The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-22

/ somewhere in Boston, and had all
along conceived of her as miss
of 16 or thereabouts.
| No wonder that at first he look
ed at the stylishly gowned young
woman, who stood before him with
one gloved hand extended, in a
puzzled, uncomprehending way.
Excuse me, ma'am," he said
slowly, mechanically swallowing
up the proffered hand in his own
mammoth fist. "but don't knows
| Jest caught the name. Would you
mind sayin' 1t ag'in?"
Elizabeth Preston" repeated
the visitor. Captain Bakers
granddaughter. You wrote me that
he was i'll, you know, and +"
What" roared the Captain, de-
lighted amazement lighting up his
face like a sunrise. you don't
mean to tell me you're Elizabeth
Baxter's gal Elsie! Well! Well! !
i want to know! II this don't beat It
all! Set down! Take you things
right off. I'm mighty glad to see
you"
Captain Eri's hand, with Miss
Preston's hidden in 1t, was NOV
ing up and down as II it worked
by a clock-work arrangement. The
young lady withdrew her fingers
from the trap as soon as she con-
veniently could, but 1t might have
been noticed that she glanced al
them when she had done SO, as II
to make sure that the original
shape remained.
Thank you, Captain Hedge
she said. "And now, please tell me
about grandfather. How is he?
May I see him?"
i The Captains expression chang.
ed to one of concern.
"Why, now, Miss Preston" he
said. "your grandpa is pretty sick
Oh, l don't mean he's goin' to die
right off or anything like that
he added hastily. II mean he's had
q stroke.of palsy, OF somethin'. and
he amt got so yit that he senses
much OF what goes on"
81 knew he must be very Ill
: from your letter." said the cir
simply. "They told me at the sta
ton that he was at your house anG
SO I came. He has been very goot
to me and +"
Her voice broke a little and she
hesitated. Captain Err was a pic
ture of nervous distress.
Eyes, yes, I knew" he sait
: hastily. Don't you worry now
He's better; the Doctor said HI
was consid'r ably better today
didn't he, Mr.. Hazeltine? Why
what am l thinkin' of? Let m,
make you known to Mr.. Hazel
: tine"
Ralph and Miss Preston SHOOT
hands. The electrician managed Il
, utter some sort of formality. blu
3 he couldn't have told what 1t was
He was glad when the Captain an
nounced that, II Mr.. Hazeltin
would excuse them, he guesse,
Miss Preston and he would ste
upstairs and see John.
"I'll be down in a few minutes
Mr.. Hazeltine," said the Captain
"Set still, won't your"
But Mr.. Hazeltine wouldn't 81
still. He announced that it wa
late and he must be going. And g
he did. in spite of his hosts pro
testations.
Look out for the stairs" eau
toned the Captain, leading tn
way with the lamp. At the ope
door of the sick room Captain Ell
paused.
Elsie slipped by him and knel
by the bed looking into the white
old face on the pillow.
The Captain watched the tablea
for a moment or two, and the
tiptoed into the room and place
the lamp on the bureau.
And he hurried downstairs an
into the kitchen, clearing hi
throat with vigor and making
great TODD over the scratching Q
q match.
Mrs. Snow returned from he
errand q few minutes later an
to her the news of the arrival wa
told, as Il was also to Perez an
Jerry when they came. Mrs. Sno'
took charge Of the supper arrange
ments. When the meal was ready
she said to Captain Fri:
Nov, I'll go upstairs and tel
her TO come down. You needn'
come. I'll introduce myself"
Some few minutes passed befor
Miss Preston came down. Whe
she did SO her eyes were wet, bu
her manner was cheerful, and tn
unaffected way in which she greei
ed Captain Perez and Captai
Jerry, when these two rather bush
full mariners were introduced b
Fri, won them at once.
With the coming OF Elsie Pres
ton and Mrs. Snow life In the litti
house by the shore took on q do
cided change. The Nantucke
IaHy hovfuu osffsffoH harua1f IN q