The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-02


go down than up, he went down
landing almost ON top of VIII
liams.
A trifle student" said he.
recovering his balance BY putting
a hand on Williams shoulder.
Il beg your pardon!" Mrs. Sin
gleton and Mrs. Tremaine!" with
bow. 81 jumped down in the
excavation, and the ground was
soft and slid me into the cave.
What have you run to earth, Sin
gleton?"
"You are the latest" Singleton
answered.
You didn't need to excavate
to find met" Blake laughed.
Unfortunately, mol" Singleton
smiled coldly.
1t did not affect Blake in the
least.
I'm not spying on you," he
protested though I'll admit you
are justified in thinking am.
You see, I've been riding along
this river loop for months; it's
wild and unfrequented. This
morning / was coming back
through the timber, when no.
ticed a mound of fresh earth
south of the house; a pardonable
curiosity led me to investigate
and | am here"
I'VE were just leaving" said
Singleton.
Then / am leaving, also"
Blake responded. after you, AL
phonse!"
ION the contrary. after you. In
this instance, the ladies go last"
isn't this Mr.. vendome?"
Blake asked-seeming, for, the
first time, to see Orme.
II didn't know If you would
recognize me-" Vendome returned
as he took Blake's outstretched
hand.
81 never forget a face" Blake
replied. Il think saw you at
the club yesterday"
Williams, you first" said
Singleton. "Now, Blake, see
If you can go up as successfully
as you came down."
II hope l cam" Blake replied
meaningly. ~
And he did-aided by Single
tons and Vendome's Strength,
which they supplied none toe
gently. 'lf 4
did he hear anything?" Ven
dome asked, as the Englishman
was recovering himself% from the
strenuous boost.
I'm afraid he did," Singleton
answered, very low. -"Now, you
60 up, and you and Williams hell
the women. I'll remain here, SO
they can use me for a platform
And Vendome was quickly up
"You go first, Natalie" And,
stepping on Singleton's knee, her
hands were caught by Vendome
and Williams, and she was quick
ly drawn from the cave.
The next moment Betty stood
beside her--and Singleton fol-
lowed.
"Shall l replace the stone, SIR"
said Williams.
1T isn't necessary" Singleton
replied, knowing that Blake's
sharp eyes were on him. ANY
one is welcome to what he finds.
THAT being the case" said
Blake, may l ask what you ex-
pect to find?"
"Nothing-absolutel nothing"
Singleton answered. with a bland
smile.
"Of course" said Blake. you
just happened to bring along the
pick, and shovels, and crowbar;
also Williams. 1t is very queer
how fortuitous a combination OF
circumstances may happen at
times"
at is, indeed!" Singleton re-
marked. Witness the fortunit-
Gus combination of circumstances
that attended your slide into the
cave-just as we left"
1T was truly remarkable"
Blake agreed, easily. II wonder
If, by any chance, l might have
slipped ON diamond"
Quite likely" Singleton re-
Piled. Diamonds were scattered
through the cave as thickly as
dollars in a bank. Maybe some
did get away while We were not
looking"
II might come back tomorrow
and look" Blake replied.
why wait until tomorrow
why not do the looking today?"
Blake raised his hands protest
ingly.
my dear Singleton" he said,
II never pry into other peoples
affairs-and IL / do slip into
them, by inadventure, III never
babble." He caught vendome's
eye--and went on. II ehel9ve
in attending strictly to ND oEn
business, and letting others at
tend to theirs-so long AS they
let me alone. Don't you approve,
Mr.. vendome?" Hiiy
It was an offer to exchange his
silence as to the cave TOR YEN
dome's silence as to his past life.
And vendome understood-the Of
fer, and met it with an amused
smile.
Certainly, Mr.. Blakek It is q
most excellent habit. provided one
doesn't violate the compact in
other ways" ee4py
And Blake, on his part, under
stood that the exchange was ac-
cepted, on condition that he keep