The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-10-12


take me long to see that she was
worth her salt. She took hold like
a good one and had breakfast
and mighty good breakfast
ready right on time.
And from then on the natural
life was easy for all of us, for
quite a spell. The new girl was
a wonder so far as doing work
was concerned.
She and I had some great con-
fabs when we we're alone together.
She asked / don't know how many
questions about Hartley and Van
Brunt; why they were living this
way. and how they used to live,
and all.
Eureka didn't take any stock
in Hartley's being down our way
for his health. She said she had
made up her mind what was the
matter with him. What ails
him." says she, lis girl"
Girl? says l.
"Yup. He's In love-"
/ set back and looked at her.
Mind you, l hadn't said one word
about Agnes Page or the busted
engagement.
'Twan't so very long after this
that the Heavenlies and me drove
to South Eastwich to visit the
Fresh Air School. l don't think
Hartley would have gone if it
hadn't been that his name was
specially mentioned in the note
from Agnes.
At dinner Van entertained the
crowd, as usual, with stories about
the island and our doings on it.
He told how the Ark upset. Then
he begun with Eureka, saying her
old man was sick. Agnes Page
seemed good deal interested.
After they'd finished eating
she asked me considerable many
questions.
as he all alone there, the poor
sick mani" she asked.
mo, no." says l. There's
children enough to help out a
whole hospital. He's all right"
She seemed to be thinking.
"The poor fellow" she says. refer
ring to Washy, | judged. 81 must
drive over and see him."
Eureka got after me soon as
we were back to the island, and
she asked a couple of ton of ques-
tons, and l told the whole yarn
about the engagement-Van's en-
gagement, l mean.
She bobbed her head. 81 thought
so," says she. 81 don't care II
Mr.. Van Brunt is engaged to the
Page one. He amt in love with
her. And Mr.. Hartley is"
What are you talking about?"
says l.
Just what / said. He's in love
with Miss Page. And I'm going to
help him get her."
l thought and thought. And
then, without exactly meaning to,
| spoke my thought out loud.
II believe I'll help you help
him." says l.
She wasn't a bit surprised.
"Humph!" she says. That's no
news. You've been trying to help
him for ever so long"
What do you think of that :?
There want anything slow or dull
about that Sparrow girl-not
enough to fret yourself over,
there want.
The next day Eureka was a.
telling me of dress pattern she
wanted awful. | asked her why
she didn't buy it, and she said
twas $3.50, and she couldn't af-
ford it. Hartley heard her say
it, and he loafed out into the
kitchen and began to ask ques-
tions, pumping her sort of quiet,
to find out what she done with
her money. After she'd gone home
he says to me
Skipper, that girl is robbing
herself to support that old loafer,
her father"
He thought a spell. well, l
mean to look into the matter" he
says. "Sol, 1 want you to find
out who owns that apology for a
house they live in. Don't ask
Eureka. We must keep it secret
from her or she'll interfere. And
we may as well not tell Van,
either. He's so careless that he
might give it away"
"All right" says 1. "I'll ask
Scudder. He knows most all of
rybody's business and Hubby
Ann knows the rest"
So when Nate come, after
breakfast next morning, I asked
him.
WELL" he says, 81 don't mind
telling you. Hubby Ann, my wife,
owns the place, If you want to
know"
l was surprised. He was a regu-
lar sand-flea for bobbing up where
you didn't expect him.
"She does?" says /. Say,
Nate, for the land sakes how
much more of this country be-
longs to you and Hubby? And
how much did you pay for it?"
He went on with long rigma-
role about a mortgage and a sec
ond mortgage and "foreclosing to
protect himself" and SO on. All
| see In 1t was more proof that
lambs fooling with Nate Scudder
was likely to lose not only wool,
but hoofs, hide and tallow.
When / told Hartley he seemed
real pleased.
That makes II easy" he says.