The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-07-31
CHAPTER VIII

tnln KING. ! our argument APPEAR
reasonable. Your brother tries to
put one over on you. You fore
stall him cleverly. I really think
you should be rewarded for your
perspicscity.
"Wh-at7"
Let II 60" advised Roy. Il
meant that / may do it,
The fried filet Of sole came out
and seized his hand. You will?
Gee. that's great
Il will, on one condition"
ANY condition you like" cried
Ron joyfully.
well. that IL that you take this
match a little more seriously.
You'll have TO give me your word
to spend more time practicing
And you must be in bed by s
o'clock tonight. Those are my
terms. II you don't like them, l
withdraw.
Brother" said Ron heartily,
don't worry. I'm going off TO
practice 80 fast You won't be able
to see me for dust" He paused.
Explain to Babs-er-Miss Can
ming for me, will you7 We were
going over to town. But I see it's
foolish. BY the way, you might
give me a few pointers on this
game later. Good ones, / mean.
But first, teach Wilfrid how not
to play it, will your"
That" said Roy, is the softest
assignment I ever had. But see
here, no tricks tonight! Sleep is
important"
IF anybody sees me at $50"
said Ron, almost gaily, they'll
think I'm Rip Van Wrinkle" And
he departed with satisfying speed.
Roy waited till he was out Of
sight. Then he walked slowly
toward the garage, we'll pleased
with himself. Things were going
nicely. Now if only :. He paused
in his nominations. Babs Canning
slipped out of the garage door.
She smiled up at him.
Well" she said, you did it.
But 1t certainly took you long
enough"
Roy's eyes opened wide. The
deceit of women.
You mean you didn't have to
see Baskerville ?"
Baskerville What on earth
would | have to see him for? No,
I wanted to find out If you could
always be clever or if--if a couple
of other things were just flashes in
the PAN"
Roy gazed at her and his heart
went up and down like a pump
handle. "W ell, did 1 come
through? ?"
Like a true Herring. Now are
you coming to town with me ?"
II wish" said Roy fervently,
somebody would try to stop me"
J. Pemberton Canning sat brood
ing over a fossil. In order to do
this, he had sidled from the draw
ing-room after coffee. leaving his
wife and daughter to entertain
what he had come to look upon as
perpetual guests, the twins, Ron
aid and Wilfrid Peyton. And, with
the even four of them left, it
seemed as IL bridge or some lesser
form of amusement would be in
full swing presently.
Not so. however. Shortly after
j. Pemberton's withdrawal an
amazing phenomenon occurred.
Mr.. Wilfrid Peyton, setting down
his coffee cup and shifting from
one foot to the other, begged to
be excused. He had, he said. a
slight headache. He thought, per-
haps, that he would be better off
in bed. Whereupon he skunk from
the room. leveling a vindictive
and exultant glance at his brother
as he went.
Mrs. J. Pemberton Canning and
her daughter, Barbara, took this
detection in good part. After all,
Ronald was left. And when peo-
pie had either Ronald or Wilfrid
they had, in essence, both Ronald
and Wilfrid. So what mattered it
IL Wilfrid sought sleep that knits
the raveled sleeve of care? An
smoeba. dividing itself, still re-
mains a perfectly good all-there
amobea. Mrs. J. Pemberton Gam
ming and her daughter, Barbara,
experienced no sense of severe per-
sonal loss.
Phenomenon number two took
place several minutes after VIII
frid's departure.
I'm sleepy" said Ron.
Mrs. Canning started.
| Good heavens, she exclaimed.
What is the matter with you boys
tonight"
Nothing" said Ron. "Er-thst
is. nothings the matter with me.
I'm just sleepy. that's all"
Mrs. J. Pemberton Canning was
not the woman 10 brook shilly-
shslly and bubble-and-squeak.
We'll then" she said decisively.
you'd better go TO bed. Ronald"
Yes. ma'am." Ronald said re-
spectfully. Il think I'd better"
He went out and Mrs. Canning
lifted an inquisitory eyebrow at
her daughter.
what on earth il the matter
with them >" She demanded.
Barbara shrugged. Search me"
You don't suppose there was
anything wrong with the food. do
you2"
OF course not. Those twins are