The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-21
A NOVEL A WEEK.
Next Week
''BEYOND THE FRONTIER"
RANDALL PARRISH

his cap In silence.
Elizabeth called to. me as I
passed the door of her room.
did Mr.. Bennett say anything
about tonight" she asked, fol-
lowing me into my room.
mo; why should he?"
you don't mean to say you
have forgotten"
Forgotten what?"
Elise, sometimes | think you
MUST be In love-or, rather,
should think SO were 1t any other
girl. Don't you know that we
give "a dinner tonight? Our very
first formal effort, to celebrate
Lady Edith's birthday"
l turned, brush in hand, and
stared at her. had indeed for
gotten. although our menu for the
occasion had been discussed and
our toilets decided upon that
morning at breakfast.
How well Lady Edith looks in
evening dress" remarked Eliza
beth, as we discussed the events
of the evening after the departure
of our guests.
"Mr. Blake evidently thought
So" returned Gabrielle. "He had
eyes for no one else. But she was
stunning in that black gown"
And Mary Anne's entrees we're
perfection" resumed Elizabeth,
with great satisfaction. "She is a
treasure. What does 1t matter to
such a genius II she has dozen
worthless sons?"
What indeed" | acquiesced,
yawning, and proposed bed, but
the others objected, saying that 1t
was not late and they were very
wide awake.
Let's have prowl," suggested
Gabrielle, who loved to wander
about the cottage and look at the
ocean from all points of the COM
pass the last thing before retir-
ing.
Not in thin slippers" I pro-
tested, "and good clothes"
There is no grass up here"
she replied, "and we can hold up
our skirts. Do come, Elizabeth,
just for a little while"
was sorry had not gone also
as soon as they turned the cor
ner, and picking up my long skirt
carefully started in pursuit.
saw, however, that they were deep
in one of the heart to heart con-
versations in which they some
times. indulge, and decided not to
interrupt them.
So sat down on the step lead
ing to the slip, knowing they
would certainly visit IL before
they went in, as it was Gabrielle's
favorite view.
Resting my chin in my hand, I
reviewed the evening, which, from
my own private and particular
standpoint, had been failure.
Now, / had fully intended to
impress Gordon Bennett with the
fact that he was still under the
ban of my displeasure. 1t was
therefore somewhat disconcerting
to be politely ignored by the gen.
tleman in question, who, beyond
a civil bow and smile, had ap-
peared unaware of my existence
and had devoted himself exclu-
sively to Elizabeth.
l was thinking of this when l
suddenly became aware that
smelled a cigar-and a very good
one. Moreover, the odor came
from beneath, and as the steps
led directly to the slip the conclu-
sion was forced upon me that
someone was down there.
Curiously enough, l was not
frightened, but decidedly indig-
nant. Some one was taking a
great liberty with private prop
erty. l thought. and | washed l
were brave enough to go down
and order him--or them-away,
forthwith.
There was no moon, and could
not positively distinguish any
thing as / peered down into the
darkness, but in another instant
the slip and everything upon 1t
stood out against the darkness.
After an incredulous moment. l
understood, for recognized the
broad beam of white light which
fell across the water with dazzling
Our friend the searchlight had
paid us many visits since the first
night upon the slip, and We had
come to watch for it, especially on
dark nights or in bad weather.
We seldom watched. in vain, for 1t
was a persistent and hard-work-
ing light and explored the island,
or at least our end of II, with
painstaking thoroughness and reg
So l satin the sheltering dark
ness on the top of the steps and
looked down upon the illuminated
slip, and | wished most ardently
l had never ventured out.
For there were two men upon
II, and an unlighted steam launch
waited beside it. One of them
knelt before the door of the boat
house, evidently trying. to unlock
1t. while the other watched with
interest, and finally produced a
bunch of keys from his own pock-
ct. saw plainly that the man
who supplied the keys was Cor
don Bennett, who, with his friend.
Mr.. Blake. was trying to force an
entrance into our boat-house.
Another instant, and | sprang