The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-11
CHAPTER VII.
She Orders Her Life.

| she OfOerS Tier I1I6.
That was the beginning of Pru-
dence's golden summer. She was
not given to self-analysis. She
hadn't the time. She took things
as they came.
The days when Jerry came were
TREMENDOUSLY happy ones for her.
The nights when Jerry slept in the
little spare bedroom, Prudence lay
awake, starring joyously into the
darkness, hoping Jerry was sound
asleep and comfortable. But she
never asked herself why she could
not sleep!
10. was Saturday evening. The
early supper at the parsonage was
over, the twins had washed the
dishes, and still the daylight lin
gered. Prudence and Jerry sat on
the front porch.
Fairy had gone for stroll.
Connie and the twins had evident
ly vanished. Ah--not quite that!
Carol and Lark came swiftly
around the corner of the parson-
age.
Good evening"" said Lark po-
litely, and Prudence sat up
abruptly. The twins never wasted
politeness! They wanted some
thing.
do you mind IL we take Jerry
around by the woodshed for few
minutes, Prue?"
Prudence shifted suspiciously.
what are you going to do to
him?" she demanded.
1--WE won't hurt him." grinned
Carol impishly. 1--WE had intend
ed to tie him to stake and burn
him alive. But since you have
interceded on his behalf, we'll let
him off with single scalping."
That's all right" Prudence an
swered defensively. I'D sooner
face tribe of wild Indians any
day than you twins when you are
mischief-bent."
ooh, we just want to use him a
few minutes" said Carol impa-
tiently. 1--WE promise not to hurt
q hair of his head"
"Oh, come along and cut out
the comedy" Jerry broke in,
laughing. 'I'll be back in two
minutes, Prue."
Once safely around the corner,
the twins changed their tactics.
1--WE knew you weren't afraid, y
said Lark artistically, 1--WE want
to ask a favor of you, that's all.
It's something we can't do our
selves, but We knew you would
do it, all right"
Jerry perceived the drift Of this
argument. 81 see! I'm paid in
advance for my services. What's
the job?"
l. The twins had discovered that
by climbing gingerly on the rotton
roof of the woodshed, followed by
almost superhuman scrambling
and scratching, they could get up
into the leafy secrecy of the
grand old maple.
More than this, up high in the
tree they found a delightful ar
rangement of branches that SEEM
ed positively made for them.
These branches must be utilized,
and 1t was in the act of utilizing
them that they called upon their
sisters friend for help.
do you see this board?" be-
gan Lark.
"My eyesight is quite unim-
paired" answered Jerry, for he
knew his twins.
"WelI, we've found perfectly
gorgeous place up In the old tree
where we can make q seat. It's
quite a ways out from the trunk,
and when the wind blows It
swings splendidly. We thought
you could nail this securely on to
the limbs-there are two right
near each other"
And see this rope" cried
Carol. isn't 1t a dandy? We
thought when you had the board
nicely nailed on, you might rope
Il securely to the limbs above.
DO you suppose you can do that.
Jerrv7"
"Oh. yes. Well, let's begin.
Nov, observe! will Just loop
this end OF the rope lightly about
my---er--middle. The other end