The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-12-05
"You're Getting Careless, Minnie" He
Said, Squirting at It.

Said, Squirting at It.
on their honeymoon, and they were
both sulky at having to stay at the
Springs.
After the first rubber Mrs Van AL.
styne threw her cards on the floor and
said another day like this would finish
her.
She turned her back to her hus.
band, but he pretended to tuck the
hair at the back of her neck up under
her comb and she let him do it. AS
stopped to gather up the cards he
kissed the tip of her ear.
Listen" he said, there's a scream
of play down at FL ,y,.7e tonight
called Sweet Peas Soaator Diggs
and the bis > vent uv"l last night,
and they say it's the worst in twenty
years. Put on a black veil and let's
slip away and see it,"
think she agreed to do it, but that
night after dinner, Amanda King, who
has charge of the news stand, told me
the sheriff had closed the opera-house
and that the leading woman was sick
at the hotel.
They say she looked funny last
night" Amanda finished, "and | guess
she's got the mumps"
Mumps!
My joint gave a throb at that min
ute.
Mr.. Sam wasn't taking any chances,
for the next day he went to the city
himself to bring Mr.. Dick up
He hadn't come back by the morn
ing of the sixth day, but he wired his
wife the. day before that Mr.. Dick was
on the way But we met every train
with sleigh, and he didn't come. l
was uneasy, knowing Mr.. Dick. and
Mrs. Sam was worried, too.
1t had been showing hard for c day
or so, and at eleven o'clock that day
l saw Miss Cobb and Mrs. Biggs com
ing down the path to the spring-house.
"Mr. Van Alstyne is back" said Miss
Cobb, "but he came alone"
"Alone!" l repeated, staring at Ler
in a sort of daze.
Alone" she said solemnly, "and I
heard him ask for Mr.. Carter. 1t
seems he started for here yesterday"
But I'd had time to get myself in
hand, and if had a chill up my spine
she never knew it. AS she started
away l saw Mr.. Sam hurrying down
the path toward the spring-house, and
/ knew my joint hadn't throbbed for
nothing.
Mr.. Sam came in and slammed the
door behind him.
What's this about Mr.. Dick not be-
ing here?" he shouted.
We'll, he isn't. That's all there is
to it, Mr.. Van Alstyne," l said calmly.
But he must be here" he said. Il
put him on the train myself yester
day, and waited until it started to be
sure he was off,"
Exactly what was he doing when
you last laid eyes on him?" l asked. |
He was on the train"
"Sitting?"
mo, standing. What the deuce,
Minnie"
Waving out the window to you?"
"Of course not!" exclaimed Mr.. Van
Alstyne testify. "He was raising the
window for a girl in the next seat"
PRECISELY" l said Would you
Know the girl well enough to trace
ler?"
That's ridiculous, you know" he
aid, trying to be polite. out of a
thousand and one things that may
AVE detained him"
"Only one thing ever detains Mr..
)ick, and that always detains him."
aid solemnly. That's a girl. You're
newcomer in the family, Mr.. Van
llstyne; you don't remember the time
o went down here to the station to
ee his Aunt Agnes of to the city, and
re found him three weeks later in
'klahoma trying to marry a widow
18th flve children"
I'll have TO tall my wife," he aaid-