The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-02-01

| tt Uafuelce%s we Wtrr trrAhlfE oA
the Hendricks. and she gave me a
rather broad hint that Mrs. Macras
Isn't n widow a, all. that her hus.
band Il stin living
Ny heavcnsi had figured out a
thousand ways In which the boss
might set wlsei Up TO the dreadful
truth. but never anything Ike this
TO have II dropped on him that way
out OF q clear sky,
For a minute or two he didn't
say anything. but when he dld
speak. I saw that tho truth wasn't
going TO take hold
That Is gossip. pure and simple,
Hornack. The Hendricks are my
friends. ard have been an intimate
In their household as any outsider
could be. Its merely idle gossip. !
can assure you
Maybe So said Mr.. Hornsck.
sort OF drawing IN hts horns wher
he saw how positive the boss was
about u. I'm not beyond admitting
that the young woman who told me
IL a little inclined that way. HUI,
the story was pretty clrcumsiantlai.
II went so far as 10 assert that
'Macrae wasn't Mrs. Sheiia's mar.
riec name az all. and 10 say that her
long stay with her Western cousins
was-and stu is-reaily q flight
from conditions that were too hu.
initiating to be borne
| Il don't care what was said. or
who said IT, the boss cut In
brusquely. ITS ridiculous TO sup.
pose that any woman. and especial.
~ . woman like sheiia Macrae.
would attempt 70 pass herself off
as . widow when she wasn't one
Il know said the traffic mana.
ger. temporixinx a little. But on
the other hand. I've never heard the
major. or any one else. sy outright
that she was q widow. II seems 20
be Just taken for granted. n stirrei
me up q bit on Van Brttf's account.
You don't 20 anywhere 20 mix and
mingie socially. but les the talk Of
the town that Upton 10 In over his
head IN that quarter.
| shut my eyes and held my
br-ath. Mr.. Hornack hadn't the
slightest ifea what thin Ice he wss
skating over. or how this easy men.
ton Of Mr.. Van Britt might be just
like rubbing salt into a fresh cut
BY this time II was growing dark.
and we were running into Portal
City. and was mighty glad that .,
couldn't last much longer. The boss
didn't speak again until the yard
switches were ciankine under the
car. and then he said.
Upton Is well able to take care of
himself. Hornsck. and don't think
we need worry about him.. and then
over his shoulder 20 me. Jimmie.
lts time 10 wake up. We're pulling
In
| As he always GA on q return from
n trip. Mr.. Norcross ran up to his
office 10 see IL there was anything
pressing before he DID anything else
May was stili at his desk. and IN
answer to the boss question he
shook his head
mo. nobody that couidnv wait. .
he said. referring to the days call.
ers- Mr. Hatch was up with a
couple OF men that I didn't know.
but he only wanted 10 inquire II
you would be in the office this
evening after dinner. ibid him
I'd find out when you came and let
him know by phone"
I thought. after all that had hap.
pened. Hatch certainly had his nerve
20 want TO come and make n talk
with the man his hired as-assins
were trying 10 murder. But IL Mr.
Sorcross took that view Of II. he
didn't show IT, On the contrary. ne
told Fred II would be all right 70
telephone Hatch; that he was com.
ting down after dinner and che office
would be open. as usual.
When things got that far along I
| slipped out and went 20 Mr.. Van
Brftt's office at the other end OF the
hall. Bobby Ksiso was there, holding
the office down. and I asked him
where could find Tarbeii. Luckily.
he was able 10 tell me that Tarbell
was at that moment down in the sta
ton restaurant eating his supper; no
down went and butted In with my
s"', :" ''o '.., anu Nv +"
"In be there said Tarbeii. and
WIN u''e .oao vi my .i,u' : mig
go OH up'o"n 7" Ano o'u' W so' my
omn oinn.r.
wnen oroh. mo he sn .o'n
Al the raiitoaa ciuD, ! Iouna INA. Hl'
Norcross haa beaten me 10 II oy
rev minutes; ulat ne nsn ALREADY
ordered ms d'hhcr a, tanie WIN
MAJOR hehnrlck. 4 SUPPOSE oy COCO
Tights ought 70 nave gone OH inVo
n corner by myself, but ] saw tna'
the boss had tipped chhr AT uhe
end OF the table where l usually sat-
20 Just went aheaa ana TOOK ~