The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-02
ssAMAZING pRACE''
trace of him in the crowd.
CHAPTER VIII.
An AsSinnment

1 Suhi EN- Will.
| An Assignment.
! The next afternoon the city ed
itor again said Damn" and
blushed.
"You needn't blush" | said to
him YEARLY.
He glanced around In surprise.
"Oh, you feel like saying 1t
yourself, eh?" he questioned.
~ do"
He turned and looked at me
squarely.
II want you to get-that Con-
solidated Traction company story
for me-" he then declared.
But I'm a special feature
writer!" | protested.
You are, and this story is
deuced special" he returned. IL
want you to get it,"
His tone, which was the boiled
down essence of business, sent
me in a tremor over toward the
nail where my hat hung. 1t was
getting dark, and | remembered
then that l had heard fragments
of telephone conversation earl
Ter in the day anent catching
him there about T."
What is 1t | must do?"
well, / have a bunch that you
will succeed where Clemens and
Bolton and Reade have failed"
he said. And the foolish way the
fellow acts makes it necessary for
us to use all haste"
THE fellow"
Maitland TAFT. A day or two
ago 1t was understood that he
might remain in this town for
several days longer-then today
comes the news that he's strain
ing every nerve to get away to-
morrow"
"Oh, tomorrow"
But tonight he's going to hold
a final conference at Loomis, and
you can catch him before time for
this If you'll go right on now"
Very WELL" | answered, feel
ingly myself in profound hypno-
sis.
At the corner a car to Loomis
was passing, and, once inside, |
inspected every passenger in the
deadly fear of seeing some one
whom | knew. There was no one
there, however.
All the way out | sat like one
paralyzed. When the greasy ter
minal of the line was reached |
left the car along with a humble
of men in overalls and a bevy of
tired, dejected-loOking women.
l followed after them, then
stopped before a lighted door of a
small building while they disap-
peared into a giant round-house
farther back. The whir of ma
[chinery was steady and monoton-
Gus, and it served to drown out
the noise my heart was making,
for was legitimately- frightened,
even in my reportorial capacity.
1t was a most unpleasant moment.
This must be the -office."
The big door was slightly ajar,
so | entered, rapping with UNI
steady knuckles, a moment later
against the forbidding panels of
another door marked private"
"Well?"
II don't give a rap If he is the
Vice-President and General Man.
ager of the Consolidated Traction
Company" muttered, the capital
letters of his position and big cor
poration. however, pelting like
giant hailstones against my cour-
age. I'm Special Feature Writer
for The Oldburgh Herald"
IF you've got any business
with me open that door and come
in" was the further invitation l
received. "If you haven't, go on
off"
The invitation wasn't exactly
pressing in its tone, but man
aged to nerve myself up to ac-
cepting it.
But have got some-busines
with you'll | gasped, as / opened
the door.
Mr.. TAFT turned around from
his desk.
Good lord-that is. I mean to
say, dear mel" he muttered. as he
wheeled and saw me, Miss
Christie!"
Are you SO surprised-then?"
surprised? OF course, a little,
but-no-o, not so much either,
when you come to think of it,"
Mr.. TAFT drew up a chair.
THANK you-though | haven't
a minute to stay!" stammered a
little, then sat down.
"A minute?"
mot long, really-for it's get
ting late, you see."
tTf Unnrrn An, ennl N i....