Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-14

49, '~
"ls ho going to kiss mo good nlsht7"
she demanded.
the other lie seated himself comfortably
ana proceeded to entertain US with
considerable conversation about him
self.
II amt a Rube," he volunteered. GIVE
been near enough Fifth avenue to
know good clothes when see 'em, and
have to admit that Mr.. Bopp is a
swell dresser l only work here in the
summer time. In the winter I stick
around within sight Of the statue OF
Liberty. I'm wire Taper"
"a wire tapper?" repeated Bopp.
Isn't wire Taper sort Of crook?"
mot compared to burglar. Wire
tapping Is just high finance"
His name, 1t appeared, was Harold
Kent, He was married, was a Social.
list III feeling IL not in theory, had been
Jockey, tout, a telegraph operator,
and hoped to learn to fly an, aeroplane
otherwise his was an uneventful his.
tory.
All the time l was listening nv
mind was occupied with trying to nc.
count for the thrill which had iolted
me when had taken Lucile's hands in
mine at the top Of the staircase. I
decided to put my fortunes to tho test.
l would SIT up until Bopp went to bed
ana then ask her to marry me.
Kent the telephone man. retired fret
l think III sit up awhile" / said
stcaiing u look at L,cilo and hoping
that she would comprehend my inten.
ton.
III you're going to sit up I'll stick"
said Bopp, with Machiavelllan cordial.
ity. "IM split 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 I'll turn in now, too," sug.
gested tentatively, hoping Mt least that
l would get q chance to speak to her
Oh the stairs
But, no. Bopp developed a sudden
fondness for my society and accompa.
MED mo to my room and sat on my bed
Tor awhile talking about affairs the.
atrical, 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 uncarthly noises around the
caves. l was more tired than I re-
membered to have been for years, but
not sleepy. I don't know whether 1t
was actual hunger or merely the idea
that had not eaten anything for for
ty-etght hours which haunted me. AT
any rate, every time that closed my
eyes I'd have vision Of those dog
biscuits. I might just as we'll 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 1 at last decided to satisfy my
fool imagination by showing It a dog
biscuit In the life and proving that 1t
was not desirable at all. That was the
only reason that went downstairs.
It was rather ticklish business roam.
Ing around strange house wearing no
other padding than a suit Of pajamas
banged my shins numerically
against several hundred pieces of fur
niture, but I toned 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 foundering In tho
intervals.
Finally in the kitchen, CROPPED my
way to the shelf, and the box of dog
biscuit was in my hands. Furtively I
took one out, fondled it and shifted it.
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 1t.
set my teeth In the dog biscuit!
Suddenly there was sound on tho
stairway. listened intently-the creak-
ing Of START
Who could 1t be? Possibly IL was
Kent, the cX-wire Taper. Els early
training might have proved too much
for him and he had decided to loot
the place and make his escape. made
up my mind to behave valiantly and
graspcd dog biscuit firmly in one
hand, determined to sell my life as
dearly rs was consistent with the high
cost Of living. The box containing the
rest Of the biscuit put back on the
shelf and crouched behind tho stove,
.~.a.-- AXomnmw