Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-21


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 sheer.
ed, pointing to Tootlcs, who had dis
covered tho box and was gulping down
tho contents as fast as she could.
Fasting for week! Ha-haw
Then he disappeared upstairs.
turned to Lucille. She had dropped
into chair and had buried her face In
her hands. She was crying.
what's the matter, IsuclleT asked
tenderly.
II don't know" she sobbed; .just
nerves. I guess"
"You ought not to be about ut this
time of night" said sternly.
II know" she replied. II just came
down toto feed Tootles."
would have believed her IL I had
not seen tho biscuit in her mouth.
But what man would not forgive q
small fb OH tho part Of the woman
he loves7
Listen to me, Lucille, DEAR" I said
authoritatipcly, taking her hand. eve
are not going to fast any more. II
your father were here he would call q
halt Hero your mother Ia 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 'tThen It won't
really DO our fault, will III" she asked
hopefully. "1f we haven't pure water
we can't 60 on fasting. Upton s.
Clair says So"
And that's the best thing he ever
said, too" | agreed heartily.
So 1t was decided that the next day
we'd have new stock Of groceries
come on tho supply boat and telephone
ths cook to come back. think thS
prospect chccred us wonderfully. I
know felt better Immediately, ard I
persuaded Lucille to 20 back to bod
and get some rest before daylight.
She went In to see how her mother
was before retiring. There was n cry
from Mrs. Green's room. and rush.
cd In.
MRS. GREEN had DISAPPEARED!
Is where the element of mystery en-
tcrs the story. You doubtless wonder
rs we did. If Kent, the wire Taper,
had made away with Mrs. Green or If
Bopp. baked Of his dog biscuit. had
become Il villain Of tho deepest dye.
We did not come to any such conclu-
sions at first, Of course. That was
after we had looked all over the house,
up In the attic and down In the cellar
Then went to Kents room. lie was
snoring peacefully. ] mistrusted that
he might be shamming and poured n
pitcher OF water on him to see how he
would react to the shock. should
say TINT his reactions were perfectly
normal, albeit somewhat picturesque.
ly abusive.
Next we hailed Bopp from his room.
He was inclir@d to be suspicious Mt
first until we told him about Mrs.
Green's disappearance; then he was
oil sympathy and joined our lightly
clad searching party In the hallway.
Naturally. Lucille feared the worst,
while tho rest Of us with masculine
optimism discounted any danger which
UCloll lliC OllI
but she wasn't hcrsyIf, =. wailed Luz
Gle. she's been acting funny all tho
evening"
Never mind about her." comforted
Kent. "a man with jng can fall of
tho roof and never hurt himself a bit.
a bit OF bun makes anybody lucky"
suppose she Is out In MI this rain p
"A little water, more or less. won't
mako any difference to her after tho
last two days." l observed gloomily.
Lets not stand here any longer"
said Bopp in busincsslil.e fashion. ct
won't do much good to try to guess
where she is. Let's begin q systematic
hunt"
Lets get, on some regular clothes
first" I suggested.
Gail right" IN chorus.
Lucille dressed faster than she ever
had before or has since, and We men
with the usual celebrity Of the bifurcat
cd sex, were ready as soon rs she was.
AS soon rs we had assembled in tho
living room once more Bopp, by rea-
son OF his superior nerve. elected him
self commander Of the expedition.
Monty" he directed. You take Jesse
James with you and explore tho nortl,
| half of the island. Lucille and I will
search the southern portion. AS soon
as either party discovers Mrs Green
como back to the house and fire or
this revolver" He laid a large caliber
six shooter OH the table.
might have disputed his arrange
ment and calm appropriation of Luz
Giles society. but l judged that 1t
would be a poor time to argue about
anything so purely social. Besides. I
figured out that the man who was
with Lucille was going to have no cinch
rcassuring her that her mother had not
met with some terrible taking off. So
they went one way, and we departed
the other, everybody slosiIing internal.
ly and externally On account of the
large amount OF distilled water and
rain.