The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-10-05

Paris Herald, or some other Euro
pean paper. You do not wish your
mother to know Of your marriage
yet"
i At that moment, from the stair
! ing steps. Jack and Mary appear
ed undisturbed. Mr.. Pyecroft be-
came taut. Mrs. De Peyster quiv-
, cred.
i Matilda gazed wildly at Jack.
who's that" she quavered.
u "Only Uncle Bob" Jack an
swered carelessly.
Only Uncle Bob! Mrs. De Pey-
! ster, in her dim corner, tried to
J shrivel up into her darker OBJ
: security. Judge Harvey of all per-
sons-to be the one to discover
| her amid her humiliating circum-
stances! .----..#
Dimly she heard Jack explain
, ing in casual tone: you know,
: Matilda, Uncle Bob has always
had the general oversight of the
house when It's been closed during
summers; and he's always made
it his business to drop In occa-
: sionally to see that everything s
, all right. l got him word we
: were here, and he dropped in this
evening to call on us-and along
came this awful rain and we
, coaxed him to stay the night"
When Judge Harvey entered,
/ Mr.. Pyecroft started. But the next
moment Mr.. Pyecroft was him
self. Jack gave the necessary in
I Productions.
Excuse me, Mr.. Simpson"
Judge Harvey remarked present
ly, but your face seems elusive
, ly familiar to me. Haven't l met
you somewhere"
Perhaps you were a lay dele
gate to the recent Episcopal con-
. vention in New York;" politely
suggested Mr.. Pyecroft.
, mo. l did not even attend any
of the sessions"
Then, of course, it could not
: have been there that you saw
, me-" said Mr.. Pyecroft.
: Mrs. De Peyster, for all her
: personal apprehension, could but
, marvel at this young man of the
sea who had fastened himself
upon her back. Most amazing of
all he seemed to like the taste of
his danger
Judge Harvey, Mr.. De Peyster
was remarking, when you came
in," Mr.. Pyecroft continued with
out permitting a lull, that he
wished his presence in this house
to remain unknown. Also | had
just told him that my earlier
years were given over to a life
for which | have been trying to
atone. Now | have a very hui
initiating further confession to
make to you all. Recently, for a
disastrous moment, the Mr.. Hyde
element in me, which l thought
had stifled and cast out, arose
and possessed me. In brief,
have been guilty Of an error
which the police consider serious.
So You see, | am in the same sit
uation as Mr.. De Peyster: l pre-
fer my whereabouts to remain
unknown. Since we are in each
others hands, and it is in our
power to betray the other. shall
we not all agree to preserve Mr..
De Peyster's and my presence in
this house a secret? For my part,
l promise"
"I'm willing" said Jack.
L
! never get a chance to tell, for |
haven't been out of this house
once"
And you, Judge Harvey? You
will-ah-protect me?"
| Judge Harvey bit the end of his
mustache. Il don't like this bar
gaining over a matter of justice.
But-for Jacks sake, yes"
Thank you, Judge Harvey"
Mr.. Pyecroft said in soft, CRATE
full voice, and with a slight, dig
nified bow.
Mrs. De Peyster drew a deep
breath. He certainly was a cool
one.
There's something that's just
been occurring to me-" spoke up
Jack. "It's along of that internal
reporter Mayfair who's shopping
around here. He's likely to get
in here any time. II he were to
find me here alone, there'd be
nothing for him to write about.
It's finding me here, married, that
will give him one of his yellow
stories, and that will put mother
next. Matilda, since you already
have so large family visiting
you, suppose you wouldn't mind
taking on one more and saying
that Mary here was something or
other of yours-say a niece?"
"Oh, that would be delicious"
laughed Mary.
why, Mr.. jack! /" The
flustered Matilda could get out
no more.
"Mr. Simpson, couldn't you say
she was your daughter" queried
Jack.
II would be only too delighted
to own her as, SUCH" said Mr.. Pye-
croft. But I am obviously too
young. er,"-moving closer
to Mrs. De Peyster-'our sister
Angelica is married, and | am
sure 1t will be a great pleasure
to her to claim Mrs. DIV Peyster
as her daughter. Angelica, my
dear, of course you'll do it,"
j Mrs. De Peyster sat rigid,