American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-09-04

did. / was In the chorus tnen. we
used to regard him as almost n OF
the company. he was around with US
20 much. We had "a good time that
season." she added retlectively.
Lucille murmured, II should imagine
So"
II know you will be happy" vida
was saying. 1--WE been engaged a good
many times and l enjoy it more every
time"
you must be terribly tired, Monty
| heard Lucille say; mo sleep for thir-
ty-six hours and no food for three days.
/ wish that there were something that
I could do for YOU"
| listened In amazement. Could TINS
be Lucille, and was she addressing meF
She was. l puzzled over the gentle
ness in her tones and the solicitude
she was showing for my welfare. /
did not nit upon the answer them but
1 have since.
After awhile the rain let up, and we
went back to the house to see what
/ the others might have discovered n
lay a plan Of campaign. Vida elected
to stay out Of doors, and suggested
that she take on Mr.. Clair for a walk.
/ told her that he was a woman hater
and thus inadvertently aroused her In
terest.
"Ill have to make him change his
ideas" She looked up at me innocent
ly. do you think can do itf'
ASK him." l suggested.
Meaning that you don't think l can.
III bet my seal ring against yours that
l can make him propose before dark.
Mine Is a very curious one too. A
Russian duke gave it to me. l never
met him, but he sent 1t to my dressing
room with some flowers"
1t seemed to me to be a possible way
to gain a little solitude for reflection,
and assented to the wager.
you don't intend to tell him, then,
that you are engaged already?'
ooh. no, not until he proposes. OF
course / might like him better than l
do Ned. Then I'd never tell him.
/ could see that Ned Blaney was 60
ing to have the time of his life'imme-
uluAtAl ulltl ne lOlnA Alnlotll nllCntu
more or less for life to this volatile
young person. Vida was not one Of
those who would pass by an inviting
pasture lot simply because she was in
harness.
The rest OF us went into the house.
AS we came in the telephone was ring
ing. Asking Lucile's permission, 1 an
swered 1t.
"HellO!' said a male voice, speaking
with staccato sharpness. MAY 1 speak
to Mr.. Upton S. Clalr?"
put my hand over the mouthpiece
and turned around. Lucille had gone
upstairs, but Bopp was gazing Idly
out Of the window.
"Is Mr.. Clair still there In the yard?'
/ asked him.
"No; he went of down the beach
with Miss DunmOre."
"HellO!" l spoke again into the tele-
phone. "Mr. Clair was here a moment
ago, but he has just gone for a walk
with a young lady"
"Impossible!" The voice at the other
end shot that emphatically at me.
Its So"
"Clair is q woman hater."
what il he is? This one is going
to convert him"
"Humph. She can't do 1t. Who Is
she?"
"Her name is Miss vida Dunmore."
vida Dunmore there?'
Certainly"
"Thank heaven" he calculated fer.
vently. 1--WE been waiting for hours
for her to get here. How does she
come to be there?"
l explained to the young man. who
proved to be Ned Blaney, as I had al
ready suspected, all about the wreck Of
the Mary Bell and the casting ashore
Of her passengers.
Thanks very much" said Blaney
with considerable relief in his voice
"IIl come right over after her. Dom
tell her THAI l called up and l viii
surprise her. Goodby."
He hung up before l could tell hin
that he probably couldn't get any kind
OF boat to come over to the island
but l judged that he would find tina
out soon enough for himself.
Where's Miss Green?" l asked Bopp
Il advised her to lie down for a LII
tie while and rest. This search 4.
wearing her out. She is leaving every
thing in my charge"
Il presume that congratulations ar,
in order" l said. extending my hant
with as good a show OF cordlallty as
could muster. Il do congratulate you
Mr.. Bopp."
We're not regularly engaged" Bopt
said sourly. "She has promised TO b,
mine II l a lind her mother. Tina
makes me just about as near engaged
to her as II we had never met"
So Lucile's promise had a string tiet
to 1t. My heart leaped e~xultantly
There was a chance yet.
Let's have a drink on the strength
OF your engagement anyway" l said
starting toward the kitchen.
"WaterT' queried BOpp, hopin,
against hope.