Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-14
ala no going to kiss mo good night2'
she demanded.


ala no going to kiss mo good nisht7"
she demanded.
the other he seated himself comfortably
ana proceeded to entertain us with
considerable conversation about him.
self.
Il amt n Rube," he volunteered, GIVE
been near enough Fifth avenue to
Know good clothes when SEQ 'em, and
l have to admit that Mr.. Bopp Is a
swell dresser. l only work hero in tho
summer time. In the winter I stick
around within sight Of the statue of
Liberty. I'm wire Taper"
"A wire Taper" repeated Bopp.
Isn't wire Taper sort Of crook?"
mot compared to burglar. Wire
tapping Is just high finance"
His name, it appeared, was Harold
hent, He was married, was n Social.
Isl III feeling If not In theory, had been
a Jockey, tout, telegraph operator,
ana hoped to learn to fly an aeroplane.
otherwise his was al uneventful his.
tory.
All the time l was listening my
mind was occupied with trying to nc.
count for the thrill which had 1oltcd
me when l had taken Lucile's hands in
mine ut the top Of the staircase.
decided to put my fortunes to the test.
would sit up until Bopp went to bed
and then ask her TO marry me-
Kent, the telephone man, retired first.
think III sit up awhile" 1 said,
ste"ling Il look nj Lucille and hoping
that she would comprehend my inten.
ton.
IF you're going to sit up I'll stick"
said Bopp, with Machiavellian cordial.
ity. "1'll split Il gallon Of water with
YOU"
There we sat, and we drank glass
after glass OF water until IL o'clock.
Then Lucille decided to retire and spoil.
cd the whole game.
Il guess Ill turn in now, too" sug.
gcstcd tentatively, hoping ut least that
would get chance to speak to her
Oh tho stairs.
But, no. Bopp developed sudden
fondness for my society and accompa.
nleu me to my room and sat on my bed
for awhile talking about affairs the.
atrlcal, assuming that-I was Interested
In them, which | was not,
When he finally departed the house
was dark and the wind of the storm
made mcarthly noises around the
caves. l was more tired than I re.
membered to have been for years, but
not sleepy. l don't know whether It
was actual hunger or merely the idea
that had not eaten anything for for.
ty-eight hours which haunted me. At
any rate, every time that I closed my
eyes I'd have vision Of those dog
biscuits. I might just as well have
pictured chocolate cake or dough.
nut to myself; but. not was a dog
biscuit
After an hour Or so Of that kind of
torture at last decided to satisfy my
TOOL imagination by showing 1t dog
biscuit In the lifo and proving that 1t
was not desirable at oil. That was the
only reason that went downstairs.
It was rather ticklish business roam.
Ing around Il strange house wearing no
other padding than a suit Of pajamas.
I banged my shins unmcrclfully
against several hundred pieces of fur
Altulc, ptil lOIlcu my remarks there
Mt to pitch below the bowling of the
storm. An occasional flash Of light.
ming helped me momentarily from time
to time, but left me floundcrlng In the
intervals.
Finally In the kitchen, I CROPPED my
way to the shelf, and the box of dog
biscuit was in my hands. Furtively
took one out, fondlcd 1t and shifted 1t.
Being alone there with that unpro-
tected dog biscuit was too much for
my moral courage. decided to throw
honor to the winds. There was so
much wind and so little honor that no
one would notice it,
| set my teeth in the dog biscuit!
Suddenly there was a sound on tho
stairway. listened intently-the creak-
ing Of stair.
Who could 1t be? Possibly 1t was
Kent, the cx-wire Taper. His early
training might have proved too much
for him and he had decided to loot
the place and make his escape. I made
up my mind to behave valiantly and
graspcd dog biscuit firmly in one
hand, determined to sell my life as
dearly as was consistent with the high
cost of living. The box containing the
rest of the biscuit I put back on the
shelf and crouched behind the stove,