The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-07-21
Van Ripper can remain heIe on


said the driver. ITS 4 boarding
house"
Freshington and Dobley proceeded
to theydoor of "A neat little white
house with green blinds. The caor
was opened by a thin-faced lady who
had a worried look.
DO you belong to this fool picnic
party?" she asked.
I'VE called to inquire the price OF
board" said Dobley. do you keep
a dog?"
Are there people called the Wink
ers stopping ~here?'asked Mr.. Van Rip
per. because if there are"
There are two young men waiting ] n
the parlor for the last hour for a picnic
party" said the thin-faced lady. land
we have made preparations for a large
party and somebody's got to pay for
it,"
"Those are the two Winker boys
I'll wager" said Van Ripper. Madam,
| regret TO say that you have been the
victim of two harmless lunatics who
nave the deIusiOn that they are giving
and attending picnics. If you will al
low me | vii go in and get them quietly
away. This is their keeper. MacWad-
de. have the straight jacket ready in
case they are violent
The Mortified woman allowed Van
Ripper to 90 in and return with TWO
young men who wore bicycle suits and
a bored look.
where's the picnic?" asked one of
them as they came out. while the wom-
an covered against the wall.
You heal that, madam" said Dob
ley. That is the way they talk con-
stantly; life is one eternal picnic tc
them
We'll, who is ]. Dobley?" asked the
roman That's what | 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 a nice sort of a pic
nic,,"
"Ies," said DObley, of ours it is
a nice picnic. and we are giving it in a
grove of 1900 trees. and it is costing
us $1,000, isn't it? This, madam, is the
khedive of Egypt and the Turkish ann
bassador."
Yes. the greatest living cigarette
advertisement in the world" said Van
Ripper. They receive eighteen hun
bred billion dollars a year to travel
around together"
viii you come quietly??' asked Dob
ley, "or shall We be obliged to use
force?!"
by this time the proprietress of
Cherry Gate slammed the door sud-
denly and let a dog loose in the rear of
the house, who came up just as Dobley
scaled the fence
Il can't stand this any longer" he
said. Its too much OF a strain. Sup
pose we stand before the other places
and whistle until the Others of the
party come out. if they are ut any of
them. That dog Jared me-.
They have two blOodhOunds at
Cherry inn" said the driver. and the
owner has a terrible temper"
Il 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 car take to the woods"
That is the brightest idea that has
been uttered" said Dobley.
The feminine scouts came back trf-
u%mphantlv with two married couples
who had been waiting patiently ut
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 hum
CRY picnickers CRASHED their teeth.
Cherry cottage and Cherry Tree
house yet to hear FROM said Dobley.
'Oh. this is such a pleasant picnic"
They are both close together" said
the driver; the grounds adjoin."
I'll tell you what we'd better do"
said Dobley. Let the driver take his
wagon off and engage a large stage and
a 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 vii
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 o to blame if
they get into any trouble through their
own delay. AS for the clam bake"
The clam bake" said Freshington,
lis n 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 a shady
place"
Il see Mr.. and Mrs. BiffkinS 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."
I'll steal along by the back fence
and get them over it while the propri-
etor is waiting on the front stoop for
the picnic" said Dobley. You can go
to the stage and wait there UNI
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 ayapfS Ea Snra Won finl ,bn S.ara |