The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-05-10

another himself. He required no
encouragement to talk.
"The funny thing is that he's
not really my uncle. I'm her
nephew, and she's a wonderful
woman, too, in her way. She runs
the whole place like a book; she's
thrown away here. Butt can't
help saying i'll should like her
better ii | didn't love him!"
Talking of books" said Dol
lar, 1.-The general told me he was
writing one, and that you were
helping him."
He didn't tell you what it was
about?"
No"
Then mustn't. | wish could.
It's to be the last word on a GER
tain subject, but he won't have it
spoken about. That's one reason
why it's getting on his nerves."
rs 1t his book"
at and everything. Doesn't he
remind you of man sitting on a
powder barrel If he weren't
what he is, there'd be an explo-
sion every day. And there never
is one-no matter what happens
Dollar watched the pale youth
swallowing his smoke.
do they often talk about
crime?"
Always! They can't keep off
it. And Aunt Essie always
changes the subject as tho she
hadn't been every bit as bad as
uncle. or course they've had
good lot to make them morbid. /
suppose you heard about poor
Dingle, the last gardener"
Only just"
He was the last man you
would ever have suspected of such
thing. 1t was in those trees
just outside. The crickets made
extra merry as he paused. "They
didn't find him for day and
night"
Look here! I'm not going to
let you talk about it," said Dollar.
But the good-humored rebuff cost
him an effort. He wanted to hear
all about the suicide, but not from
this worn lad with an old mans
smile. He knew and liked the
type too well.
I'm sorry, Capt. Dollar" Jim
Paley looked sorry. yet, it's all
very we'll! | don't suppose the
general told you what happened
last night?"
We'll, yes, he did, but without
going into any particulars.
And now the doctor made no
secret Of his curiosity; this was
matter on which he could not af-
ford to forego enlightenment. Nor
vas it like raking up an old hor-
ror; it would do the boy more
good than harm to speak of this
last affair.
81 can't tell you much about il
myself" said he. 81 was wonder
ing II could, just now on the
lawn. That's where it happened,
you know"
Il didn't know"
We'll, 1t was, and the funny
thing is that l was there at the
time. used to go out with the
dog for a cigaret when they turn
ed in; last night l was foolish
enough to fall asleep in a chair
on the lawn. l had been playing
tennis all the afternoon, and had
long bike ride both ways. Well,
all ! know is that l woke up think
ing I'd been shot; and there was
my aunt with a revolver she in
sists on carrying-and poor Mug
| gins as dead as a door nail"
Did she say 1t was an acct
dent?"
"She behaved as II it had been;
she was all over the poor dead
brute"
Rather a savage dog, wasn't
itT
II never thought so. But the
general had no use for him-and
no wonder! Did he tell you he
had bitten him in the shoulder"
mo"
well, he did, only the other
day. But that's the old general
all over. He never told me till
the dog was dead. l shouldn't be
surprised if"
Yes"
eff my aunt hadn't been in it
somehow. Poor old Muggins was
such bone between them"
You don't suppose he'd ended
by turning on herr"
Hardly! He was like kitten
with her, poor brute!"
Another cigaret was lighted;
more inhaling went on unchecked.
Was Mrs. Dysone by herself
out there-but for you?"
"Well-yes.'
| Does that mean she wasn't?"
Upon my word, / don't know!"
said young Peley, frankly. 1T
sounds most awful rot, but just
for moment l thought l saw
somebody In a sort of surplice
affair. But l can only swear to
Aunt Essis, and she was in her
dressing gown. and it wasn't
white"
Dollar did not go to bed at ALL
He sat first at one window, watch
ing the black trees turn blue, and
eventually variety of sunny
green's; then at the other, staring
down at the pretty scene of deed
ugly in itself, but uglier in the
peculiar quality of its mystery.