The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-18
ssTHE SMUGGLER'


piled, gently. This young lady
is good enough to offer to share
her room with me. My husband,
Mr.. Graham, miss"
l supplied the name and bowed
to Mr.. Graham, looking curiously
at him as l listened to his ELUSIVE
thanks.
The man evidently possessed
the vitality his wife lacked, but
his manner was very gentle as he
bent over his wife and helped her
to rise.
The stewardess was waiting to
show Mrs. Graham the room, and
! decided to remain in the saloon
until she had retired. Mr.. Graham
returned alone.
1--WE really owe you a debt of
gratitude" he said. MRS. Ora
ham is not strong. | suppose you
noticed how awfully done up she
was"
"She certainly seemed very
tired"
"She will be all right tomorrow,
after a nights rest-thanks to
you. We are going to spend the
summer in Canada. And, by the
way" he remarked, carelessly,
don't be alarmed IL my wife
should talk a bit in her sleep. She
does it now and then, especially
If she is over tired. She is apt to
dream, l think, and sometimes
talks a lot of gibberish. l trust
you may not be disturbed, but |
thought | ought to warn you.
Goodnight, again. and many
thanks"
So Mrs. Graham talked In her
sleep! l thought rather ruefully
of my prospects for peaceful
night as slowly walked the
length of the cabin-for mine was
an outside state room, and it was
necessary to 60 on deck to reach
it. -.
The moon shone brilliantly, a
path of silver light>falling across
the water. | was fascinated by
the scene that when l reached my
door did not enter at once. After
q while two men approached, and
one Of them fitted key in the
door next mine. AS he stopped to
examine the lock, the moonlight
shone full upon his face. and l
recognized orr friend with the
strange aversion to chairs.
The light was burning in my
state room when at last I forced
myself to enter it, and Mrs. Ora
ham lay asleep in the lower berth.
AS noiselessly as possible,
made my preparations for the
night and climbed into my berth,
turning off the electric light.
A murmur of voices came from
the next room, and l heard a win
dow opened, and some one appar-
emily leaned out.
glove, what a night! And to
think of wasting it in a cell like
this! Blake, you old sinner, have
you no soul for the beautiful?
Look at the light on the water. "
The reply was inaudible. Evil
IDENTIFY Blake had gone sensibly to
bed, but the voice continued un-
daunted:
Maybe you think you're on an
ordinary steamer, Blake, but it's
nothing of the kind. 1t is a royal
barge belonging to the gods, and
it's carrying the Three Graces. +"
The berth creaked plaintively.
Evidently Blake considered 1t
wiser to join, his patient at the
window.
Don't be an ass" he said,
with a slow drawl, but his COM
panion merely whistled a few bars
of an old song.
Silence for a few moments, then
he resumed more gravely:
"Of course. it's no end jolly to
have you with me, Blake, but 1t is
a queer business for you to take
up"
1T is an interesting work, and
said to require special fitness"
mo doubt. Well, it's an i'll
wind" you know, and since it
blew you my way, I've no use in
publishing what you are doing,
and for both our sakes it is bet
ter you should pass as my guest. !"
"As you please, Bennett. Now,
for heavens sake, come to bed. +"
/ don't know whether / had &C
tually been asleep, but suddenly
/ started up broad awake, nth
the echo of a cry ringing 4 ply
ears. XEl
1t came again, from jus Pc
meath me, and instinctivMy I
turned on the light and jump4d to
the floor. 81
Mrs. Graham sat upright cher
berth, her dark eyes lQ0kfng
blankly into space, and her binds
tightly clasped. ~
Not again. Harry" she mban-
ed; mot again-so soon."
/ took her hands In mine and
spoke to her, and gradually&th
blank look in her eyes wa re-
placed by utter bewilderme fas
she began to realize her surr6dnd-
ings.
What is it?" she said.
You we're dreaming" I sug-
gested. "A bad dream, perhaps."
"A bad dream" she repeated;
yes, that's it--a bad dream. And
only a dream, thank heaven!"
But I've awakened you." she
continued contritely; I'm so sor-
ry, Please 60 to sleep again, and
l will try not to disturb you. /
am all right, indeed"
I mt ont the Iight and 9ot hack