Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
CHAPTER TX.
Engaged If

Bopp yet" said Lucille to Vida
d as the girl gained her breath.
"At least you were not conscious
when you first saw each other"
"What name did you sny?"
"Mr. Bopp, my liancc."
"Your timccT CALCULATED.
Eyes" Lucille turned to me. al
wanted to tell you two the first ones.
knew you would appreciate our hap
pincss."
My mind refused to grasp this dis
astcr. l had never seriously consider
ed Bopp rs running even very dan
gerous second.
My mind puzzling over Lucilc's state
ment, I heard Vida's clear soft voice
saying, "Mr. Bopp, l am plcased-why,
aren't you called 'BoppyT"
"Boppy2" repeated Lucille curiously.
"Yes, don't you call him that? All
the girls In the Show Girl company
did. I was In the chorus then. We
used to regard him as almost ono Of
the company, he was around with us
so much. We had good time that
season." she added rcflectively.
Lucille mtirmurcd, "I should Imagine
So"
II know you will BIO happy" Vida
was saying. 1--WE been engaged good
many times and enjoy 1t more every
time"
"You must be terribly tired, Monty"
heard Lucille say; mo sleep for thir-
ty-six hours and no food for three days.
L wish that there were something thnt
could do for YOU"
listened In nmazcmcnt. Could this
be Lucille, and was she addressing me?
She was. l puzzled over the gentle
ness In her tones and the solicitudc
she was showing for my welfare.
did not hit upon the answer then, but
L have since.
After awhile the rain let up, and we
went back to the house to see what
the others might have discovered and
lay plan or campaign. Vida elected
10 stay out OF doors. and l suggested
that she take Oh Mr.. Clair for a walk.
/ told her that he was woman hatcr
and thus inadvertently aroused her ill.,
fercst.
'Tll have to make him change his
.iucns." She looked up Mt ME innocent
~. "Do You think l can do it?''
"Asl him." suggested.
"Mcaning that you don't think can.
I'll bet my seal ring against yours that
L can make him propose before dark
Mine Is Il very curious one too. \
Russian duke gave it to me. l never
met him, but he sent it to my dressing
room with some flowers"
1t seemed to me to be a possible way
to gain little solitude for reflection,
and assentcd to the wager.
"You don't intend to tell him, then,
that you are engaged alrcady2"
ooh, no, not until he proposes. OF
course I might like him better than I
do Ned. Then I'd never tell him."
I could see that Ned Blaney was 60
ing to have the time of his life imme.
diately after he found himself hitched
moro or less for life to this volatile
young person. Vida was not one of
those who would pass by an inviting
pasture lot simply because she was In
harness.
The rest OF us went into the house
AS we came In the telephone was ring
ing. Asking Lucile's permission, I an.
;swered it.
"Hello" said q male voice, speaking
with staccato sharpness. "May speak
ITO Mr.. Upton S. Clair?"
put my hand over the mouthpicce
and turned around. Lucille had gone
upstairs, but Bopp was gazing idly
,out Of the window.
''ls Mr.. Clair still there in the yard p
Il asked him.
"No; he went off down tho beach
with Miss Dunmore."
"Hello" / spoke again into the tele
phone. "Mr. Clair was here q moment
ago. but he has just gone for walk
with young lady"
"Impossible!' The voice at the othe,
lend shot that emphatically at me.
"It's So"
"Clair is q woman hater."
"What If he is? This zone is going
ito convert him."
"Humph. She can't do It, Who IN
Ea2