American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-09-14
ed tentatively. 1T seems a shame to
tear nm that there thanking"

ed tentatively. 1T seems a shame 10
tear up that there planking."
mot for Tootles." Lucille replied.
what do l care for an old attic floor
when my Tootles Is in danger? She
shan't stay there another minute IL l
can help t." She tried to pry up a
board with her finger nails.
walt" 1 requested. Let me do this
scientifically"
| wrenched n leg from an old arm
chair which had already suffered the
amputati0n OF one OF It's extremities
and with that as a lever pried up n
Of the flooring boards at the ends which
extended loose Over the floor beams.
As the plank came up amid a cloud Of
dust Lucille gave me a look such as
must have rewarded Launcelot from
the grandstand after he ran a curtain
pole through a cast Iron white hoop.
We assembled around the hole l had
made. No Tootles In sight.
whistle" Lucille commanded me.
I obeyed.
joyful banks, but nothing more.
Take up some more boards" Lucille
might have been saying. wait until
you see the whites Of their eyes, OF
Don't give up the ship"
Hadn't we better waltz" Captain
Perkins was an earnest advocate Of
the Fabian policy.
mo"
/ took up another board and yet an
other, stopping TO whistle each time,
without apparently getting any nearer.
"She's there somewhere" declared
Tootles' foster mother, puzzled, but
still determined. Keep on until you
end her"
/ had taken up all but half a dozen
Of the boards when my foot slipped
from the cross floor beam on which 1
was working and struck the lath
which was nailed on the other side.
The lath offered but slight resistance.
The plaster was even more fragile, and
I went through rather hastily, clutch
ing wildly at nothing In particular.
My last recollection was OF Lucile's
horror stricken face as she saw me
sinking from sight, like the villain In
Lorna Doone."
My next conscious remembrance was
OF sitting fiat In the middle Of a bed,
the springs Of which were gently
bouncing me up and down after the
fashion OF a net into which a trapeze
performer had dropped from the top
OF the tent Above was a hole In the
ceiling, around me were chunks OF
plaster and splinters of lath, and sit
ting In a chair by the window was Jim,
his mouth open, emitting a series Of
short, sharp yelps.
Lucille, Vida. Bopp. Kent and the
captain made a ring Of faces around
the hole In the ceiling.
stop barking. you darn fool" shout.
ed tho captain after "A moment devoted
to startled surprise by all concerned.
AYE, aye, sirI' replied Jim, salut-
ing.
''Then 1t wasn't Tootles at ALL" Lu-
cile was overwhelmed by grief that
was all the more poignant because II
had been held OF so long by hope.
you have TO admit that Jim Is an
all around bright young fellow" de
ciared the captain proudly. ut amt
often you can find q marine engineer
who car cook and do as good an imi,
tation of a dog as that"
"But why" l fixed the captain with
a m%alevolent eye-"why did he initiate
a dog at this particular moment? What
is the cause Of this character study OF
a canine under a floor? Why not a
dog out In the yard chasing his tail or
a Newfoundland pup having an argu-
ment with "A dllapidated shoe2"
Why, this vas a little idea OF my
own" stated Captain Perkins modest
ly. when l see Miss Green was 60
ing to be all broke up If nothing an
swered when she whistled 1 told Jim
there to go downstairs and pretend to
be the pup, Just SOS she'd feel better"
What l want TO know, Mr.. Blainey,"