The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-10-14

Long step forward WIN leIt,
of. I expressed surprise. Then
he was surprised to learn that l
didn't know, being Martins clos
est friend, and told me the rest.
at seemed that Hartley senior
was heavily involved when he
died. He had speculated and his
affairs were in horrible shape.
Martin didn't know of this until
the old gentleman on his death
bed sprung it on him. So then
the plucky chap started in to save
the name. He arranged with the
creditors-this man who told me
the story was one of them--for
time and set to work. He work
ed nights and days and in his
sleep, | guess. He had promised
his dad, for his mothers sake, not
to tell a sould, and he didn't. Ev-
cry creditor was pledged to sec
recy. Even his own mother
didn't know it to the day Of her
death. But he paid dollar for
dollar and broke down when it
was over. That's why he was
willing to join with me in this
hunt of ours after the Natural
Life"
Van stopped. I looked at him
and / guess there was a question
in my face, for he answered it
without me saying a word.
Certainly I shall tell Agnes"
says he. when is the next train
for Eastwich?"
He went to the school that aft
ernoon, and stayed at the Bay
View House over there that night.
Next day Hartley comes rowing
over with Scudder. He was feel
ing clipper as could be, and, ex-
cept for the arm in a sling, you
wouldn't have known there was
anything the matter with him.
About eleven or so that fore
noon Eureka comes running out
to the hen-yard where I was. Her
face was on the broad grin.
They're coming" says she.
"The whole of EN-"
"Who?"
why, Miss Agnes and Miss
Talford. Nate Scudder is rowing
'em, and Mr.. Van Brunt is along,
too"
And so they was. I could see
the dory half way across already.
About twenty minutes after
that l happened to have an err
rand in the kitchen. Hartley and
the Page girl was standing by the
parlor window looking out and
didn't appear to hear a sound.
They'd left the doors open and I
could see 'em. Martin hadn't
only one whole arm, but he SEEM
ed to know what to do with that.
A couple of hours later Eureka
took me by the arm and led me
to the woodshed window. Down
by the cove on the beach was Van
Brunt and Margaret Talford,
walking up and down together.
They was both laughing and act
ing perfectly contented.
Eureka gave me a nudge and a
wink. II told you l had my ideas
about him" says she.
The Fresh Air girls went back
to Eastwich that afternoon. When
they had gone Van turns to me.
"And now, skipper" says he.
|slapping his hands together
brisk; now then for packing up,
and back, back to little old New
York"
Nate agreed to take back the
hens and the pig, as an accom-
mediation. He was to pay three
dollars for the hog and the fowls
was hove into the scales for good
measure. There was a lease of
the island, too, that had to be
cancelled.
Next day we all met at the
Eastwich depot. Agnes Page and
Miss Talford and the Fresh Air
triOue, including Rodney, who
waa clipper and gay because he
was going back to New York.
The Heavenly Twins was there.
SO was me and Eureka, to Sc 'em
off.
The train whistled up the road.
Van leaned over and tapped me
on the shirt front.
Skipper" says he, II won't
prophesy concerning next sum-
mer. Sufficient until the day, ct
cetera. And | won't answer for
Martin. But for me, and for this
winter. II anybody asks you tell
'em I've gone back to New York
to live the most compound, dou-
BILE duplex life to be found from
Harlem to the Battery. That's
what" says Edward Van Brunt.
(THE ENID