The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-21

sou do wv
IL paid seven hundred dollars
duty" his spouse declared.
please tell me-" Michael in
quired anxiously, what mental
revolution converted you from the
idea that smuggling was legit-
innate and noble sport?"
Alice waved jeweled white
hand toward Steven DENLY.
Behold my refOrmer!"
Ethel Cartwright looked at him
quickly. "Mr. Denby!" she asked,
almost suspiciously.
What has Mr.. DENLY to dc
with it," Nora cried, equally
surprised that it was his infu-
ence which had stayed the wilful
Alice.
HE frightened me-" Alice
averred. i 81
Pm afraid Mrs. Harrington is
exaggerating," DENLY explained
patiently; Il merely pointed out
that things had come to pass
where 1t might be very awkward
to fool with the customs.r
But you said a whole lot more
than that" Mrs. Harrington re-
minded him. you spoke about
that man of mystery who is
known as R. j." sGl :
Ethel asked rather eagerly,
But this R. j., Mr.. DENLY q what
is he?" I
I've heard of him y Micfleel
answered. But II you want Ito
know my opinion, Ethel, r. j. is
the DOGGY man of the customs. If
they suspect an inspector he re-
ceives a postal signed r. j., and
telling him to watch out. It's a
great scheme, which | recommend
to the heads of big business cor
porations. l don't believe in R..
j."
Ethel looked up at DENLY. "But
you really believe in him, don't
your"
Il only know" he told her,
that X. j. does exist, for all Mr.
Harrington's unbelief. He's sup
posed to be one of these impossi-
BILE secret service agents, travel
Ing incognito all over the globe.
Where there is intrigue among
nations, diplomatic tangles, II the
Japs steal fertilization plan, or
a German cross-country aero
plane is sent to drop a bomb on
the Singer building, r. J. is sup
posed to be there to catch It,"
Think of man deliberately
choosing a Job like that" Monty
commented.
So" DENLY continued, when
friend OF mine in Paris told me
that r. J. had been requested by
the government to investigate
customs frauds, knew there
would be more danger in the
smuggling game than ever.
warned Mrs. Harrington because
| did not want to see her humil-
lated by exposure"
Miss Cartwright had been
watching DENLY closely. Her man.
ner was almost coquettish as she
asked him:
Tell me truly, Mr.. DENLY,
didn't You smuggle something,
just one tiny little scarf-pin, for
example?"
Nothing" he returned.
That's always the way" Nora
complained. Every time / meet
a man who seems exciting he
turns out to be just a nice man
| hate nice men," She crossed
over to the agitated Monty.
"Mr. DENLY is great disap-
pointment to me, too" Ethel
Cartwright confessed. "CouldYi't
you invent new way to smug-
gle?"
1T wasn't for lack of invPntive
powers he assured her, N was
just respect for the law"
Il didn't know we had any left
in America" Michael observed.
Mr.. DENLY must be rewarded
with a cigarette" Ethel declared,
bringing the silver box from the
mantel and offering him one. "a
cigarette, Mr.. Denby?"
Thanks. no." he answered, "I
prefer to roll my own If you. don't
mind" AT y
1t seemed that the operation of
rolling a cigarette was amazingly
Interesting to the girl. Her eager
eyes fastened themselves intently
on a worn pigskin pouch he car
ried.
Lets have some BRIDGE" Mrs.
Harrington suggested. Ethel,
what do you say?"
I've given 1t up" she answer
ed.
why you used to love IT," Nora
asserted. surprised.
i've come to think all playing
for money is horrible" Ethel re-
turned, thinking to what trouble
Amy's gambling had brought her.
SThen there's nothing else to