The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-17


Talk about your meat trusts
and Wholesalers! he exulted
here's whole carload of beef In
this little box-though. that was
la close shave for herr"
His face sobered, and he stood
for several moments staring
thoughtfully into space. Then his
gaze CHANGED to fall upon the
great crimson blossom which had
so nearly lured the girl to her
death.
"Hello." he exclaimed; that's
an amaryllis. Wonder If she
wasn't coming to pick it" He
snapped shut the lid of the Gig
aret case. thrust it carefully into
his shirt pocket and stepped for
ward to pluck the flower. makes
a fellow feel life a kid; but may
be it'll make her feel less sore at
me-"
He stood gazing at the flower
for several moments, his eyes
aglow with a soft, blue light.
"Whew!" he sighed; 'if only
But what's the use? She's
way out of my class-a rough
brute like me! All the same, it's
up to me to take care of her. She
can't keep me from being her
friend-and she sure can't object
to my picking flowers for her."
Amaryllis in hand, he went on
to the cocoanuts. There he came
upon Winthrope stretched flat
Miss Leslie was seated a little
way beyond, nervously bending
a a palmleaf into shape for a hat.
Il say, Blake" drawled Win
thrope, you're been a deuced
long time in coming"
Blake brushed past without re-
plying, and went on until he
stood before the girl. AS she
glanced up at him, he held out
the crimson blossom.
Thought you might like
posies," he said, in a hesitatlng
voice.
Instead of taking the flower,
she drew back with a gesture OF
repulsion.
"oh, take it away" she ex-
claimed. -.
Blake flung the rejected gift
on the ground, and crushed 1t be-
meath his heel.
Catch me making fool OF
myself again!" he growled.
81 did not mean 1t that way
really l didn't, Mr.. Blake. IL
was the thought of that awful
snake" =
But Blake, cut to the quick
had turned away, far too angry
to heed what she said. He STOP
ped short beside the Englishman
but only to sling the skin upon
his back. The load was by nc
means a light one. even for mis-
strength. Yet he caught up the
heavy pot as we'll, and made OIL
across the plain at pace which
the others could not hope to
equal.
Winthrope rose and came for
ward to join Miss Leslie.
"Er-beg pardon, Miss Gene
We've. but I--ah-saw the fellow
Exhibit his impudence.
"Ye-es?"
| You know. I think 1t high
time the bounder is taken dowr
a peg"
"Ah, indeedl Then why do you
not try it,"
Miss Genevieve! you know
that at present I am PHYSICAL,
so much his Inferior
How about mentality"
! Though the girls eyes were
yelled by their lashes. she saw
Winthrope cast after Blake
, look that seemed to her almos
fiercely vindictive.
"Well?" she said, smiling, bu
. watching him closely.
4 "Mentallyi-We'l soon SCI
about that" he muttered. :"
must say, Miss Genevieve, /
strikes me as deuced odd, yol
know. to hear you speak so pleas
antly of a person who-not t.
mention past occurrences-ha
, today, with the most shocking
, disregard of-er-decency-"
"Stop!-stop this instant!
screamed the girl, her nerves
overwrought.
|, Winthrope smiled with com
lplacent assurance.
my dear young lady" h,
= drawled. "allow me to repeat. AL
is fair in love and var Believ,
J me, I love you most .ardently.
mo gentleman would press hi
suit at such a tine as thisl"
, Really, now. l fancy hav,
always comported myself as /,
} gentleman"
, "A trifle too much so, truth Il
} say" she retorted.
"Ah, indeed. However, this 1
: now quite another matter. Has 1
I not occurred to you. my dear, tina
D this entire experience OF our
r since that beastly storm Is rattle
-er-compromising?"
3 "You-you dare say such :
thingi tn go this instant an,
tell Mr.. Blake. III"
Begging your pardon, MADAM
but are you prepared to MARI.
. that barbarous clodhopper?"
t Marry? What do you mean
D sir7"
I Precisely that. II is a CUES
tion of marriage. IL you'll pardol