The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-19
BY ELLA MIDDLETON TYBOUT
Copyright, 1907
j. Ii. Lippincott Go.


CONTINUED from Our Last Issue.
Mary Anne proceeded to tell
us, with much circimulocutior
and attention to detail, that the
previous summer a famous band
of smugglers had carried on sue.
cessful operations under the very
noses of our customs officials 10.
Gated in the little town Just across
the water.
She added that a police boat
had recently been assigned to the
station and that a large reward
had been offered for the capture
of the chief offender.
But law!" finished Mary Anne
exultantly. mo common man q
is, they say, but msyhap one Of
these ere islanders wot comes fur
the summer. with their steam
yachts and their fine clo'es. viii
you be havin' clear soup ag'in to-
night, miss?"
AS you please, Mary Anne
Eliza beth spoke absently, and
Joined us in the living room with
an air OF suppressed excitement
DO you think it's possibIe?"
she inquired, laying Mr.. Gordon
Benefits card ON the table as
though fearing 1t might explode.
mo, l DON'T" said Gabrielle
blunty. cts Just servants Cos
sip. Don't think about 1t any
more" -
OF course, after that we talked
of nothing else, and when Lord
Wilfrid and Lady Edith came up
that evening we told them all
about it, beginning with our ex-
perience on the steamer. Lord
Wilfrid disposed of the steamer
episode In one succinct word:
Drunk" he said, with shrug
OF his shoulders, and really II
seemed not improbable, now that
1t was suggested to us.
Lord Wilfrid appeared in a new
light that evening, he was 81 talk
alive and agreeable; he also cor
roborated Mary Anne's Il story
about the smugglers, and gave us
good deal of information on the
subject.
The village was quite excited,
he said, and the fishermen who
hired sailboats could talk of moth
ing else. He, by the way, had
hired a boat by the week, he told
Gabrielle, and was ready to take
us out at any time. ,r
1--WE have a boathouse, but no
boat" remarked Gabrielle, land
we can't get inside 1t because
Mary Anne's brother inconsider-
ately lost the key"
Perhaps one Of mine win at"
suggested Lord Wilfrid, pfodudng
his key ring. LET us try and
see."
So we all went down to the
little boathouse beneath the bluff
and waited on the slip while he
tried the various keys with no
success.
1--WE are right under the cot
tage," said Elizabeth, land yet
one can hardly see 1t. | don't be-
lieve l like it down here-it is Sc
dark and creepy"
Suddenly, however, a beam Of
light illuminated the little dock
SO dazzling in its brilliancy thai
we were completely blinded ant
stood blinking helplessly.
| TITS searchlight," l said, with
great originality, and added by
way of encouragement: ct will
be gone in an instant"
But 1t wasn't. l don't know
how long we stood motfonless In
the white light, but it seemed ar
eternity to me. 1t was most un.
pleasant; but so also was the in
tense darkness into which We
were plunged by the unexpected
removal of the light, and with
one accord we made for the stepi
leading back to the cottage.
We went inside, and grew quite
cheerful and happy again, while
Lord Wilfrid told us about biz
game hunting in Africa. But II
seemed to me Lady Edith wal
tired tonight, for she was palel
than usual. When at last they
rose to go, Lady Edith laid hei
slender white hand on mine, and
slipped her other arm around
Elizabeth's waist.
II hope you will pardon me.
she said gently, 81 do not mean to
be officious, and of course al
home we looked at such things
differently"
She paused as though she found
expression difficult. and then con-
tinued with some hesitation:
But you are Just three girls
living here alone. and I've been
thinking about what you told us
tonight, and 1t has made me a
little uncomfortable. 1t is SO easy
to be imposed upon that were ]
in your place would be very eau
tious about admitting promiscu-
Gus young men. Now. please
don't misunderstood me, will
your"
She looked anxiously into our
eyes as she spoke, and as we in
voluntarily smiled In response she
kissed us and Joined her brother
without another word.
IL was her first advance beyond
the ordinary courtesies of mere
acquaintanceship, and we were
gratified as we'll as surprised, for
with all her grace and manner
she had an air of reserve diff
cult to penetrate.
Her words carried weight, too.
for when Mr.. Gordon Bennett re-