The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-14

| Nor | you, If it matters. Still
I'm sure you won't keep me much
longer in suspense, considering
how open-faced I've been. But
here's that waiter again"
She was willingly silent. The
voice of her companion was like
a distant, hollow echo in her hear
ing; before her vision the face of
Blue Serge swan.
Small cups of black coffee
stood before them, steaming,
when a question reused her, and
she shook herself together and
faced her burglar across the cloth
once more full mistress of her
faculties.
You're feeling better?"
Very much" she smiled, land
think you!"
Don't make me uncomforta-
BILE; remember, this is all your
fault"
What"
That's I'm here, alive and
whole, able to enjoy most
unique situation. Who are your"
"Shan't tell"
There fell a small pause.
Lounging, an elbow on the table,
a sigarette Tuning idly between
his fingers, the man favored her
with a steady look of specula-
ton.
But" the man said suddenly,
surely you won't dispute my
right toknow who makes free
with my own homer"
Your homer" she parroted
witlessly.
Mine, yes. II you can forgive
me-" He fumbled for his 'card-
case. ut has been amusing to
play the part you assigned me of
amateur craftsman, but really,
I'm afraid-it can't be done with
out a better make-up!"
He produced and placed before
her on the cloth small white
card, and as soon as it's neat black
script ceased to writhe beneath
her gaze she complehended the
name of Mr.. Walter Arden Saw
age, with residence address
identical with that of the house
wherein her great adventure had
begun.
"You!" she breather aghast,
you're not really Mr.. Savage?"
He smiled indulgently. II rath-
er think l am"
! But"
Il don't wonder you are sur
prised-or at your mistake. The
fact is, the circumstances are pc
culiar. It's my sisters fault,
really; she's such a flighty thing
-unpardonably careless. I must
have warned her a hundred times,
if once, never to leave valuables in
that silly old tin safe.
cts really a chapter of acct
dents to which I'm indebted for
this charming adventure" he
pursued, beginning with the
blowout of the taxicab tire that
made us five minutes late for this
evenings boat. We were bound
up the Sound, you understand, to
spend a fortnight with a maternal
aunt. And our luggage is we'll on
it's way there now. So when We
missed the boat there was nothing
for 1t but go by train. We TAXED
back here through that abomina-
BILE storm, booked for Boston by
the 11:10 and ducked across the
way to dine at the Biltmore. And
just as We were finishing dinner
this amiable sister of mine gave
a whoop and let it out that she'd
forgotten her jewels. Well, there
was plenty of time. I put her
aboard the train as soon as the
sleepers were open-10 O'Clock
you know-and trotted back home
to fetch the loot"
A reminiscent chuckled pune
tured his account, but struck no
echo from Sally. Moveless and
mute, the girl sat clutching the
edge Of the table.
II said there was plenty of
time, and so there was, barring
accidents. 1 manufactured the
first delay for myself, forgetting
to ask Adele for the combination.
l knew where to find it, in a little
book locked up in the desk; but /
hadn't a key to the desk, so felt
obliged to break it open, and man
aged that so famously l was be-
ginning to fancy myself bit as a
Raffles when, all of a sudden
Pow!" he laughed, that fat devil
landed on my devoted neck with
all the force and fury of two hun
dred weight of professional
jealousy!
"And then," he added, ''in you
walked from heaven knows
where"
His eyes affixed the point Of
Interrogation to the simple dec
laxative.
/ She hesitated, plunged in des-
peration. cts no use; there's
nothing for me to do but own up.
What you were not tonight, Mr..
Savage, was"
Sounds like a riddle to me.
What is the answer"
you were just make-believe.
was the real thing-a real thief.
I'm nobody. I'm Sarah Manvers.
I'm shop girl, out of work"
"Still l don't see"
"I'm coming to that. l live on
Your block-the Lexington ave.