The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-22
A NOVEL A WEEK.
Next Week
"BEYOND THE FRONTIER"
RANDALL PARRISH

| AhC ouuSSicrs
Elise, wake up"
Gabrielle stood beside my bed.
What's the matter?" I de-
manded, sitting Indignantly up
right. I'D only just gone to
sleep"
"Hush--don't make a noise.
There is some one in the house. +"
"What?" l was wide enough
awake now.
"At least, we think so.
heard noise and walked
Elizabeth, and we both listened.
IT was in the dining room, and
oh, Elise"
Lady Edith's pearls!" fin
ished in an awed whisper. adding
as an afterthought: Where is
lizabeth?"
Gone to wake Mary Anne. Do
get up and put on your wrapper;
we might as well be prepared. I"
| / have since asked Gabrielle If
she thought 1t unconventional to
receive burglars in a robe de
mutt; at that time, however,
did not question the motive of
her command. but reached obedi-
emily for my slippers, and was
enveloped in my pink kimono
when Elizabeth appeared in her
blue one.
"She wasn't there" Elizabeth
said in a frightened whisper;
her bed had not been touched,
and-oh, I'm afraid"
We all were, for that matter,
and huddled close together, list
ening intently. But as the slow
moments passed and nothing hap
pened, we grew gradually calmer,
and even ventured to creep noise
lessly into the hall and lean over
the banisters.
Would you be afraid to go
downstairs?" suggested Gabrielle.
always the most valiant. ut
seems all right"
We were afraid, and said SO
emphatically.
OF course" said Elizabeth,
after another period of silence,
I'VE might have been mistaken
about the noise. But, then,
there's Mary Anne-what of
herr"
Gabrielle sat flat upon the
floor, mingled relief and dismay
in her face.
That's just it," she exclaimed.
1T was Mary Anne"
What do you mean?"
The noise-it was Mary Anne.
Don't you see? She had been de-
ceiving us about her son; he is
still hanging about somewhere.
and she goes out at night and
meets him, so 1t is no wonder she
was not in her ROOM"
why, or course"-Elizabeth
accepted the theory without ques-
ton.
Gabrielle snuffed the wick of
her candle and rose to the occa-
sion.
Now. I'll tell you our best
plan,' she said decidedly. well
go downstairs and see IL she has
left a door open (as, of course.
she must), and then we will lock
1t and wait until we hear her
coming, then"
WELL" l inquired, as she
paused irresolutely, what then? ?"
! Why, then we'll confront
her."
Gabrielle spoke firmly. "Let us
go right down." she continued
before she has chance to come
in. Both of you get candles and
come on"
l got my candle In puzzled ST.
lence. Gabrielle's explanation
was very probable, but I had a
mental vision Of the figures at
the door of the boat-house, and
my heart sank within me.
Get your watch" advised Ga.
brielle, "and your pins and things
I've got all mine in this chamois
bag. except the gold Beads; they
wouldn't go in, so I'll just carry
them. I'm not afraid, but |
would rather have my things with
me, somehow"
| collected my small store oil
valuables and we formed a pro.
cession of three and ventured
downstairs.
In the kitchen we found the
cellar door open, and debated
whether we should lock 1t and
thus prevent Mary Anne's return
or wait and greet her in disap
proving array.
i Let us listen" suggested Ga
brielle, and sat down upon tn,
top step to carry out her sugges
ton.
i Then occurred the accident
She held her gold beads in hel
hand, and somehow managed t.
break the catch and away they
went. We could hear them roll
ing down into the cellar step b,
step, and Gabrielle was at frs
motionless with surprise, then, a,
usual, prepared for immediat,
. action.
I'm going after them" she an
nounced, literally rising to tn,
! occasion.
/. Down there?" shuddered Eliz
abeth. "Oh, no! What till morn
: ing"
), II spent every cent of Cousin
: Lucy's check on those beads.
said Gabrielle, folding her kimo
no about her and preparing t,
descend, land I'm going to picl
them up right away. Wait til
morning, indeed! You might sup
pose they we're pebbles"
i We sighed apprehensively. bu
followed our intrepid friend dowr
the steps, holding our candle
we'll before us.
/. Those miserable beads ha,
rolled to the most remote places
of course. and we got SO inter
} ested in looking for them we al
! most forgot to be afraid.
Suddenly, however, Elizabeth
} gave a stifled scream.
ftfTharA Ia