Gunnison news-champion., 1917-08-17

Pened.
Then why doesn't mother call up
and tell Us that she Is all right?'
THIS was unanswerable No one
thought Of n sensible reason for keep
inc Mrs. Green away from the tele-
phone.
We had better do something TO oc-
cupy our minds until we hear from the
Sheriff" Vida said. rising to the posi-.
flun Of commanding officer In the emer-
gency,
thought Of my clans
Come with me- exclaimed and
lszI the way toward the kitchen. II
have a surprise for you
You have found Tootlesr' Lucille
was radiant
No" | replied. somewhat crestfall-
eu. for had again forgotten Tootles.
but | have something for you to
eat"
Never have | been so popular as I
was at that moment-that l.. with all
but Lucille. | haven't said much about
our hunger because there IL little TO
be said. II Is practically impossible
10 convey 20 the mind OF the well fed
reader what II means to miss many
meals
| led them TO the kitchen
What Is it," Bopp asked.
Its secret" replied mysterious
y. Investigating my kettle OF clans.
which. strange to relate. bad not boiled
entirely away. '1'll serve IL to you
and then you can guess what 1t is
found a number of bowls in the
pantry. and with porcelain dipper I
ladled goodly portion of clam broth
into each.
Did you cook this all by yourseiff"
asked Kent
Il did" ! aycrred modcstly.
From raw materials you found on
the islandF supplemented Bopp.
Everything in it grew right here" !
explained.
It's Tooilcs !" screamed Lucille. turn
ing pale and putting her bowl down m
the table.
1T can't be-" said Bopp. shifting
This has decidedly fishy smell"
Il know it," walled Lucille. with tears
coursing down her cheeks. That's
what makes me think it's Tootles. We
have been feeding her lots OF fish late
ly"
l started to explain. Lucille, how
can you accuse me OF such a thingT'
"You never liked Tootles. I know It.
You cared mere for your appetite than
for my little darling Now 1 see
through all the mystery about what the
food was and what you were doing all
the afternoon while ! slept. l suppose
you drugged me so that wouldn't hear
the poor little things screams. oh,
mother! Oh. Tootles!"
Lucille" began. 'I"-
Don't speak to me. / don't even
want to see you again, you fat mur-
derer."
That was too much. / might have
stood for being called a murderer. but
not fat one.
"very WE'LL" l replied 'It certainly
will not be necessary for you to see me.
I will go. and assure you that will
never enter your house again."
went to the door with as much dig.
nifty a. ! c, assume.
"Goodby." said as I opened the
door.
There was no particular place to 60
and apparently no chance Of leaving
the island before morning. anyway.
bethought me Of the lattice summer
house and decided that It might not be
bad idea to take what shelter II af-
forded.
After some difficulty found the
summer house and sat under Its cheer
less shelter listening to the rain drip
off from its roof on to the dead leaves
below while I reviewed my situation
l had to admit that l could not be in
much worse plight Lucille was
proud and would probably not apol-
ogiEe to me any more than I would
retract my spoken VOW not to enter
her house again. Clearly my love af-
fair was In . bad way and required
heroic treatment to put 1t back into
Q healthy normal condition.
Meditating upon that and wondering
what could have happened to Mrs.
Green on the little island just south
Of US, gradually dozed OF and slip
ped down TO the door.
Ny figure b not such. however. that
I rest perfectly on fat surface. For
that reason my slumbers were uneasy
and troubled with dreams In which !
went through various tortures Of the
incubation, such as having my bones
broken on the rack and other medieval
variations Of the third degree.
Ny Inst nightmare was that Of being
blinded by . redhot iron. Who was
4 had that done to him? remember.
Il was Michael StrogoR, the courier Of
the car. Shades Of Jules Verne! Any.
way. It happened to me in my dreams.
and the burning sensation was 30 Wv
q that awoke In terror.
Tooties was calmly licking my face.
ouppooe Ter tongue had rasped acruss
g. ~--S-nx~-.a