Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-08-18

a dog?"
Are there people called the Wink
srs stopping here? asked Mr.. Van Rip
per. because IL there are"
There are two young men waiting in
the parlor for the last hour for picnic
party" said the tbin-faced lady, "and
we have made preparations for larg,
party and somebody's got to pay foi
it."
Those are the two Winker boys
I'll wager" said Van Ripper. Madam
l regret to say that you have been the
victim of two harmless lunatics who
have the deiusion that they are giving
and attending picnics. If you will al
low me l will go in and'get them quietly
away. This is their keeper. MacWa6-
die, have the straightjacket ready in
case they are violent"
The Mortified woman allowed Van
Ripper to go in and return with two
young men who wore bicycle suits and
q bored look.
where's the picnic2" asked one of
them as they came out. while the wom-
an covered against the wall.
You hear that, madam said Dob
ley. THAT is the way they talk con
stantly; life is one eternal picnic to
them"
well, who is j. Dobley?" asked the
woman. That's what l am going to
find out. And when do I'll give him a
piece of my mind"
There's Dobley," said one of the
youths. This is nice sort of a pic
nici"
Yes" said Dobley, ''of course It is
n nice picnic, and we are giving it in a
grove of 1900 trees, and it is costing
us $4,000, isn'tit? This, madam. is the
khedive of Egypt and the Turkish am
bassador."
"Yes, the greatest living cigarette
advertisement in the world" said Van
Ripper. 'They receive eighteen hun
dred billion dollars a year to travel
around together"
VIII you come quietly?' asked Dob
ley, cor shall we he obliged to use
force?"
by this time the proprietress of
Cherry Gate slammed the door sud-
denly and let dog loose in the rear of
the house, who came up just as DobIey
Scaleu the renee.
II can't stand this. any longer" he
said Its too much of n strain. Sup
pose we stand before the other places
and whistle until the others of the
party come out, il they are at any of
them. That dog Jared me-"
They have two bloodhounds at
Cherry inn," said the driver, land the
owner has a terrible temper"
81 have an idea" said Van Ripper.
''Let us send two of the ladies to Cherry
inn, and they can tactfully get any of
the others away on some plea or other.
Then the party will be nearly complete,
and we can take to the woods"
THAT is the brightest idea that has
been uttered" said Dobley.
The feminine scouts came back tri-
umphantly with two married couples
who had been waiting patiently at
Cherry inn, where they said an extra
corps of walters had been hired for the
picnic. They spoke eloquently about
fried chicken and other inviting fea.
lures of the bill of fare, while the hun
CRY picnickers CRASHED their teeth.
Cherry cottage and Cherry Tree
house yet to hear FROM" said Dobley.
''Oh, this is such pleasant picnic"
They are both close together" said
the driver; "the grounds adjoin-"
"Fl tell you what we'd better do"
said Dobley. "Let the driver take his
wagon off and engage large stage and
n speedy pair of horses. This can wait
for us nearby. When we acquire the
rest of the party, we will all get in the
stage and drive rapidly to the next viii
lage."
suppose some of the guests have
come up since and are waiting at the
other places where we have just been %
suggested Mrs. Dobley.
They should have come earlier"
said Dobley. "We are not to blame if
they get into any trouble through their
own delay. AS for the clam bake"
1.-THE clam bake" said Freshington,
sis one of the might have beens."
But we have luncheon with us, so we
won't quite starve," said Mrs. Van Rip
per. 'If we can only get shady
place"
az see Mr.. and Mrs. Bifflzins and the
Grassy girls waiting down under the
trees back of the Cherry Tree house."
said Mrs. Dobley. IF we could only at
tract their attention."
TN steal along by the back fence
and get them over it while the propri-
etor is waiting on the front stcop for
the picnic" said Dobley. You can go
quietly to the stage and wait there I'M
til we come up. Then we can whip up
the horses and leave this place behind
u.s."
I'VE shall probably be pursued, said
Mrs. Dobley, ''but it will be exciting at
all events. Be sure you find the stage.
You'll know us by the girls red coats"
I'm the meantime" said Dobley, TAX
ing box from his pocket "Thisis my
contribution to the luncheon. 1 gath
cred these fresh this morning.
What are they" asked Mrs. Van
Ripper, mushrooms
mo, caterpiilars," said Dobley.
"Caterpillars!" exclaimed the ladies'
Certainly" said Dobley. "It