't you afraid OF gettlnl
them sunburned?" II gave me
chance to admire their perfection
openly. 4,
"That would be terrible" Will
A sigh. II don't suppose yol
could like q girl with brownet
hands or wrists?" and she mad
! = pretense at shading them from
= the sun. twisting them gracefully
this way and that, until, wit
|..