The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-01

she must put on some sort of
show which. although it would
probably not deceive Bates. would
make him believe in her good in
tentions. She was aware that in
his servants way he already knew
+ too much about her.
She said, as if she were a de-
voted wife, Albert, Albert It's
Edwina." The dull pale blue eyes
opened little way, but they only
looked into space, far beyond her
without focusing. He made faint
grunting sound and the eyes closed
again. A second time she tried
with no more result, and then she
said, "Tll write note, Bates.
We'd better send it off at once.
I'll bring it to you. You'd better
stay here to watch"
A Note to Ransome
In her own room she took out
her writing case and a bottle of
smelling salts and began to write,
/ but she got no further than Your
/ Highness" when she understood
that it was not to the Maharanee
i but to Ransome that she must
send the note, for she knew sud-
denly that she was afraid of the
old lady-why it was she could
not say-but there was something
about her, something in her pres
ence, her manner, her dignity, yes,
and her shrewdness which made
her feel easy and little
ashamed. She saw her again as
she had seen her the night before.
standing beneath the blazing chan
delier filled with bees, a look of
mockery in her eyes.
To Ransome she wrote.
Dear Tom.
Albert is really i'll this morning
and needs good doctor l don't
know whas. the matter with
him. There was an attractive fell
low at the Palace last night
Major Something -or -other who.
hear tall this had TO be very
casnaD IS an excellent physician.
Could you send him a note and
ask him to come round9
Its all bloody bore when we
were planning to get off today
to Bombay. I forgot YOU didn't
know that. wasn't lying TO you
last night. We only decided II
, after We came home. 1t may
make US miss the Victoria and
then when will We be able 20
get away?
| II you have a moment to spare,
, drop in and sec me. ! need cheer
ing up. You'll probably find me
in bed In weather like this
fhera anaGsNtf - he
i, thing else to do and I've seen
the waterworks. the ial. the
. asylum. etc Better still. come
| and have lunch with me. The
: cook isn't bad, Anyway I'll see
you tomorrow night ri MI Ban
neriees dinner l mean TO go II
! Albert isn't too III, Its better
than sitting here reading books
about India. And anyway now |
can come TO you on Thursday.
Edwins.
When she had finished the let
ter she put it. without reading i
into and envelope and sealed
with special care. not only agains
the prying eyes of Bates but. re
Numbering sinister stories she ha
heard in Simla. against the curiou
eyes of any Indian into whose pos
session il might come.
Between the Lines
A hoy from the palace cam
with the note at the very momen
Ransome WAS stepping into III
car 10 go to El-kautara. and whe
ne had read it through he tippe
the boy and sent him away. tellin
HIM to say that he would com
over at once. But he had no II
tention Of changing MS plan; h
would not pay a call on Edwin
and ne would certainly not lunc
!, with her. Last night ne had we
coined her presence. but now hi
:. was the last thing he desired.
!. AS Edwina suspected. he SAL
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