The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-25
The Rains
Came

ings and long. black. greasy hair
which fell to their shoulders. They
had no firearms but each Of them
carried long spear
For moment they gibbered
and chartered among themselves
and they might have attempted 10
force their way in save that in
the midst Of their conference Mrs.
Hoggett-Egburry came into the
kitchen and. seeing them, uttered
shrill scream which attracted
all the other refugees. The sight
Of Mrs. Hoggett-Egburry. wrapped
like a mummy in sheets both
Aunt Phoebe and Mrs. Smiley were
small thin women and their clothes
OF no use to her-put them Ia
rout. Sullenly they turned and
walked through the red mud in
the direction Of the town.
Mrs. Hoggett-Egburry. threaten
ing again to faint. cried for
brandy. but there was none. Miss
Murgatrovd and Mrs. Simon both
began talking at once: Miss Muir
gatroyd predicting the direct hor-
rors of torture. and Mrs. Simon
crying out, What is going TO hap
pen to us now? I know what
they're like -. the Bills know
what they're like around the mis-
son They've been waiting for
years just to cut our Threats. ="
And then suddenly she thought
of Fern and cried out. Where is
Fern? What have they done to
her. Why hasn't she come back ,"
Aunt Phoebe looked at her
sourly and said. Fern is all right
Don't you worry. From what
know about Fern. she's got head
on her shoulders"
Then in the doorway appeared
new sight. more strange and
more exotic than the Bills. 1t
was Lady Esketh. with her white
evening gown hitched about her
waist, her arms covered with
jewels, her legs spattered TO the
knees with red mud. With dig
nifty. which was suddenly comic
she said, Il am Lady Esketh," and
then to Aunt Phoebe, 81 suppose
you are Aunt Phoebe. Tom Ran
sorse told me to come straight to
you"
Yes" said Aunt Phoebe. feeling
suddenly shy, that's right. That
was right. Come right in" Then
remembering her manners. she
said, This is Mrs. Simon and Mrs.
Hoggett- Egburry."
How d'you do?" said Lady Es-
keith. at the same time pulling the
tucked-up dress from the rhine
stone belt and letting it fall to
the floor.
Upon Mrs. Hoggett- Egburry the
effect of the introduction was far
greater than any brandy could
have been; she was meeting Lady
Esketh at last. in spite of every
thing; she recovered herself at
once and stood up as if in the
presence of royalty. She was the
first to find her tongue, She
said, with her blue eyes wide
open, Didn't you meet them ?
Didn't they attack you >"
Who ?" asked Lady Esketh.
The Bills"
what are Bills ,"
Those savages black men
with spears"
"Oh, them! Yes, I saw them"
Then Mrs. Simon spoke breath
lessly, Didn't they attack you
with all those jewels %
No. They didn't see me-"
What did your 1 mean.
what did you do >" Mrs. Hoggett-
Egburry had very nearly STUN
bled Under the stress of emotion
she had slipped back across the
years of officialdom and had very
nearly said Your Ladyship."
II didn't like their looks. 7 hid
in a ditch till they went past.
Oh said Mrs. Hoggett-Eg-
bury. "a nullah. How very clever
of you"
Aunt Phoebe knew suddenly that
she was going TO like the new
conner. She did not suffer fools
gladly; she was always astonished
by the number of people who
reached middle-age still remaining
fools. Clearly, Lady Esketh was
no fool.
You'd better have some dry
Clothes said Aunt Phoebe.
Yes. thanks. And some kind
of bath"
There's chattee >" began
Mrs. Hoggett-Egburry.
There's stone crock full of
water and a dipper. I'll heat up
some water said Aunt Phoebe
Come with me"
Mrs. Hoggett- Egburry giggled.
aware suddenly of her mummy
like attire. I'VE haven't any
clothes, any of us she said. u
was caught in my neghjay. It's
drying now, but it's so hard TO
dry things in monsoon weather."
As for Mrs. Simon. she appear
ed to have become mute. She
stood quite still. staring at Lady
Esketh and the fortune in Jewels
she wore on one wrist. This was
her dream of what r duchess
should be. She forgot even the
bodies of Mr. Simon and poor.
stupid Hazel crushed beneath tons
of stone and plaster While she
stared Lady Esketh began to IN
fasten the bracelets saying. What
can I do with these >"
Give them to me" said Aunt
Phoebe. IN keep them in my
stocking" Then wicked CLEAN
came into her eyes-thst same
look of devilment which Ransome
had caught in her wrinkled face
the day a hyena drove Mrs. Hog
gett-Eg bury up the arbor y
guess no matter what happens.
she said. they won't be looking