The daily Alaskan., 1917-08-04
CHAPTER TX. Engaged lF-

Engaged lf- "E DON'T believe you have met Mr.
 Bopp yet" said Lucille to Vida
 as the girl gained her breRth-
 At least you were not conscious when you first saw each other"
 What name did you say?"
 'Mr. BOpp, my iance." ..,
 "YOur fance?" calculated.
 "Yes." Lucille turned to me. T wanted to tell you two the first ones. I knew you would appreciate our hap pinesS." 5. My mind refused to grasp this dis aster. I had never seriously consider ed Bopp as running even a very dan. gerOus second. ...st
 My mind puzzling over Lucile's state ment, I heard Vida's clear soft voice saying, Mir. Bopp, am pleased-why, aren't you called 'BoppyT" Us "BoppyT" repeated Lucille cuffSdSIy.
 "Yes, don't you call him thRt3, All the girls in the Show Glrf company did. I was in the chorus then. We used to regard him as almost ono oR the company, he was around with uS so much. We had a good time that season." she added rehectiyely. ......0 Lucille murmured, T should imagine sO." -: 1T know you will be happy" VidR was saying. i've been engaged q good many times and enjoy 1t more every time" s-. You must be terribly tired, Monty" I heard Lucille say; mo sleep for thiE- ty-six hours and no food for three dhyA. I wish that there were something that I could do for you" s.'' 2, listened in amazemenG Could thiS be Lucille, and was she addressing meH She was I puzzled over the gentle ness in her tones and the soiicituds she was showing for my welfare I did not hit upon the answer then, but I have since.
 After awhile the rain let up, and T9 went back to the house to see what the others might have discovered and lay a plan of campaign. Vida elected to stay out of doors, and l suggested that she take on MT. Clair for a walk. told her that he was & woman hReeE and thus inadvertently aroused her tn- terest.
 "IIl have to make him change bis ideas" She looked up at me innocent ly. Do you think l can do itT
 Ask him." suggested.
 Meaning that you don't think can I'll bet my seal ring against youS that I can make him propose before dark, Mine Is very curious one too. A Russian duke gave 1t to me. l neVeg met him, but be sent it to my dressing room with some flowers"
 It seemed to me to be a possible way to gain a little solitude for reflection, and I assented to the wager.
 You don't intend to tell him, then, that you are engaged alreadyr
 "Oh, no, not until be proposes. oe course I might like hin better than I do Ned. Then I'd never tell him" a GOuIu See LldL NG0 OlhACS "o9 eNl ing to have the time of his litP tnm0- | diately after he found himself hitchs6 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 Bhs Waa in | harness.
 The rest of us went into the housa As we came in the telephone was ring ing. Asking Lucile's permission, En. l Swered 1t. tzr "HellOg said male voice. speaking with staccato sharpness. "May I speak to MT. LiptOn s. -Clairf' put my hand over the mouthpiRes and turned around. Lucille had gQns upstairs, but Bopp was gazing hly out of the window. Er
 "Is Mir. Clair still there in the yardS I asked him. .a
 "No; he went of down the beach with Miss Dunmore."
 "Hellow I spoke again into the tsle- phone. "Mr. Clair was hepe . nouanE