The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-17

of dark perplexity.
By happy chance, her very pref.
test evening frock didn't hook up
the back; she was able to strug-
gle into it, but it took some time.
Some one ratified the knob of
her door. A knock followed the
noise of the knob.
We'll? Who is it,"
Miss Manwaring, are you
therc?" Heartfelt relief informed
the voice of Mrs. Standish.
iease .et me III. | must speak
with you Immediately"
Without replying, Sally moved
to the door, unlocked and opened
| it.
Come in" she said un-
graciously.
Mrs. Standish swept in, gay,
crimson domino over fine skirts
asserting oddly with the agitation
betrayed by her unsmiling eyes.
What's the trouble?" Sally
asked.
You haven't seen Walter? He
hasn't told you?'
mo; | tried to speak to him
half an hour ago, but he ran from
me as If were a ghost!"
you know WHY" The wo-
mans voice trembled with re-
strained rage. You impossible
girl! why, why did you let Aunt
Abby go to meet him instead of
you? 1t was fatal, it was GRIM
inal, OF course, he gave the
whole show away to her, never
guessing. Now it's all up with
us; we'll never be asked here
again, and the chances are she'll
cut us out of her will into the
bargain. Why did you do it,"
well, if you must know, Mrs.
Gasnold overheard you three plot
ting together out there just before
| came on the scene. She was at
the window overhead, listening
through the shutters. / don't
know what you were talking
about-she didn't tell me-but 1t
was enough to make her insist on
my giving her my costume so that
she might go and hear the rest
of it,"
Mrs. Standish bit her lip. And
her eyes shifted uneasily from
Sally's face.
But what she might have said
to the defiant girl was cut short
by the sudden and unceremonious
opening of the door to admit three
persons.
The first and last of these were
Mercedes Pride and Mr.. Lyttle-
ton. Between them entered
man unknown to Sally-a hard
featured citizen in very ordinary
business clothing, cold of eye, UNI
compromising of manner.
Jubilation glowed in the witch's
glance. She struck an attitude,
|singling out Sally with a denun-
ciatOry arm.
There she is! That's the wo-
man who calls herself Sara Man.
waring. Now arrest her-make
her confess what she's done with
those jewels-pack her off to
jail"
The strange man confronted
the girl squarely, appraising her
with an unprejudiced gaze.
"If you please" she appealed
directly to him.
"Mason's my name, MISS" hel
said, Operative from Webb's Pri-
vate Investigation agency, Boston.
Mrs. Gosnold sent for me by long
distance telephone this morning. |
I've been here all evening, work
ing up this case on the quiet. The
understanding was that | wasn't
to take any steps without her perl
mission, but she left it to me to
use my best judgment in case her
little plan for getting a confess
sion didn't work. So l thought |
I'D better not wait any longer,
seeing how late 1t is and how
long after the time limit she set
and ALL"
"Well?" Sally insisted coolly.
"Still you've given me no reason
for this outrageous intrusion and
accusation"
mo, miss; Pm coming to that.
You see, the first thing was to
get that letter box opened and
examine those envelopes. got
several of the gentlemen to act
as sort of committee, so as
nobody could kick on the ground
that everything wasn't done open
and aboveboard."
'You found no confession. L
gather?" Mrs. Standish interpo-
lated.
mo, ma'am-no confession. All
but two OF the cards were blank.
The two had something written
lon synonymous informa-
tion, 20 to speak.
He fumbled In q pocket.
brought forth the cards, and with
some hesitation handed them over
to 6alIy-
(oontinus1 4 o. Nezs Issue.)
FL 81 n
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