The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-01-01
CHAPTER III.
MIR. Willets Becomes a Factor.

Once more alone, again
brought out the ivory boxes-the
ring with its death-dealing jade
set, the diamond and the wrapping
of the second box, and set about
! in an earnest, methodical attempt
to get behind the mystery.
The parcel had not been regis
| tered; it even bore no return ad-
dress; there was nothing whatever
pointing to the sender's identity
for the canceling mark was SC
blurred as to be a mere smudge.
At that instant an exclamation
of terror from Miss Fox in the out.
er room brought me up with a
start. l fastened out to discover
her apparently petrified with hor-
ror at something she beheld in the
afternoon paper. Judging by Stubs
stupefied expression, he had just
handed it to her.
What is it?" / demanded.
What has happened, Miss Fox?'
She did not try to speak; she
simply turned the paper so that
could see the glaring headlines:
"Steve Willets in Wild Break
for Liberty"
Nothing unusual happened fol
over a week. Steve Willets was
still at large, according to the
newspapers, but even they had
lost interest in the story.
Then, one day, after Miss Fox
had finished taking my letters, my
concern over the whole matter got
the better of me.
Pardon me, Miss Fox" I es-
sayed. "Have l your permission
to be personal?"
"Of course" she said quietly
you may ask me anything you
Ike"
How did you come to know
that Steve Willets is your father"
do you know Mr.. Meyer Hard
wick Of the Kenton-Hardwick
Company" she asked, and when
! nodded afirmatively, proceeded:
when he discharged me some
thin like four months ago, he
told me-"
Good heavens!" interjected.
mo hint of anything of the
kind had ever come to me before.
He declared the information had
come to him from a source so re-
liable that he could not doubt 1t.
How did Hardwick learn about
your father"
She shook her head. II can't inn
agine. I've speculated about 1t a
good deal, of course. but to NJ
purpose" After another moment
of consideration she pursued with
a deliberate air:
within the last few weeks
something has happened that may
or may not throw some light on
the subject, though l must confess
that l can't see how. l hate tc
trouble you with private affairs
but l have been just wild to ask
-
HUH" I grunted inelegantly
This is no time for nice ohscr.
vances of propriety and docorum. y
She flashed a bright smile al
me and got up from her chair.
| I'll take you at your word,
said she. "I'll tell you about il
when l get some letters and 9
Telegram from my desk"
Miss Fox was absent only a few
seconds, and when she reappear
ed she was carrying several let
ters, and l recognized a yellow
Western Union envelope.
1T Is strange story have Il
tell, Mr.. Ferris" she began, witt
an apologize smile. eff you hav,
no other interest in listening, be
lieve its strangeness alone will
pay you for the few minutes yor
are kind enough to give me-"
"Of course I'm interested"
said shortly. "I'm as curious as the
dickens"
She selected one of the enve
lopes and continued:
Here is a queer letter for AM
girl to get; 1t came to me foul
months ago. 1t speaks for itself
except that It is the first intima
ton l ever had that any such per
son existed"
She handed me the unvelop,
across the desk, bidding me reat
its Contents.
/ noted. first of all, that it-hat
peen mailed at COLOMBIA, Ceylon
took out the enclosure and will
some difficulty deciphered the let
ter.
After apologizing In an awk
ward manner for addressing {
young lady who was q stranger {,
the writer, the latter then said b,
was on asteamship en- route from
Singapore to Gibraltar. IN
The Writer'S purpose was re-
vealed In o declaration thae Il