The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-16
CHAPTER VII.
MarnlOt.

Once sheltered by the privacy
of her bedchamber and seated be-
fore the little white-enamel desk,
Sally fingered long, an idle pencil
caught between fingers infirm of
purpose.
And while she hesitated, pencil
poised, the door flew open, and
thru it, like a fury in a fairy's
dress, flew Mrs. Standish clothed
as Columbine.
Quite automatically, Sally rose
and slipped the card into it's en-
velope, an action which brought
from the older woman a curt, i'm
perative gesture.
What have you written
there?" she demanded brusquely.
Before answering Sally carried
the envelope to her lips, moisten-
ed it's flap, and sealed it.
why do you ask" she return
ed.
Because I've a right to know.
III 1t concerns me"
why should it," Sally cut in.
you know very well that if
you breathe a syllable about last
night"
But what makes you so afraid
I'll tell Mrs. Gosnold about last
night?"
ITO protect yourself, of course.
| don't believe you mean to con-
fess-"
Contest"
Take advantage of this oppor-
tunity to restore the jewels-and
get off without punishment. Prob
ably you can't. Probably the man
you met outside and gave them to
is by now so far away that you
couldn't even IL you wanted to"
"Then why do you hesitate to
inform Mrs. Gosnold? Isn't 1t
your duty?"
I'm willing to give you the
benefit of the doubt, providing
you"
Have you consulted Mr.. Lyt-
Teton about this?"
That shot told. Mrs. Standish
paused with an open mouth. "Mr.
Lyttleton!" she exclaimed.
"Mr. Lyttleton,' Sally repeat
ed. "You know very well 1t was
he to whom l was talking out
there"
Say / do, for the sake Of argu-
ment; do you imagine Mr.. Lyt-
tleton would sacrifice himself
admit that he got up and left the
house, for whatever reason, last
night. after going to bed-to save
your"
NO." Sally conceded; 81 don't
expect anything from either you
or any of your friends. But Mr..
Lyttleton will find the fact hard
to deny.
There was a witness, you must
konw-tho I've no doubt it's news
to you"
"Who?" the woman stammered.
That's for you to find out.
Why not ask Mr.. Lyttleton?"
With this Sally marched to the
door, strobe out with her head
high and the light of battle in
her eyes.
At the head of the main stair
case she paused, searching for
Queen Elizabeth's imperious ruff,
but in vain.
None the less, the lady must be
found. The envelope with it's
blank enclosure. half crushed in
Sally's hand, was an ever-present
reminder of her duty to her en-
ployer. If she had written moth
ing, and but for Mrs. Standish
would have kept her counsel till
the last minute, the latter's threat
of denunciation lent, as Sally saw
1t, no choice other than to find
Mrs. Gosnold and make complete
the revelation of last nights do
ings.
Threading a swift way in and
out among the masks clustered
upon the broad staircase, she
gained the lawns.
And she who quartered so
swiftly and so diligently that maze
of lights and shadows, found no.
where the one she wanted, but
everywhere the confirmation of
her secret thought-that there
was no place here for her, no
room, no welcome.
Forlorn and haunted, she cir
cled back to the house. Motors
were still arriving and departing,
but here, at what might be termed
the back of Gosnold House, was
little light or movement.
Insensibly she drew near the
corner of the building, in alb
straction so deep and still that
she was almost upon them when
she appreciated the fact that peo-
pie were talking just beyond that
high, white shoulder of stone, and
was struck by the personal signif-
icance of a phrase 1t had at first.
found Needless: "s tQuaker
costume, gray and white, with a
cloak"
1t never occurred to the girl
to stop and eavesdrop; but be-
tween that instant of reawakened