Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-22


"Oh, they're out walking together
again, suppose" said my namesake
sarcastieally.
mo, not walking" 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 rea-
son why should ease his mind any
way. A little jealousy would be good !
for him.
"Oh" He took the blow like a man !
Then ] heard him say family, Coed /
BY" and hung up the receiver.
Lucille confronted me when I turned /
around. "Do you know where Tootles
isl"
mo, don't know where she u.s." I
replied, with strict adherence to the
truth. isn't she here?" I added guile.
lessly.
mo. and I'm dreadfully worried.
There are so 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 a hawk might carry her
off"
At this moment the unspeakable
Bopp entered. He made a great show
of WEAKNESS. dragging his feet as If
they were too heavy 10 lift,
Have you seen herr" demanded Lu-
CHE.
No. Bopp said YEARLY 1--WE
tramped all over the island again and
again. There's no ravine. 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"
WHAT he yelled. Fur get in her
eyes?"
"Tootles is lost" / threw in by way
of explanation
"Tootles?" said Bopp. bewildered.
"Tve been looking for Mrs. Green"
"Oh, she's been found," Lucille ex-
planned.
"Whe%?'
"Oh. hours and hours ago She teie-
phoned Mr.. Blainey. She got In Mr.
Kents rowboat and was blown TO a
nearby island
You knew where Mrs. Green was In
the middle Of the afternoon" ragged
Bopp, turning on me, "and you didn't
tell me, but let me tramp my feet off
looking for her? Here / am, dying of
WEAKNESS and lack of sleep, when a
word might have saved me"
Kent strolled in.
Say, Mr. Bopp," be said curiously,
twill you tell me one thing?"
why, certainly"
How did you ever come to find that
shelf on the cliff where you were sleep.
ing ali the afternoon? / passed you q
dozen times, and I'd never have seen
You at all if hadn't heard you snore.
Vida came In carrying a pair Of
shoes, coat, pair of trousers and 6
hat.
Hes gone" she said briefly. al
soon as he saw me coming he dived
into the lake and swan off rapidly
He looked back from time to time"
HE was afraid you would swim
after him." 1 explained. Are you il
the market for old clothes?' / indi
Gated her burden.
"No: these are his. He left them OF
the bank, and l thought / might al
well bring them In. / suppose he will
be killed"
"Who" asked Lucille and Bopp.
"Mr. Clair" Vida answered, "H
Is trying to reach the mainland b!
swimming"
. "Oh, the brave fellowp' Lucille ex
claimed. HE is risking his life to ge
, supplies TO us. To think that didn'
like him very well at flrstr'
/ explained gently that If Mr.. Clai
r ever reached the shore, which was yer,
| doubtful, he would probably neve
: think of US again.
, 81 wish / knew where Tootles is,i
2 worried Lucille.
? "she must be in the house." vid
0 said.
1--WE looked everywhere" Lucille dc
clared despondently.
: but she IL such a little doggie,
q Vida insisted. rs there an unfinishe
part OF the house In the attic wher
she might get In under the floor o
between the inner and outer walls?'
n why, yes, there's an attic" admit
, ted Lucille, encouraged.
% We all mounted the stairs.
- "I1l whistle" Lucille said, land the
we'll be just as quiet as possible.
she's here she'll answer me-"
: Answer you? Can she whistle, too
: asked Jim, the frying pan engineer.
;, mo, of coures not. When 1 whistle
/, If she's alive she'll whine and bark
- "Shut up. Jim. Let her whistle
commanded Captain Perkins. Il ne'
!. err knew but one girl who could viii
a tie good, and after dentist pulled or
n of her front teeth she couldn't an
IL more"
SSH" Vida said, laying hand on Il
10 seadog's arm.
After pause Jim asked, why don
!. she whistler
"She's tryin to- explained the ca
tain, who correctly interpreted the I