The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-05-26

Il
But before Bob could get 1
word with Miss Gerald, who wa,
surrounded by admirers, as usual
Dolly was again at his side.
Ibid you get rid of it?" hi
asked hurriedly.
II did not" she gasped. "That
mean old monocle-man wouldn't
let me. When l went up stairs
he followed. There he is now
See how he's watching us. Oh
what shall / do, if they find mt
with it?"
Give 1t to me-" said Bob.
mo, l won't"
But do you realize what II
means IL they find it on your" he
asked in alarm and reached fol
her hand.
"Aw!-fortune telling?" SAID
voice.
Yes; he was just going to read
my PALM answered Miss Dolly
promptly.
"Perhaps-aw!-I could read
it, suggested the monocle-man
looking at the closed fingers. 81
nave some-aw!-skill that way
Perhaps, Miss Dolly-aw!--you
would permit me to look at your
heart liner"
Il just won't" said Miss Dolly
with flashing eyes.
She looked around like a bird
in a snare; the Zimmerman was
not far away and impulsively she
flew over to him.
Was this our dance? I'm SO
forgetful!"
1T wasn't, but it is" he re-
turned with a smile. Obviously
ne was flattered. Heretofore Miss
Dolly had not acted particularly
prepossessed by the hammer.
thrower.
Miss Dolly's eyes were at once
frightened and strange when she
fiuttered again to Bobs side.
Oh, I've done the most awful
thing" she confided quite breath.
lessly to him. Il slipped it into
his waistcoat pocket"
whose? The hammer-throw.
err? No? BY jove,-"
Il did it when | tripped And
| tripped purposely. And isn't /,
awful? Poor man! He's such q
good-good. You don't mind, dc
your" Anxiously.
| oh, l mind a heap" said Boil
Jovially. "Ho! ho!"
But the laughter faded sudden.
ly from Bob's lips. At that mo.
ment the hammer-thrower CHANGED
to put his fingers in his waist
coat pocket. Then he gave 9
slight start and glanced toward
the temperamental little thing;
his brow was lowering, and he ap.
peared to mediate. Just ther
from across the room, Bob saw
the monocle-man approaching the
hammer-thrower.
The latter cast a swift look TO.
ward him of the monocle. It was
the look Of a man who for the
first time, perhaps, fully realizes
or begins to realize, certain un.
expected forces arrayed against
him. Suddenly he seemed to make
up his mind what to do. He
stepped toward Miss Gerald now
his face wearing its most reliable
expression.
Miss Gerald" he said, may
speak with you privately?"
She complied with his request
and they withdrew from the hear.
ing Of others.
Miss Gerald" he began abrupt.
ly. have you lost a ring?'
She gazed at him in surprise.
81 have"
rs this it? I believe recog.
nize 1t as one you have worn"
1T is. But how" She
paused.
did I come by it? A certain
young lady l danced with JUS
now placed 1t in my waistcoat
pocket"
The hammer-thrower held him
self squarely with a poise that ex.
pressed rectitude.
"Of course l am aware that II
is a serious ch1rge to make,
went on the hammer-thrower
"but what was l to do? l never
was put in a more painful posi-
ton"
Painful, indeed" replied Mis-,
Gerald alphabetically. 90
course it was a joke"
II am glad you take that view
of It," he replied. Things have
been disappearing in so many
country houses, that it wouldn't
have been joke for me If
hadn't fortunately discovered it al
l did. Under the circumstances
| don't really appreciate Miss Dol.
ly's jokes"
But mightn't 1t have been
someone else?" suggested Gwen.
doline.
81 danced only with you and
Miss Dolly"
well, naturally, it wouldn't be
l." said Gwendoline with a smile
There's Dolly now talking with