The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-16
|s'AN.OUTSIDER''
% FRANK "ey by o CAROLYN WELLS
Continued from our last issue. }

Continued from our last issue.)
Within the span of an exceed
ingly bad quarter of an hour for
Sally, the cat was completely out
of the bag. Sally was out of
breath and In tears Of penitence
and despair; Mrs. Gosnold was
out of her chair, thoughtfully pac-
ing to and fro.
Mrs. Gosnold paused In front
of Sally, dropped one hand kindly
on the girls shoulder, with the
other lifted her chin, exploring
her tear-wet eyes with a gaze at
once charitable and discriminat-
ing.
| I've taken a fancy to you, If
you are a bit of an idiot. And |
believe implicitly every word
you've uttered. Perhaps
oughtn't to, and probably
wouldn't. If your account of your
self didn't chime so exactly with
what | know about my dutiful
niece and nephew"
! DO you mean I'm to stay?"
Sally gasped incredulousiy.
| Most assuredly, | mean you're
to stay. Why not? And-attend
to mcguire not to give Adele
l-or Walter, either, when he gets
here, any reason to suspect you've
confided in me. There's an ex-
plosion coming. Meantime, don't
let anybody brighten you; no mat
ter how serious matters may seem
or be represented to you, rely i'm
plicitly on me. And whatever is
said to you that seems of any
consequence-or If you should
see anything-find some way to
report quickly to me. Now, please,
get about my errands. And when
you come back, tell Thomas to
let me know. If / need you dur
ing the day I'll send for YOU"
AS 1t happened, she didn't send
for Sally before nightfall; but
she kept her busy with commits
sions delivered by word of mouth
$50 busy, perhaps CONSIDERABLY,
that the girl found little time to
waste in futile fretting.
Il ~
A knock on the door announc-
ed the arrival of her costume by
the hands of Mrs. Gosnold's per-
sonal maid. zF2r -
"And Mrs. Gosnold says please
will you come to her boudoir,
miss, directly you're dressed?"
| Moderate disappointment wait
ed upon recognition of the char
acter of her assigned disguise.
Sally had had visions of some
Thing almost barbaric in it's rich
ness. Consequently the modest
garb of a Quaker Maids seemed
something of a comedown. But
her disappointment was fugitive.
After all, the dress was of ex-
quisite quality and finish, and 1t
became her wondrous well. She
took from the room the memory
of very fetching figure.
With the addition of the mask
(which she wore to pass through
the corridor in memory OF Mrs.
Gosnold's injunction) the effect
was quite positively fascinating.
And that mask proved OF be far
from superfluous, for when she
followed her knock into the
boudoir of her mistress she was
thunderstruck to find nearly two
dozen people there. They were
all in costume and, with the sim
gle exception OF Mrs. Gosnold, all
masked.
This last was very brilliant in
the billowy silken skirts, puffed
sleeves and wide ruff of Queen
Elizabeth.
Presently Mrs. Gosnold's maid,
Marie, appeared in the doorway
to the bedroom, holding in her
hand a number of envelopes, and
at a nod from her mistress began
presenting one envelope to each
guest.
81 owe every one an apology"
Mrs. .Gosnold began with a pla-
eating smile, "for all this incon-
venience and nonsense-as' 1t
must seem. But I'm sure you
will bear with me when you know
the circumstances.
1--WE are now" she pursued,
with a swift glance that embrac-
ed the room, lust 23, including
myself; that is to say, everybody
who slept here last night. And
your masks are a sure screen for
any betrayal of emotion when !
tell you why l have asked you to
oblige me by meeting here. So
please retain them, whatever
happens"
She paused, made a little gest-
ure of depreciation.
Zone of u.s." she announced de-
liberately, lis a thief. These
rooms were entered some time
last night while l was asleep, and
all my personal jewelry was
| stolen. -.
81 discovered my loss promptly
after waking up this morning. I
said nothing, but after setting in
motion the machinery for TO-
nights amusement, devoted the
day to a quiet investigation, as a
result of which l am convinced
that the thief is now In this
room. l do not, however, wish
to know his or her identity. And
| am especially anxious to avoid
| 81 H. ah 10