The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-12-11

came down to meet II. Somewhere
beyond was a house, she knew
a house that contained Mr.. and
Mrs. Witherbee, Miss Gertrude
Witherbee and various other per-
sons who constituted a Witherbee
house-party.
There was a gravel path, begin
ming where the wharf met the
shore, and Miss Chalmers follow
ed it. In not more than two min
utes It guided her to the edge of a
lawn. Beyond this she could see
the house.
Miss Chalmers made a circuit of
the Witherbee dwelling. Not ray
of light filtered out of it from any
side. She returned to the front
f, door and raped. Then she seated
herself in porch-chair and
frowned.
81 absolutely will not shout"
she told herself. 81 am sufficient
ly absurd as it is. l will not be
laughed att"
II there was one thing Rosalind
Chalmers would not for an instant
endure 1t was mirth of her own
unintentional provoking.
In the first place, she was too
dignified. In the second place, she
was too handsome. In the third
place, she was too old-twenty-
five. In the fourth place, she was
too rich. In the fifth place
81 will get into that house
somehow, find myself couch
downstairs, and get my Sleep" she
decided.
She walked briskly to the near
est window. She could not move
the sash.
A third window assembled alb
ruptly and with clatter. And
then
A great bell changed!
"A burglar-alarmi she cried.
For five seconds she hesitated.
From somewhere above she heard
q medley of sleepy voices. She
turned and ran.
Around the corner of the porch
she fled. From its resting place at
the front door she scooped up her
satchel. Down the steps to the
lawn she leaped recklessly and
then across the space of level
sward.
At the edge of the trees she
paused and looked back. Lights
were moving in the windows of
Wttherbee house
Just why Miss Chalmers ran
away from the haven Of refuge
she had been so long in reaching,
she could not clearly have ex-
planned.
Presently she felt the gravel un-
der her feet and followed the trail
until 1t brought her back to the
wharf, where her trunks crouched
like black monsters in the faint
light of the lantern. Here she
paused to recover breath while
she listened.
The moving lanterns among the
trees seemed to be coming nearer.
Men were calling to each other.
She could hear footsteps on the
gravel path. Miss Chalmers slip
ped around the corner of the boat
house and flattened herself close
against it.
A moment later there was a
shuffling of feet on the wharf,
then an exclamation of surprise in
10 mans voice. Her curiosity urged
her to risk a peep.
What Miss Chalmers saw shock
ed her. Three men in pajamas,
each carrying lantern, were
standing upon the wharf. Their
feet were shod in bedroom slip
pers. Two of Thorn carried walk
ing sticks gripped tightly at the
wrong end, evidently intended to
perform service as clubs. The
third had a revolver.
One of the men she recognized;
1t was Mr.. Witherbee. One of the
men was tall and blond, with a
dropping mustache. His pajamas
were far too short in the legs and
his bare ankles were inelegant.
The other man had his back to-
ward her. She thought he might
be Tom Witherbee.
The three men were gravely re-
garding the six trunks.
These are Miss Chalmers
trunks" declared Mr.. Witherbee,
in a voice Of wonder. How the
deuce did her trunks get hsre?"
Must have sent them on
ahead" observed the tall one.
but who brought EN-? When?
The boat didn't stop here tonight"
Mr.. Witherbee pondered the
trunks again.
i've got a theory" he said
presently. There's prowler
about these islands-you know
that, of course.
well, Miss Chalmers sends her
trunks on In advance. Some boat
brings 'em down, probably after
we're all in bed.
"This chap cruises around and
spots the trunks. Then he comes
ashore. He finds the house dark.
He makes up his mind that every
body has gone away and that the
trunks are waiting to be taken