Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-05-13

"YOu've been talking to Ripley" he
laughed. RIPLEY wants me to become
gun-tOter and provide myself with
a body-guard. I'd look well, wouldn't
I? But what do you mean by the plan
the enemy is now trying|
She hesitated little. and then said:
Il shall make no charges, because l
have 40 proof. But I read the new s.
papers. and Mr.. Van Brit, tells me
sometl ing. now and then. You are
having a terrible lot of wrecks"
THAT is merely had luck" he re-
joined easily.
freshness Is no part of true cOur-
age" she interpolated, calmly. LAS a
private individual you might say that
your life Is your own. and that you
have a perfect right to risk 1t as you
please. But as the general manager
Of the railroad, with lot Of your
friends holding Office under you, you
can't say that. Besides, you are fight
ing for a cause, and that cause will
stand or fall with you"
"You ought to be a member Of this
new reform legislature that some Of
our good friends think Is coming up
the pike" he chuckled; but she ignored
the good-natured gibe and made him
listen.
Il was visiting a day or two at the
capital last week, and there are IN
fluences at work that you don't know
about. II the opposition can't make
your administration failure, it won't
hesitate to get rid Of you in the easiest
way that offers"
There was silence in the majors
den for a minute or so. and then the
boss said:
"As usual. you know more than you
are willing to tell me-"
perhaps not" was the prompt an.
swer. Perhaps I am only the on.
loOker-who can usually see things
rather better than the persons actual
~ involved. Hitherto have urged
you to be bold, and then again to be
bold. Now I am begging you to be
prudent"
"In what way"
Careful. for yourself. For example
you walked out here this evening
don't do that any more. Come in q
falkland don't come alone"
couldn't see his frown Of disagree.
ment. but I knew well enough 1t was
there.
There spoke the woman in you, "
he said If l should show the white
feather that way, they'd have some ex-
cuse for potting me-"
There was silence again. and
got up quietly and crossed the dining.
room to the big recessed window where
stood looking out into the darkness
of the tree-shaded lawn. 1t was pretty
evident that Mrs. Sheila knew heap
more than she was telling the boss.
just as he had said, and couldn't
help wondering how she came to know
it. What she said about the Increased
number of wrecks looked like pointer.
Was she In touch with the enemy In
some way?
Then my mind went back In fash
to what Maisie Ann had told me. Was
the husband who ought to be dead, and
wasn't, mixed up in it In any way?
Could 1t be possible that he was one
Of those who were in the fight on the
other side, and that she was still keep
ing in touch with him?
Pretty soon heard the murmur Of
their voices again, but now was so
far away from the bamboo-screened
door that I COULDN'T hear what they
were saying. I wished they would
break 1t off so the boss could go. It
was getting late, and there had been
enough said to make nae wish we
were both safely back in the hotel.
It's that way sometimes, you know, in
spite Of all you can do. You hear a
talk, and you can't help reading be-
tween the lines. knew, as well az
knew that / was alive, that Mrs.
Sheila meant more than she had said !:
perhaps more than she had dared to
say.
1t was while I was standing there
in the big window that saw the man
on the lawn. At first thought 1t was
Tarbell who was never very far out
OF reach when the boss was running
loose. But the next minute I saw l
was mistaken. The man under the
trees had on a long travelling coat
that came nearly to his heels, and his
cap was the kind that has two visors.
one in front and the other behind.
Realizing that it wasn't Tarbell, I
stood perfectly still. The house was
lighted with gas. and the dining-rOom
chandelier had been turned down. so
there was a chance chat the skulker
under the trees wouldn't see me stand
ing in the corner of the box window.
To make 1t surer, / edged away until
the curtain hid me. I was just in time.
The man had crept out of his hiding
place and was coming up to the WIN
dow on the outside. As he passed
through the dim beam Of light thrown
by the turned-down chandelier. / saw
that he had a pistol in his hand, or
weapon of some kind: ANYWAY.