The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-05-23
CONTINUED from oar last issue.)

OAAh Aes6t Aoss%SsF
well, I'll lend a hand to a
poor, poverty-stricken wretch"
said Miss Gerald, indulgently en-
4, tering into the humor OF the stu
alton.
! What do you mean?" With
new misgivings.
| Put them" - indicating the
grip and the sticks-'in the
trap" she commanded.
Bob did. He couldn't do any
thing else. And then he assisted
her in.
Thanks for timely help!" he
said more blithely. as he saw heI
/ slip on her gloves and begin to
gather up the reins with those
firm. capable fingers. And now
-" He started as IL to go.
"Oh, you can get In, too" Why
shouldn't he? There was room
for two.
! II" Bob hesitated. A long
long drive-unbounded opportun'
ity for chats, confidences!-and
all at the beginning Of his so
journ here? Dads words-that
horrid advice-burned on his
brain like fire. He tried to think
of some excuse for not getting in
i well, why don't you get IMP
Miss Gerald spoke more sharply.
Don't you want tor"
Tho 40 Itlyn fhsx N
derclap, though Miss Gwendo-
lines voice was honey-sweet. Bob
raised tragic head. That mon.
ster, Truth!
No." he said.
An instant Miss Gwendoline
looked at him, the violet eyes in.
credulous, amused. Then they
became hard like diamonds.
How charmingly frank" she
said. Then she drew up the rein:
and trailed the tip of the whiI
caressingly along the back of hel
spirited cob. 1t spring forward.
At the top of the hill, instead
of following the winding road
Bob started leisurey across the
rolling green toward the bis
house whose roof could be dis
cerned in the distance above the
trees.
At the edge of some bushes hi
came upon lady-no less a per.
sonage than the better-half OF
the commodore himself.
She was fair, fat and forty, OF
little more. She was foolinf
with a white ball. She was JUS
about to hit the little ball wher
Bob stepped up from behind the
Dishes.
"Oh, Mr.. Bennett" He hat
obviously startled her.
THE same" said Bob gloom,
lily. -
Just get here?" she asked.
Yes. Anything doing?"
Not much. It's been, in fact
rather slow. Mrs. Ralston says
so herself. So | am at liberty t
make the same remark"
This didn't require an answer
A white ball went by them, and
pretty soon another lady and &
daddy doomed on their range Of
vision.
isn't that Mrs. Clearance Var
Duzen?" asked Bob.
Eyes. She, too, poor dear, ha.
had to desert hubby. Exactions
of business! Clarence simply
couldn't get away. And poor
dear old Dan! So busy! Every
day at the office! So pressed
with business.
quite So" said Bob absently
Il mean" He stopped. He
knew Dan wasn't pressed by bust
ness, and Bob couldn't utter ever
the suspicion of an untruth now
Didn't exactly mean that" HI
mumbled.
The lady regarded him quick
ly. You didn't happen to see
Dam" she asked.
Il Yes"
AT his office, I suppose Oar
had written he hadn't even hat
time for his club; that it hat
been just work-work all the
time.
No"
Where, them"
AT the club and some Other
places" Reluctantly.
"Other places?" lightly. "Hov
dreadfully ambiguous. Wha
other places?"
Bob began to get uneasy
We'll, we went to a cabaret OF
two" No especial harm abou
that answer.
And then you went to still
some other places?" went on the
lady in that same light tone.
"Ye-es," Bob had to admit.
Zone of those roof gardens
perhaps, where they have enter.
tainments?" she suggested
brightly.
Bob acknowledged they had
gone to roof garden.
so you went to the roof gar
den-just you and Dan," purred
Mrs. Dan.
Bob didn't answer. He hoped
she hadn't really put that as a