Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-06-28

spread over his features. plainly dis
cernible when the lightning dashed.
Evidently the dog biscuit were deli.
cious, At last he finished and started
to leave. l was about to breathe a
sigh Of relief when l happened to
glance toward the shelf where the bis
cult were kept.
The box was gone. The fend was
taking them with him. Without n
thought for poor Tootles. who would
doubtless starve to death. he was 60
ing to eat all her food.
With one bound was upon him.
The thought Of that poor dog steeled
my heart. Igrabbed him by the throat
and we swayed back and forth In a
rough and tumble fox trot movement
to the tune Of the rolling thunder
Bopp did not know as l did that Lucille
was watching somewhere there in the
darkness. and on that account he was
able to use more forcible language
than l. but had superior weight. 6nd
was slowly bearing him back when
all at once he dropped the box of dog
| biscuit and with his free hand landed
wallop in my stomach. 1t would have
been foul under any circumstances
| but with my inner workings resem
| bling those Of a vacuum cleaner 1t was
| positively inhuman.
Maddened by that blow. growled
between my clinched teeth, IF you hit
| me below the belt again I'll tear your
| pajamas"
He growled back. LET 'er rip" and
| swung on me twice more in the same
place.
With mad fury l picked him up and
hurled him from me. There was
terrific crash Of glass. and then. save
for the disturbance outside. all was
still
lit the light-acetylene gas.
The wreckage Of that kitchen was
beyond the descriptive powers of
mere dramatic critic. Bopp lay sprawl.
I'd on the kitchen floor near the table
where he had struck when threw
aim. The table itself had overturned
on to the weeks supply Of water in
glass bottles and had apparently bro
ken most Of them. Lucille was stand
ing. pale and disheveled. but still
beautiful. in the doorway Of the pantry
where she had been hiding
After an interval Bopp laboriously
picked himself up and waded toward
the stairway through the torrent of
distilled water which was streaming
across the floor
There's your dog biscuit he sneer
Ell. pointing to Tootles. who had dis
covered the box and was gulping down
the contents as fast as she could
Fasting for week. Ha .ha"
Then he disappeared upstairs.
turned to Lucille. She had dropped
into chair and had buried her face in
her hands. She was crying.
whats the matter Lucile?" | asked
lenderly
Il don't know" she sobbed; just
nerves. | guess"
You ought not to be about at this
time of night" | said sternly.
Il know" she replied. II just came
down toto feed Tootes"
| would have believed her If had
not seen the biscuit in her mouth
But what man would not forgive u
small tib on the part Of the woman
he loves?
Listen to me- Lucille. dear" l said
authoritatively. taking her hand. I'VE
are not going to fast any more. If
rour father were here he would call
halt. Here your mother is sick. you
are hysterical. and hardly any Of us is
on speaking terms with the others
Besides. we have got to stop. Our
water supply is gone"
Lucille looked up "Then it won't
really be- our fault. will it," she asked
hopefully. IF we haven't pure water
we can't go on fasting Upton s
Clair says So"
And that s the best thing he ever
said too" | agreed heartily.
So it was decided that the next day
we'd have a new stock Of groceries
come ON the supply boat and telephone
tn, cook to come Back think the
prospect cheered us wonderfully. !
know felt better Immediately, and
lefSUuueu l.ucte " 30 pa'h " w"
and get some rest before daylight,
She went In to see how her mothe,
was before retiring There was a Cry
from Mrs. Green's room. and rush
oil in.
Mrs. GREEN HAD DISAPPEARED!
You have guessed correctly that this
is where the element Of mystery en-
tets the story. You doubtless wonder,
rs we did. II Kent, the wire Taper.
had nmde away with Mrs. Green or II
Bopp. baked Of his dog biscuit. had
| become Il villain Of the deepest dye.
We did not come 10 any such conclu
sk,ns ut first. OF course. That was
liter we had looked all over the house
up in the attic and down In the cellar.
Then went to Kcnt's room. He was
| snoring peacefully. | mistrusted tina.
he might be shamming and poured II
pitcher Of water on him to see how he
| would react to the shock. should
say that his reactions were perfectly
normal. albeit somewhat picturesque