The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-27

telephone, Molly dropped six dia
mond rings into his hand
Don't any of them fit?" he
asked regretfully.
GO home" she haughtily ad.
vised him.
Bert tried for a solid hour to
slip the largest of the diamonds
on her finger, but was giving VI
in despair when Fern came run
ming in with the home edith n oil
the Blade.
The picture of Molly was the
same as the one in the noon issue,
but, from the panel formerly oc-
cupied by Bert, gloomed the flu
nereal features of Sledge, and the
three-column announcement had
spread until it now covered the
front page, at the top of when
ran an intensely black line de-
claring that Sledge denied Molly's
engagement to Bert.
Molly grabbed all six rings, and
put them on her fingers.
I'm part of the deal, Bert! :
she exclaimed. mo, you cant
kiss me-"
Glider left Molly In a high
state of citation because Molly was
now heart and soul with him in
the project of fooling Sledge.
I'll bring you his goat at the
end of a pink ribbon" confident
ly promised Bert. 81 know some
secret passages in the big thugs
political history which | will pass
over to the Blade, and Willie Wal
tiers will attend to the rest"
Bert, planning big things in the
way of revenge upon Sledge, rode
downtown, and staggered into
the Commercial club, where Dicky
Reynolds and Wee Willie Walters
we're finishing a three-hour fight
at billiards.
At two o'clock Bert was cir
cumspect enough to acknowledge
that this was the saddest night OF
his life. At two-thirty, he was
led to confess that he still had
hopes. At three O'Clock he was
promising invitations to the great
event, which, though deferred
must certainly transpire, in spite
of Ben Sledge.
AS this interesting stage Of his
party occurred in the Occident
saloon, several of Bert's friends
warned him that he was talking
too much, but Bert protested that
he was a free-born American citi-
zen.
The yellow-haired bartender OF
the Occident, who carried Sledge' s
stein of beer in to him next morn
ing, laughed as he set it down.
Bert had a fine dill on last
night" he observed. "Celebrat-
ing" Blondy went on. Think
I'll have to snitch on him a little,
Chief. He's passing you a dou-
BILE X"
Nav" protested Sledge.
"All right, maybe you know"
insisted Blondy. Just the same
he claims the girls wearing the
ring. It's a secret engagement,
until he can throw the hooks into
you on that Person property
Sledge put a fresh rose in his
buttonhole, and went to the tele-
phone.
He impressed Nina so much
with the Importance of his mes
sage that Molly consented to talk
with him, mainly because she had
determined to stop his annoy
ance.
"Hello!" she said rather crisp.
ly into the telephone.
well, I'm wise," Sledge blunt
ly informed her. Bert has
babbled."
81 don't understand" faltered
Molly.
Come off" scorned Sledge
Bert blowed the whole works
He picked out the Occident to dc
it. You're still engaged"
Suppose we are!" retorted
Molly angrily. what are you
going to do about it?"
| Smash MIN, stated Sledge.
told him would. He'll be
smashed in five minutes"
81 dare you," threatened Molly
you're a corker!" chucklet
Sledge, delighted with the def
ance in her voice. You goana
get back at me; huh?"
Bert will" she promised. "He
can put you in the penitentiary,
Mr.. Sledge."
What" he rumbled. THAT
pinhead! Googbye."
"Wait a minute!" she hastily
stopped him. What are you GO
ing to do?"
Call up the Blade"
'The Blade! My name mustn't
go in the paper
Sure not" Sledge comforted
her. They've already got their
orders about that. III just tell
'em the new amusement park will
be on Lincoln road. The Ridge