PAGE TWO.

* Squirrel Food

"DAWN O'HARA""Here! Ernest! Take me home!

Oh, I can't do it! I ought to behappy, but I'm not. 1 ought to bethankful, but I'm not, I'm not.The horror of having 'him therewaH great enough, but it was noth-ing compared to the horror of hav-ing him here. I used to dreamthat he was well again, and thathe was searching for me, and thedreadful realness of it used towaken nic, and I would find my-self shivering with terror. OnceI dreamed that I looked up frommy desk to find him standing inthe doorway, smiling that mirth-less smile of bis. and 1 heard him\u25a0ay, in hit mocking way: "Hello,Dawn, my love; looking wonder-fully well. Grass widowhoodagree with you, eh?' "

"Dawn, you must not laugh likethat Come, we will go. You areshivering! Don't, dear, don't. See,you have Noruli, and Max, and meto help you. We will put I.lm onhis feet. Physically he is not whathe should be. I can do much forhim."

"You!" I cried, and the humorof it was too exquisite for laugh-ter.

"For that I gave up Vienna,"\u25a0aid Yon Gerhard, simply. "Youtoo, must do your share."

"My share! I have done my\u25a0hare. He was ln the gutter, andhe was dragging me with him.When his Insanity came upon him,I struggled up again. Even Norahnever knew what that strugglewas. Whatever I am, 1 am ln spiteof him. I tell you I could hug mywidow's weeds. Ten years ago hoshowed me how horrible and un-clean a thing can be made of thisbeautiful life. I was a despairing,

• It seemed hours before I heardYon Gerhard's firm, quick treadupon the gravel path. He movedabout the machine, adjusting thisand that, then took his place atthe wheel without a word. Weglided out upon tlie smooth, whiteroad.

CHAPTER XII.Peter Orme.

A man's figure rose from theshadows of the porch and cameforward to meet us as we swungup to the curbing. I stifled ;iscream in my throat.

"Sa-a-ay, girl," drawled theman's voice, with a familiar littlecackling laugh In it, "sa-a-ay, girl,the policeman on th' beat's gotme spotted for a suspicious char-acter. I been hoofln' it up an'down this block like a distractedmamma waltln' for her daughtert' come home from a boat ride."

"Blackie! It's only you!""Thanks, flatterer," simpered

Blackie, coming to the edge of thewalk as I stepped from the auto-mobile.

What Is it, Blackie?" I asked"I got t' talk to you for a min-

ute. P'raps Yon Gerhard 'd betterli.'ar it, too. I telephoned you anhour ago. Tried to get you outto the bay. Waited here eversince. Got a parlor, or somethln',where a guy can talk?"

I led the way Indoors. The bare,unfriendly boarding-house parlorwas unoccupied, and one dim gasJet did duty as Illumination.

"Bring in the *et pieces," mut-tered Blackie, as he turned twomore gas Jets flaring nigh. "Tblsparlor Just yells for a funeral."

Yon Gerhard was frowning."Mrs. Orme Is not well," he be-gan. "She hat had a shoek —some startling news—concern-ing—"

"Her husband?" Inquired Black-ie, coolly.

I started up with a cry. "Howcould you know?"

A look of relief came intoBlackie's face. "That helps a little.Now listen, kid. An' w'en I get

cowering girl of twenty then. I ama woman now, happy in her work,her friends; growing broader andsaner in thought, quicker to ap-preciate the finer things of life.And now—what?"

I rose and ran down the pithtoward the waiting machine. ThereIn the darkness I burled rayahamed face ln my hands andprayed for the tears that wouldnot come.

Extra Cars ForEarly Church

Services

For the accommodation of our patronswishing to attend early Christmasmorning church services, we will runextra cars as follows:

Cars Will LeavePOINT DEFIANCE LINE

34th and Mason at 5 a. m.

SOUTH TACOMALINE64th and Union at 4:25 a. m.

SIXTH AVENUESixth Aye. and Proctor at 5:10 a. m.

PORTLAND AVENUE39th and Pbrtland Aye. at 5:06 a. m.

BISMARCK LINEBismarck at 4:45 a. m.

SPANAWAY LINESpanaway at 4:35 a. m.

Tacoma Railway andPower Co.

By Edna Ferber. Copyright by the Paget Newspaper Service.NEXT WEEK "CHRISTMAS CAROL" BY CHARLES DICKENS

thru, remember I'm there with thelittle helpln' mitt.

"I was up at the Press Club to-night. The place sounded kind ofstill when I come up the steps, and1 wondered where all the boys was.Well, 1 steered for the diningroom, an' there wae the bunch.An' Just uu I come in they igive aro:ir, and I started to investigate.IP against the fireplace Btood ajinan—stranger C me. He wasiialkiu' kind of low, and quick,I'itin' off liis words like a English-man. An' the boys they wasjstarin' with their eyes, an" theirmouths, and forgettin' C smoke,jwhile he talked. Talk! Sa-ay,girt, tliat guy, he could talk the

| leads right out of a ruled, locked| form."

"Just a minute," InterruptedYon Gerhard. "Does he knowwhere Mrs. Orme ls living?"

"Thank God!' 'I breathed."Wore a New York Press Club

button, this guy did. I asked oneof the boys standin' on the outeredge of the circle what the fellow'sname was, but he only says: 'Shutup, Black! An' listen. He's seenevery darn thing in the world.'Well, I listened. He wasn't brag-gin". He was Just talkln'. SeemsHka he's been war correspondentin the Boer war, and the Spanish-American, an' heaven knowswhere.

"He knew everybody an' every-thing. All of a sudden one of theboys points to the Roosevelt sig-nature on the wall—the one hescrawled up there along with alltho other celebrities first time hewas entertained by the Press Clubboys. Well, this guy, he looked|at the name for a minute. "Roose-ivelt?' he says, slow. 'Oh, yes.I Seems t' me I've heard of him.'

"Well, at that the boys yelled.Thought it was a good joke, seeln'that Ted had been smeared allover the first page of everythingfor years. But kid, I seen th' lookin that man's eyes when he said It,and he wasn't jokln', girl. An' Itsame t' me, all of a sudden, thatall the things he'd been talkin*Jabout had happened almost tenIyears back. After he'd made thatjbreak about Roosevelt he kind ofshut up.

"Somethln' seemed t' urge me t*go up C him an' say, 'Have a game[of billiards?'

THE TACOMA TIMES.

and between us we'll see this tilingthrough."

I looked up at Yon (lerhard. Hewas nodditt approval. It all seem-ed so easy, so temptingly easy.To run away! Not to face himuntil I waa safe iv the shelter ofNorah's arms!

"Pete!" I moaned, and burledmy face ln my hands. Yon Ger-hard [itit a quick hand on my arm.But I shook it off. "I'm not goingto faint," I said thru set teeth."I'm not going to do anything silly.I want to think. I want to • • *Go on, Blackie."

"I'm coming t' that." returnedIBlackie tranquilly. "Tho forIDawn's sake I'll say right here hedon't know. I told him later, thatshe was takin' a vacation up at herfolks' in Michigan."

We did not hear the front doorslam, or the sound of footsteps inthe hall. I was the first to seehim. And at the sight of theemaciated figure, with its hollowcheeks and its sunken eyes allterror and hatred left me, and Ifelt only a great pity for thiswreck of manhood. Slowly I wentup to him there in the doorway.

"Well, Peter," I said."Well, Dawn, old girl," said he,

"you're looking wonderfully fit.Crass widowhood seems to agreewith you. eh?"

And I knew then that my dreaddream had come true.

Peter advanced into the roomwith his old easy grace of man-ner. His eyes glowed as helooked at Blackie. "Why, youlittle liar!" he said, in his crisp,clear Kngllsh. "I've a notion tothwack you. What d* you meanby tellin' me nty wife's gone?You're not sweet on her your-self, eh?"

Yon C.erhahr stifled an excla-mation, and Orme turned quicklyIn his direction. "Who are you?"he asked. 'Still another admir-er?" He stared at Yon Oerharddeliberately and coolly. A littlefrown of dislike came into hisface. "You're a doctor, aren't you?I knew It. I can tell by the hands,and the eyes, and the skin, andthe smell. Hived with 'ef for tenyears! Wawn, tell these fellowsthey're excused, will you? And, bythe way, you don't seem very hap-py to see me!"

I went up to him then, and laidmy hand on his arm. "Peter, you]don't understand. These two gen-tlemen have been all that ls kindto me. I am happy to know thatyou are well again. Surely, youdo not expect me to be Joyful atseeing you. Al lthat prtense wasleft out of our lives long beforeyour—illness."

"Oh, cut out the melodrama,"Dawn," sneered Peter. "Haveeither of you fellows the makin'sabout you? Thanks, I'm famishedfor a smoke."

The worrying words of tenyears ago rose automatically tomy lips. "Aren't you smoking toomuch, Peter?" The tone was thatof a harassed wife.

Peter stared. Then he laughed :

his short, mirthless little laugh. '''By Jove, Dawn, I believe you'reas much my wife now as you were 'ten years ago. I always said, youknow, that you would have be-come a first-class nagger if youhadn't had such a keen sense of :humor. That saved you." Heturned bin mocking eyes to Yon 'Gerhard. Doesn't it beat the 'devil how these good women stick 'to a man, once they're married!There's a certain dog-like devo-tion agout it that's touohlng."

There was a dreadfuy little 'silence. For the first time in myknowledge of him, I saw a hot,painful red dyeing Blackie's sal- 'low face. His eyes had a menace '_in their depths.

There came a sharp, Insistent jring at the door-bell.

"I'll be the Buttons," said 'Blackie, and disappeared into thehallway.

"Oh, yes, I've heard about you," 'came to our ears a moment later.In a high, clear voice—a dear, be- 'loved voice that sent me flying to 'the door in an agony of hope.

"Norah!" I cried. "Norah! No-rah! Norah!" And as her blessed 'arms closed about me the tearsthat had been denied me beforecame in a torrent of joy.

"There, there!" murmured she. ipatting my shoulder with thosecomforting mother-pats. "What'sall this about? And why didn'tsomebody meet he? I tele-graphed. You didn't get it? Well.I forgive you. Howdy-do, Peter?I suppose you are Peter. Now,don't smile that Mephlstopheliansmile at me. It doesn't frightenme. Yon Gerhard, take him downto his hotel. I'm dying for mykiinina and bed. And this childls trembling like a race-horsYNow run along, all of you. Thingsthat look greenery-yallery at nightalways turn pink In the morning.Peter! Yon Gerhard! Mr.Blackie! Shoo!"

CHAPTER XIII.A Turn of the Wheel

From my desk I could »cc Peterstanding tn the doorway of thenews editor's room. I shut my eyesfor a moment. Then I openedthem again, quickly. No, It wasnot a dream.

The thing had adjusted itself,aa Norah had aald it would. Andnow I was baok In harness again,and Peter was turning out bril-liant political stuff at spasmodicintervals.

Norah had found quiet and com-fortable quarters for Peter ln aboarding-hous a square from myboarding-house. He hated it cor-dially, aa only the luxury-lovingcan hate a boarding-house, and !threatened to leave dally.

"Let's go back to the big town,Dawn, old girl," he would say."We're buried alive In this over-grown Dutch village. I came hereIn the first place on your ac-count. Now it's up to you to getme out of it Think of what NewYork means! Think of what I'vebeen I And I can write aa well asever."

But I always shook my head.

" 'Don't care if I do,' says he,and we made for the billiard room,with the whole gang after us.

|Sa-a-ay, girl, I'm a modest violet,I am, but I don't mind mentlonin'

• that the general opinion up at tbeclub ls that I'm a little wizard withtlie cue. Well, w'en he gets thruwith me I looked like little sisterwhen big brother it tryln' t' teachher how to hold the cue in herlingers."

"All this time," continuedHlackie, "I didn't know his name.When we'd finished our game ofbilliards he hung up his cue, and

Ihe turned around like lightning,land faced the hiys that were stand-ing around with their bands in

Itlieir pockets.' 'Boys,' says he, 'boys, I'm look-

lin' for a job. I'm not much of atalker, and my game of billiards itragged. But there's one thing Ican do, fellows, from a-b-c up to

|x-y-z, and that's write. I don'tpromise to stick. As soon as I geton my feet again I'm going back toNew York. But not just yet. Mean-while, I'm going t the highest bid-der.'

"Well, you know since Merkleleft ns we haven't had a day wbenwe wasn't scooped on some politi-cal guff. 'I guest we can use you—-some place,' I says, 'ifyour ideason salary can take a tlump betweenNew York and Milwaukee. What'syour name. Bo?'

" 'Name?' says he, smilingagain. 'Maybe it'll be familiar t'you. That is, it will If my wife itusln' It. Orme't my name—PeterOrme. Know a lady of that name?Good.*

"I hadn't said I did, but thoseeyes of his had teen the look onmy face.

" 'Frlenda In New York told meshe was here,' he \u25a0sys. 'Where lashe now? Got har address?' hesays.

" 'She expectia' you?' I asked." 'N-not exactly," he says, with

that crooked grin." "Thought not,' I answered, be-

fore I knew what I was say in.'She's up north with her folks on

a vacation.' "Hlackie came over to me aa Isat

cowering In my chair. He pattedmy ahoulder with one lean brownhand. "Now, kid, yon dig, aeeT Oohome for a week. 11l fix it up wlMiNorberg. No tellIn" what a guylike that's goin' to do. Sand yonrbrother in law down bare If youwant to make It a family affair,

By Ahem

"We would not last a month lnNew York, Peter. New York hashurried on and left ub behind.We're just two pieces of discard.We'll have to be content where weare."

"Content! In this silly hole!You must be mad!" Then, withone of his unaccountable changesof tone and topic, "Dawn, let mehave some money. I'm strapped.If I had the time, I'd get out somemagazine stuff. Anything to geta little extra coin."

Sometimes I wondered how longthis could go on. If only Petercould become well and strongag:iin, I told myself, bitterly. Buthe was as dependent as a child,and as capricious. What was theend. to he? I asked myself.

And then in a fearful and won-derful manner, my question wasanswered.

There came to ray desk one dayan envelope bearing the letter-head of the publishing bouse towhich 1 had sent my story.

When I opened it, the wordsjumped out at me from the type-written page. I crushed the paperin my hands, and rushed intoBlackie's little office. He was athis desk. I shook his shoulder andflourished the letter wildly.

"They want it! They like It!Not only that, tliey want another,as soon as I can get it out. Thinkof it!"

"I'm thinklnk'," he said. "Any-thing t' oblige you. When you'rethrough shovin' that paper Intomy face, would you mind explalnln'who wants what?"

"Oh, you're so stupid! So sloy!Can't you see that I've written aroal live book, and had it accepted,and that I am going to write an-other, if 1 have to run away froma whole regiment of husbands todo it properly? Blackie, can't yousee what it meanß? Oh, Blackie, Iknow I'm maudlin in my joy, butforgive me. le's been so long sinceI've had the taste of it."

Suddenly he sat up and a grinoverspread his thin face. "Tell youwhat we'll do, girlie. We'll cele-brate. Maybe it'll be the last time.Let's pretend thlß is six monthsago, and everything's serene. Youget your bonnet. I'll get the ma-chine. It's too hot to work any-way. We'll take a spin out tosomewhere that's cool, and you'llorder cold things to east, and youcan talk till you're tired. You'llhave to take it out on somebody,an' it might as well be me."

Five minutes later, with my hatin my hand, I turned to find Peterat my elbow.

"Want to talk to you," he said,frowning.

"Sorry, Peter, but I can't stop.Won't It do later?"

"No. Got an assignment? I'llgo with you."

"N-not exactly, Peter. Thetruth lsL Blackie has taken pity onme and has promised to take meout for a spin, just to cool off.It has been so Insufferably hot."

Peter turned away. "Count mein on that," lie said, over his shoul-der.

Blar.kkie's clever mind graspedthe situation as soon as he saw ustoether. His dark face was illu-mined by one of his rare smiles."Coming with us, Orme? Do yougood. Pile Into the tonneau, youtwo, and hang on to your hair.I'm going to smash the law."

Peter sauntered up to the steer-ing-wheel. "Let me drive," hesaid. "I'm not bar at It."

"Nix with the artless amateur,"returned Blackie. "This ain't nodemonstration car. I drive myown little wagon when I go rid-ing, and I intend to until I takemy last ride, feet first." ,

Peter muttered something surly

and climbed into the front seat,next to Blackie, leaving me to oc-cupj the tonneau in solitary state.

Peter began to ask question —dozen of them, which Blackie an-swered patiently and fully. Sud-denly Peter made a gesture in thedirection of the wheel, and saidsomething in a high, sharp voice.Blackie's answer was quick anddecidedly in the negative. Thenext lnstaut Peter Orme rose lnhis place and grasped the wheelthat was in Blackie's hand. Thecar swerved slckenlngly. I remem-ber leaning over the back of theseat and trying to pull Peter hackas I realized that it was a mad-man with whom ye were dealing.

"Sit down, Orme!" Blackie yell-ed. "You'll ditch us! Dawn!"

We shot down a little bill. Themachine was poised in the air fora second before it crashed intothe ditch and turned over com-pletely, throwing me clear, butburying Blackie and Peter underits weight of steel aud wood andwhirring wheels.

I remember rising from theground, and sinking back againand rising once more to run for-ward to where the car lay In theditch, and tugging at that greatframe of steel with crazy, futilefingers. Then I ran screamingdown the road toward a man whowas tranquilly working ln a fieldnear by.

CHAPTER XIVBlackie's Vacation (Tomes

In some miraculous mannerBlackie lived on for two days afterthat ghastly ride. Peter had beenkilled instantly, the doctors said.

My escape with gut a few ridicu-lous bruises and scratches was due,they said, to the fact that I had satln the tonneau.

Norah and Max came, and tookthings in charge, and I saw YonGerhard, but all three appeareddim and shadowy, like figures in amist, ln the midst of the black-ness I heard a sentence tbat clear-ed the fog fram my mind, undcaused me to raise my Kelt Horn mypillows.

Some one—Norah, I think—hadsaid that Blackie was conscious,and that he was asking for someof the men at the office, and forme. For me! I rose and dressed,in spite of Norah's protests.

I met them in the stiff littlewaiting room of the hospital —Norberg, Deming, Schmidt, Holt—meu who had known him from thetime > hen tliey had yelled, "Hey,"boy!" ut rim when they wantedtheir pencils sharpened.

Awkwardly we follewed the fleetfooted nurse, and came at last Intoa very still and bright littleroomwhere Blackie lay.

The fact that tried to smile atus from the pillow was strangelywizened and old. Only the eyeswere the same. They glowed Inthe sunken face, beneath the shockof black hair, with a startling lus-ter and brilliancy.

"Sa-a-ay, boys and girls, cut outthe heavy thinking parts. Don'tmake tne do all the soolal stunts.What's the news? What kind ofa rotton cotton sportin' sheee isthat dub Callahan gettln' out?Who won today—Cubs or Pirates?Norberg, you goat, who pinned thatpurple tie on you?"

He was so like the Blackie yehad always known that we wereat ourvease Immediately. The sunshown in at the window, and someone laughed a little laugh some-where down the corridor, andDarning, who is Irish, plungedinto a droll description of a brand-new office boy who had arrivedthat day.

A nurse In stripes and cap ap-peared in the doorway. She looked

Unlike many business concerns a bank has bo bargains tooffer—the services which we have to extend remain tliesame. We realize that our best advertisement must boour customers and friends, and are devoting this spaceto the encouragement and assistance of all movementswhich have for their object the promotion of tlie beet in-terests of Tacoma.

»

Attention,Taxpayers!

The Army Post Bonds will add 1.1 mills to the tax levy(l-30th of the 1918 rate.) This means that

Ifyour tatea are: Tliey will be:a iu.ou .«.*.,.......... ...•••.., ..... .n ..... .. .a lo.isHa 15.00 **tW*r —rtieii ................. .$ 15.42$ ao.oo _.., $ ao.no$ 38.00 ....... ..,..., ... ...$ 25.00$ 50.00 nt 51.H9• 100.00 f 102.78Two and one-fourth eenta a month added to each Ten 1 tol-

lers of taxes you now pay will make I'ncle Mam our nmtnerIn building up Tacoma.

Can you afford NOT to 0o It?

National Bank oi Tacoina"Tacoma's Oldest and Largest Bank."

keenly at the little figure ln thebed. Then abe turned to us.

"You must go now," she said."You were just to see him for aminute or two, you know."

Blackie summoned the wanghost of a smile to bis lips. "Guessyou guys ain't got th' stlmulatin'effect th ta bunch of live wiresmight to have."

They said god-bye awkwardlyenough. Not one of them thatdid not owe him an unpayabledebt of gratitude.

Suddenly Hlackie beckoned thenurse in tlie doorway. She cameswiftly and bent over him.

"Gimme two minutes more,that's a good nursle. There'ssomething 1 want to say C thisd.ime. It's de rigger t' hand outlast messages, ain't it?"

And so, when the others hadgone, 1 found myself seated at theside of his bed, trying to smiledown at him. I knew that theremust he nothing to excite him. Butthe words on my lips would come.

"Blackie," I said, and I strug-gled to keep my voice calm andsmotionless, "Blackie, forgive me.!t was all my fault—my wretchedattlt."

"Now, cut that," interrupted |Blackie, "I thought that was your |game. That's why I said 1 wanted;C talk t' you. Now, listen. Re-member my tellln' you, a lew jweeks ago. 'bout that vacation I iwas piannin'? This is it, only it'scome sooner than 1 expected, that'sall. I seen two or three doctoriguys about It. Your friend YonGerhard was one of 'em. Theydidn't tell me t' take no ocean tripthis time. Between 'em, they de-jeided my vacation would comealong about November, maybe.Well, I beat 'em t it, that's all."

The nervous brown hand wasmoving restlessly over the covers.Finally it met my hand, and heldit in a tense little grip.

"We've been good pals, you andme, ain't we, kid."

"Yes, Blackie.""Ain't regretted it none?""Regretted it! I am a finer,

truer, better woman for havingknown you, Blackie."

He gave a little contented sighat that, and his eves closed. Whenhe opened them the old, whimsicalsmile wrinkled his face.

"This ls where I get off at. Itain't been no long trip, but sa-a-ay,girl, I've enjoyed every mile of theroad. All kinds of scenery—allkind of lan'scape—plain—fancy-uphill—downhill—"

I leaned forward, fearfully."Not —yet," whispered Blacklke.

"Say—Dawn—in the story books-—they always — are strong onthe—good-bye kiss, what?"

And as the nurse appeared inthe doorway again, disapproval onher face, I stooped and gentlypressed my lips to the paiu-llnedcheek.

CHAPTER XVHuppineMN

Now, after two weeks of No-rah's loving care, I was back inthe pretty little city by the lake.I had come to say farewell to allthose who had filled my life socompletely in that year. My daysof newspaper work were over. Theautumn and winter would be spentat Norah's occupied with hours ofdelightful, congenial work, for thesecond book was to be written inthe quiet peace of By own littleMichigan town.

Yon Gerhard wan lo take his de-ferred trip to Vienna In the springand I knew that I was to go withhim. The thought filled my heartwith a Hood of happiness.

LEGAL NOTICES.

Saturday, Dec. 23,1916

To gether Yon Gerhard and Ihad visited Alma Pflugel's cottage.We found them ln tbe cool shadeof the arbor, the two women sew-jlng, Bennie playing with the lostwonderful toy that Blackie hadgiven him.

It was late in the afternoonwhen Yon Gerhard and I turnedthe corner which led to the build-ing that held the Post. I hadsaved that for tbe last.

"I hope that heaven ls not aplace of golden streets, and twang-ng harps and angel cbontßes," Isaid, softly. "Little, nervous,slangy, restless Blackie, how boredand ill at ease he would be in sucha heaven! How lonely, without hisold black pipe, and his checkedwaistcoats, and his diamonds, audhis sporting etra. Oh,, I hope theyhave all those comforting, every-day things up there, for Blackie'ssake."

"How you grew to understandhim ln that short year," musedYon Gerhard. "I sometimes usedto resent the bond between youand this little Hlackie whose namewas always on your tongue."

"Ah, that was because you didnot comprehend. It is given tovery few women to know thebeauty of a man's real friendship.That was the bond betweenBlackie and me. Hove and love-making were things to bring akindly, amused chuckle fromHlackie."

Yon Gerhard was silent. Some-thing in his silence held a vagueirritation for me. I extracted apenny from my purse, and placedit in his hand.

"I was thinking," he said, "thatnone are so blind as those whowill not see."

"I don't understand," I said,puttied.

"That is well," answered YonGerhard, as we entered the build-ing. "That is as it should he."And he would say nothing more.

The last edition of tlie paper

had been run off for the day. Thecity room was deserted.

1 crossed the hall and tried thedoor of the sporting editor's room.Yon Gerhard was waiting for mefar down at the other end of thecorridor. The door opened fidI softly entered and shut it again.The little room was dim. hut inthe hall-light 1 glanced up at thecorner where tho shabby old of-fico coat had been wont to hang.

There It dangled, untouched,just as he had left it. I tip-toedover to the corner and touched itgently with my fingers. A lightpall of dust had settled over tbeworn little garment, but I kneweach worn place, each ink-spot,each scorch or burn from pipeor cigaret.

I passed my hands over It rev-erently and gently, and then, inthe dimness of that quiet littleroom I laid my cheek against therough cloth, so that the scent ofthe old black pipe came back tome once more, aud a new sjiot ap-peared on the coat sleeve—adamp, salt spot.

Blackie would have hated mydoing that. But he was not thereto see, and one spot more or lessdid not matter; it was such agrimy, disreputable old coat.

"Dawn!" called Yon Gerhardsoftly outside the door. "Dawn!Coming, Kindchen?"

I gave the little coat a partingpat. "Good-bye," I whispered, un-der my breath, and turned towardthe door.

"Coming!" I ealle dalottd.THK END.

LEGAL NOTICES.BY VIRTUI OF WARRANT! duly Issued by the City Clerk, I will sen to

the highest bidder for cash, at the front door of tlie City Hull. (South7th Street and Pacific Avenue) ln sal.t city, at 10 o'clock a. m. on the Blh.lay of January, 1917, the following .Inscribed real estate unless the gameshall have been redeemed before said .late of Hale.

Said sate is to 1.0 made to satisfy the first annual installment ofLocal Improvement District* Nos. 917. 1124. 1127, 957, Ml and 4031; thosecond annual installment of Local Improvement Districts Nos. 916,501 S4024. !>is, 923, 921, 903 and 4.-.ii-. the third annual installment of LocalImprovement Districts Nos till. 161 111, 497, ITS, S7O, 4001, 874, 847 and454; (lie fourth annual installment of Ixcal Improvement Districts Nos.841 Ml. 48(1. 111. 7H2 and 4SS; tin- fifth annual installment of Local Im-provement District* Nos. 579, 13 1, 767 and SI6; the sixth annual install-ment of Local liiij.ri.vmtnt District No. 347; the seventh annual install-ment of Local It..'.lavement District No. 424; tlie tenth annual Install-ment of I».sl Improvement Distil, ts Nos. 321, together with Interest,penalty and OOat* atta.lied.

Local Improvement District No. 347.M\;l. Annual 1.. .tiilli.u-iitMaura tm uwtim,

Lot. Bik. I'iln- Inter- Adv. 4bTo Vl-om Assessed; clt.ul. est Penalty. TotalLianris Atwell 13 8 19.74 7.06 2.10 28.70Francis Atwell 24 8 11.41 0.65 199 17 07Mis. N. P. Packard 15 8 18.25 6.62 1.98 2675Mrs. X. P. Packard 17 8 i5.27 6.60 1.98 26.sr>W. a. Cunningham 5 12 14.73 5.32 1.62 21.ns\V. A. CuiiniiiKharn 6 12 14.65 5.29 1.62 11.11

\u25a0UMBAUI aui>itio\C. 11. Schneider 18 7 9.11 3.42 110 1400C. IH. Schneider 19 7 9.4S 3.42 1.11) 14 00C. 11. Schneider 20 7 9.1s 3.42 1.10 14 onC. 11. Schneider 21 7 94s 3.42 1.10 1400c. n. Schneider 16 s 9.17 3,4; •J* 1399C. If. Schneider 17 8 9.47 3.42 lilfl 13 99C. li. Schneidei' 18 I 9.47 3.42 1.10 1399C. 11. Schneider 1» 8 947 3.42 1.10 1399C. II Schneider 22 7 9. IS 3.42 1.10 14 00C. 11. Schneider 20 8 9.47 3.42 1.10 13 99C. H. Schneider 21 8 9.47 1.41 1.10 1399C. 11. Schneider 22 8 9.17 3.42 1.10 13 99C. 11. Schneider 18 9 11.11 6.64 199 17 01C. 11. Schneider 14 9 is.-o 6.61 1.98 26^89C. H. Schneider 15 9 11.11 8.88 1.97 26 77J S. Duff 16 9 is.II 6.55 1.97 26 66.1. S. Duff 17 9 18.06 6.52 1.96 26 54J. S. Duff 18 9 18.03 6.51 t.M 26.70Frank A. Keasal No. 25' F 9 2.66 93 l'> 40lc. H. Schneider 6 10 18.06 6.52 ..u*. 26 54C. II Sclmelder 7 10 18.14 HI 1.H7