The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-02-24
CONTINUED from our last issue)
CHATTER VII
At Last A Rose Garden


stood Wallis, who had been lying
In wait.
IL wanted to explain, madam,
about the plans" he said. 1T wor-
ries Mr.. Allan. You see, madam,
the late Mrs. Harrington was a
great one for plans. She had, IL
may say so, new one every day,
and she'd argue you deaf, dunno
aud blind-not to speak iii of the
dead-till you were fair beat out
fighting 1t. Then you'd settle
down to it--and next day there'd
be another one, with Mrs. Har-
rington roofing for 1t just as
hard, and you, with your mouth
fixed for the other plan so to
speak, would have to give in to
that"
Wallis carefully impersonal
servant-English had slipped from
him. and he was talking to Phyl-
lis as man to man, but she was
very glad of it. These-were the
sort OF facts she had to elicit.
when Mr.. Allan was WE'LL" he
went on, The used to just laugh
and say, All right, mother darl-
Ing, and pet her and do his own
wayne was always laughing and
carrying on then, Mr.. Allan =
but after he was hurt, of course,
he couldn't get away, and the old
madam, she'd sit by his couch by
the hour, and he nearly wild, max
Ing plans for him. She'd spend
weeks planning details OF things
over and over, never getting tired.
And then off again to the next
thing! IL was all because she
was so fond of him, you see. But
IL you'll pardon my saying so,
madam Wallis was resuming
his man-servant manners-''it
was not always good for Mr.. AL
IAN"
II think / understand" said
Phyllis thoughtfully. So that was
why! She herself was doubtless
the outcome Of one of Mrs. Har-
rington's long-detailed plans. in
sisted onto Allan till he had &C
guessed for quiets sake!
But he said now he didn't
mind. She was somehow sure he
wouldn't have said 1t IL 1t had not
been true.
Il was Phyllis Harrington s
firm belief that Mr.. De Guenther
could produce anything anybody
wanted at any time, or that IL he
couldn't his wife could. So II
was to him that she went on her
quest for the rose garden, with its
Incidental house. 1t was nearly
the last of April, and she wanted
well heated elderly mansion,
preferably Colonial, not too I'M
wieldily large, with as many rose
trees around II as possible. And
she wanted II as near and as soon
as possible. By the help of Mr..
De Guenther, amused but effic-
TENT. Mrs. De Guenther efficient
but sentimental, and an agent
who was efficient merely, she got
very nearly what she wanted.
Allan Harrington lay In his at
titude on his couch in the dark
ened day room, his tired, clear
cut face a little thrown back, eyes
half closed.
Phyllis gay, sweetly carrying
voice rang from outside the door.
THE 1890, then, Wallis, and
| feel as IL we're going to steal
Charlie Ross! Well"
On the last word she broke off
and pushed the sitting room door
softly open and slid in. She cross
cd straight to the couch, looked
around for the chair that should
have been by II but wasn't, and
sat absently down on the floor.
"Allan!" she said.
No answer.
ALLAN Harrington"
Still none. Allan was hall
asleep. or what did instead, in one
Of his distracted moods.
ALLAN Harrington"
This time she reached up and
pulled at his heavy silk sleeve as
she spoke.
Yes said Allan courteously
as II from an infinite distance.
Would you mind" asked Phyl-
Lis guilelessly. IL Wallis-we--
moved you--a little? l can tell
you all about everything, unless
you'd rather not have the full de-
tails OF the plan
Anything" said Allan wear
fly. "only don't bother me about
ftl'
Phyllis jumped to her feet. a
whirl Of gay blue skirts and
cheerfully tossing blue feathers.
Good by. dear Crusader!" she
said with catch in her voice
that might have been either q
laugh or q sob. THE next time
you see me you'll probably hate
me! Walis!"
Wallis appeared like the Slave
of the Lamb. TITS all right. Wal
1is.v she said. and ran. Wallis
\ proceeded thereupon to wheel hts
!. m4ster's couch into the bedroom.
III you're going to be moved