The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-10-06

la chair at one of her windows
and cautiously peered through
the little panes in her shutters,
like the lens of camera, down
into the sunny green of Washing
ton square.
The nearest approach to an in
cident during this solitary period
came to pass on the third night
after Matilda's departure. On
that evening Mrs. De Peyster be-
came aware of a new voice in the
house, voice with a French
accent. Then suddenly she knew:
The man below was M. Dubois.
whom Olivetta, at her desire, had
with unwilling but obedient
freshness, sent about his bust
ness. She had known that Jack
had taken up with M. Dubois at
the time the artist was doing her
portrait; but she had not known
that Jack was so intimate as the
artists being admitted to Jacks
secret seemed to indicate.
And then something did hap
pen. On the fifth day after Ma
tilda's departure, Mrs. De Peyster
observed a sudden change in the
atmosphere of the house. Within
an hour, from being filled with
honeymoon hilarity, the house be-
came filled with gloom.
What did 1t mean? Days passed
the solemn gloom continued I'M
abated-and this question grew
an ever more puzzling mystery
to Mrs. Peyster. What could 1t
possibly, possibly mean?
Among the details that added to
the mystery's bulk was the sound
Of another new but familiar voice
the voice of the competent Miss
Gardner, her discharged secre-
tary. And Miss Gardeners tone
was that of a person who is ac-
quainted with the management of
an establishment and who is Civ
ing necessary orders.
And another detail was that
she became aware that Jack and
Mary no longer tried to keep
their presence in the house Sc
cret, but went openly forth into
the streets together. And Judge
Harvey every day came openly to
see them.
But the most bewildering, and
yet most clarifying, detail of all
was one she observed on the
.welfth day since Matilda's going.
On that afternoon she was
standing on a chair, entertaining
herself by gazing through one of
her shutters, when she saw Jack
crossing Washington square. He
was walking very soberly, and
about the left sleeve Of quiet
gray succer suit was band OF
Grape.
Mrs. De Peyster stepped down
from her chair. The mystery was
lifting. Somebody was dead! But
who? Who?
Early the next morning, while
the inmates of the house were oci
cupied in the serving or the eat
ing of breakfast, Mrs. De Peyster
was startled by soft knocking at
her door.
Its me, ma'am-Matilda. Let
me in-quick!"
The next instant the door open
ed and Matilda half staggered,
half fell into the room.
What is it," cried Mrs. De
Peyster. seizing her housekeeper's
arm.
"Oh, ma-ma-ma'a am" chat
tered Matilda. "It's-it's awful"
Mrs. De Peyster shook the
shaking Matilda.
will you please tell me what's
happened7"
Yes, mana am. Here's a
copy of the first paper that has
anything about it. The papers
over a week old. l brought it
along Toto break the thing to
you gently"
Mrs. De Peyster seized the
newspaper. In the center of its
first pags was reproduction of
M. Dubois painting of herself,
and across the papers top ran the
giant headline:
MRS. DE PEYSTER FOUND
DEAD IN THE SEINE
Face Disfigured by Water, but
Friends in Paris Identify So
cial Leader by Clothes Upon the
Body.
Mrs. De Peyster sank into a
chair. $3.50 it's that's
that's dead!" she mumbled.
Eyes, ma'am. And Mr.. Jack
since you died without a will, Is
your heir. And, since he is now
the head of Dhe De Peyster fam.
lily. the first thing he did on hear.
ing the news was to arrange by
cable to have your body sem
here"
Mrs. De Peyster, as though gal
vanized, half rose from her chair
"You mean - my body - II
coming here?"