Gunnison news-champion., 1917-08-03
CoVyriths. b Fraak A. Agunss,
.Coapony

could not explain to a gOSsipy te!e
phone operator what had really hap
pened to Mrs Green. 1 did not know
much about II myself. and the few
facts Of her disappearance that was
cognizant Of would hardly sound well
II repeated.
Mrs. Green" I hazarded, "went out
walking. and suppose she stopped In
at Mr.. Huntingdon 81
do you know" asked central, that
HuntingdOn's Is on a small island three
miles south Of where you are and three
miles from the mainland? The walk
iig Is not very good"
felt as II | had stepped OF into
space from a high platform. "Proba
bly-that is. the chances are"-I hOun-
uered-'the chances are that she de
cided to row. and the wind may have
carried her out of her way"
finally persuaded central to call up
Huntingdons. l think 1t was curiosi-
ty that made her relent / could be
sure that she would be listening to
whatever might Ike said by Mrs. Green
and myself.
"Hellow
Hello, Mrs Green! This is Mr..
Blainey."
Hello, Mr.. Blainey.' There was a
ring Of ladylike Indignation in her
voice. Can yeu explain to me. Mr..
Blainey, how I happened to find my
self In a rowboat out In the middle of
the lake, wearing my red silk dress
and nightcap tied under one eary"
wait minute, Mrs. Green, central
is listening"
Il don't care. She always does. She
probably wants to know just us much
as do. What happened? Was t.,er,
an earthquake? remember the isian
was sort Of wobbly and hard L
walk on"
"No, there wasn't any ear.hq;;a,:c,
l answered. I'VE were fasting. You n.
member?"
Yes, l remember that, but I'm no
any more. The first thing did wnc..
landed was to break into this hons,
;2pd cook myself can of baked beans
It's funny il there wasn't any earth
quake. remember the floor of the
house all running In funny little
waves"
I'm afraid our time must he nearly
up," ! suggested In the hope of turn.
ing the conversation. Central will
cut us Off"
NO, won't" interposed a third
voice, the sweetly professional one OF
the operator. Talk all you want to-
There amt anybody waiting for the
line"
II suppose must have got into the
boat when the earthquake commenced, y
persisted Mrs. Green, but how did l
get on the decollete red dress? And
where did get the nightcap? have
not worn that dress for ten years."
I told her that we would have to
wait until she got home to explain a
number Of things. Lucille will be
very glad to know that you are safe, y
| added casually as II she had just
gone over to neighb0r's, hoping ia
deceive central. "She was afraid you
might get wet"
did Lucille know I was going?" in.
quired the startled Mrs. Green, who
apparently did not catch ON to my
acting.
mo. not until after you had started, ''
l said. skirting the edge Of the truth
neatly. .She viii be very glad to hear
that you are all right. I'll tell her a.
soon as she wakes up. She II resting
nOw.'' - S
"Sleepingl Nowi What fort"
Why" explained. "she was up all
night"
What? And all alone on that island
with you two young fellows and no
chaperonw
"Oh. no." hastened to reassure her
and central. mot alone with US! There
are lot Of people here six or seven.
should say"
Holding q convention OF earthquake
sufferers, suppose" Mrs. Green sur:
missed causdcally. what sort OF peO-
pie are theyT
"Oh, very nice people," 1 answered
promptly. "One Of them is q lady,"
How do you know she is a lady"
inquired Mrs. Green-'just because. she
happened to be wearing skirts when
she arrived?"
"Oh. nor l said hastily. How could
tell this elderly. dignified lady that
our feminine guest had not worn skirts
on her arrival.
'Humphr' Mrs. Green was not par
ticulariy impressed. '.rhe sooner get
back the better. You'll have to send
some cne over after me because there
weren't any oars In the boat I came
in. wouldn't % out in 4 rowboat
again anyway. Send . big boat or l
won't leave here
'I'll send for you just ~ soon ~
can" was glad to have the conver.
sation draw to close. It had been
bad enough already, but who could
tell what else might come ont II We
kept On talkihg1 '.rhe storm ought to
quiet down soon now. Goodby tor the