The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-08-16

Jim Junior certainly was tho hand.
soonest man l had ever seen,
thought for the second time that
evening. as he stood, officers cap In
hand. and. greeted the beautiful
young woman everybody had ex'
pectod him 10 marry.
Put 10 tho test. Deborah Burns
always proves n thoroughbred. She
did not show that she had a single
emotion. but I think she was very
glad that she was wearing the
dancers makeup that night II
helped her. doubtless. when she
touched Jim's hand.
Now that the dreaded meeting was
over. heard them chatting. rather
formally, as they walked behind Bob
and me. Tho band. In the distance,
walled out one OF the most alluring
of the waltzes. Dancing on the green
had begun. the rally was nearing It's
close. Deb and Jim had met and
had survived. Ann had seen moth.
ing. I defied Miss Miller. In spite OF
the difference In our tre-son. and all
was well with the Lorimers. In spite
OF the omlnous meaning I had read
into that night
II WIS nearing midnight. and ! re
membercd with vast relief that
Augustus Bests train would 0on
carry him out OF town and that moth.
ing serious had come OF his visit.
None OF US had seen him. except his
ex.wifc and Bob. My husband had
been terribly disappointed In the
man.
He may have been n genius once.
Bob had reported To me earlier IN
the day. hut whatever spark was
In him has burned out He In NO far
down that II In absolutely impossible
to let Ann meet him. Better for her
to remember her father an he used
to be. Dopc-my dear. It's finish
Ing him"
A. We approached tho house. ]
remembered Mrs. Bcst's warning
that AIMS father never would set
out on his trip around the world
without seeing his daughter. And I
was no happy TO have the affair
rounding 10 a conclusion without a
seen. In public. and tho disgrace
Mrs. Best had predicted. that my
feet tripod along the walk In time
20 the waltz measure floating on the
air.
senses. apparently. for presently she
and Jim waitred pas, ms. and ahead
Of us TO the house. Katherine and
I. Bob and Ann. reached the eorch
almost as soon as they did.
A hubbub within tho house.
scuffiing Of feet. without the sound
OF . voice. broke tho swee, rhythm
OF the waits. We paused for a mo
ment. and looked at each other.
Then Bob and Jim rushed thru the
door. and wc girls followed close be.
hind.
And We beheld. on the landing OF
tho stairs. n most alarming spec
tacic. IL explained itself at n
glance: q thief was struggling be
tween two detectives.
Tho face Of the intruder was
turned from us AS he succumbcd
TO the combined strength OF his cap
tors. one OF the detectives reached
into his coat pocket and drew out
, and held up for all OF us TO see
AIMS gold mesh bag containing it's
valuable horde of debutantea' ringsl
"oh. Ami Ann How could you be
70 careless I exclaimed. Poor fci-
bow il you had only hidden the
things properly. all this might have
been prevented
Bob, on n sudden. darted away
from us and up the stairs calling
back 20 me:
Take the girls away. Jane.
QuickF'
Before I could do this. I heard
Jirn's wife cry:
"Fnther! Father And away she
flew up the stairs
Jim Lorimer. my adorable brother.
in-law. the soul Of honor. stood for a
minute as II he were daxcd. Finally
Ne pulled himself together and fol.
lowed his wife.
Then ]. remembering that we had
guests. took Katherine Miller by an
arm and claspcd Dcb's soft fingers
In my own. and led the women across