Gunnison news-champion., 1917-08-10


ing b ~ - swim 70 tAs mainland In
osleT - est away.
.What. Swim to the nainlandr'
sYea. Hes Q woman hater.-
s0ood heavens! He must mot do
that vida was senuineiy concerned.
You might tell him that you are
eakaeed to some one else That Nigh,
reassure him"
Il vim" Vida got up determinedly
and went 70 the door, (Which way
did he got"
Fright down to the shore. ! think
1 said. .He seemed . tribe da-cd.
though. and might have wandered
funny thing" interjected Captain
Perkins, 'the way q feller viii wan
der sometimes. Ny brother. he used
to walk in his sleep. was goin' to
tell you where the zebra bit him that
time"
"Yes.' saia vida eagerly. tel, US
where the zebra bit him.
you'll have to hurry to catch him.
I interrupted. .'or 1t will lie too late.
The telephone bell rang.
Hello. This Is Blaney. 10 Clair
therey'
"No, he's not here now"
Then let me speak to Miss Dun
more"
"She isn't hero either" explained.
''Oh. they're out walking together
again. suppose" said my namesale
saNcastically.
mo. not walking" I said: '.swim.
ming"
"whatl At this time of night?' he
yelled. "Not both Of them? vida
can't swim"
Maybe he Is teaching her how" !
suggested. I didn't know Of any rra-
son why ! should ease his mind any
way. A little jealousy would he good
for him.
.Ohr" He took the blow like a man
Then heard him say family. Good
by" and hung mp the receiver.
. Lucille confronted me when I turned
around. "Do you know where Tootles
is7"
"No. I don't know where she is." !
replied, with strict adherence to the
4 truth. "Isn't she herey' added guile
lessly.
mo. and I'm dreadfully worried.
There are 20 many strange people in
the house that some one may have let
her out, not knowing how careful we
are with her. She might get lost and
starved or get her feet wet and have
pneumonia, or hawk might carry her
o6."
Rhea hA 4, -,
Bopp entered. He made great show
Of WEAKNESS. dragging his feet a. II
they were too heavy to lift.
slave you seen herr demanded Lu-
cilc.
NO." Bepp said wearily.. "rve
tramped all over the island again and
again. There's no rnvine. no gully, no
bush that I haven't investigated. She
must have left the island"
'She can't swim!" moaned Lucille.
Her little legs are too short. and her
fur would get In her eyes"
"Whatr' he yelled. Fur get in her
eyesf''
-rootles IL lost" ! threw In by wa,
Of explanation.
.-rootiesr' s6se Bopp. bewiIdered
I've been looking for Mrs. Green"
'-Oh. she's been found" Lucille ex
planned.
.Whenr'
''Oh, hours and hours ago. She tele
phoned Mr.. Blainey. She got in Mr.
Kent's rowb0t and was blown to 4
; nearby island"
You knew where Mrs. Green was In
the middle Of the afternoon" ragged
Isopp. turning on me. '.and you didn',
tell me. but let me tramp my feet o6
looking for her? Here i am. dying Of
weariness and lack Of sleep. when Z
word might have saved me"
Kent strolled In.
'-eay. Mr.. Bopp.~ he said curiously
win yov tell me one thingf'
why. certainly"
''How did you ever como to flnd thai
shelf on the clin where you wefe sleep
ing all the afternoonf ! passed you {
dozen times, and I'd never have seen
you At all II hadn't heard you snore.'
Vida came In carrying pair oi
shoes. . coat. pair of trousess and q
hat
.He's gone" she said briefly. "Al
SOON ~ be saw me coming he dived
into the lake and swan on rapidly
He looked back from time to time"
HE was afraid you would swim
after him." explained. "Ars you In
the market for old clothesT' indi
Gated her burden.
mo; these are his. He left them OF
the bank. and thought might al
well bring them In. I suppose he will
I've killed"
"WhoY' asked Lucille and Bopp.
Mr.. Clair Vida answered. 'Hs
y trying to reach the mainland by
swimming"
"Oh. the brave fellowr' Lucille ex
claimed. .He Is risking his life to &c,