Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-25
would not starvc II prisoner.
"All right" Bopp sighed. I'D,

in no time"
With Il wink to the rest of ua, Ropp
climbed into the boat with Il dcmcanor
that otherwise would have been cred.
1t to Sydney Carton.
When the boat was being rowcd
away he waved farewell.
"Don't worry" he rcassurcd us. al
won't be in jail long"
1--WE wont worry" | answered for
MI. stay ns long us YOU like"
After the tug had gone Clair stood
looking diSconsolately after 1t.
You don't seem overioycd at being
set free, | said to him in low voice,
so that the others could not hear.
"Didn't ! tell YOU l wanted to be ar.
rested so that Miss Dunmorc would
break our engagement? Jail is better
than marriage any time. They shorten
jail sentences for good behavisr." lilo
shook his fist at the departing tug,
''rhcy were just ready to have break
fast on board too"
y confusion OF innrticulutc sounds
advised me that Miss Dunmorc was
removing the gag from her hastily
adopted mothers mouth.
"Who are youT' Mrs. Green dcmaud
ell rs soon as she could speak
"Whcrc's Lucille? What Is the next
thing l have to do. loop the loop or be
clcctrocutcdT
i III a caStaWay. wrecked on your
island Vida explained. "Your daugh
ter Is all right"
'Whcrc Is she%" Mrs. Green fired
the question at me as If were In
some way responsible.
'Why'- | started to explain, but
realized suddenly that Mrs. Green
might not fake kindly to the Idea of
her daughters present costume, so I
stepped.
Shes over there" Captain Perkins
waved In the general direction of tho
thickct where we had last hoard LII
cilc.
"Dcad:" Mrs. Green murmurcd, lean.
III; for support on my arm.
NO. no. intrrposcd Vida. who
should have done the explaining In the
first place. she is Just tukin. n nan.
She has had such Il terribly cXhaustin.
experience the last forty-right hours
that we were al thankful when she
do%rd off little while ago. Poor thing.
the rest will do her II world OF good"
"Whats She sleeping ovcr there ror?"
pointing ut the bushes. "Whv isn't
she In her own bed in the house,"
'Oh. the house," Vida repeated
h!alkly. "nidn't any one tell YOU?
There isn't any house"
mo house? Why not:"
"lour house. ma,iam." said Captain
Perkins, "has been consumed by the
dcvouring element" He quoted Il fire
insurance advertisement from memory.
well, we'll" Mrs. Green repeated In
II dnzc. "Wcll, we'll"
Upton S. Clair pluckcd me by the
sleeve to attract my attention and
whispered in my ear "NNherc are my
pants?"
"Why," replied, II sent them over
to IIuntingdon's island. rs I promised
l would"
care they there now?"
"Yes. Bill left them In tho kitchen
for YOU"
"Thcn suppose I'll have to wear
this"
II should think that 1t would be I'M
modest If you didn't"
He walked away.
Take me to ny daughter" Mrs.
Green said, with a sigh. Let me sec
that there Is something left OF my life
as 1t was before the cu:thurnlic"
"You can see her If ytr WISH" said
Vida calmly, but assure You she Is
all right, and you will only disturb her
frn,,, cln lat.
very much.'
vida is an admirable liar. Mrs.
Green actually believed her ana ceased
to worry about Lucille. Mrs. Green is
one OF those placid ladies who let 9th.
or people bully them and mold their
very thoughts. Lucille had always
made her mother t!.ink just whatever
she told her to. and Vida was ap.
pnrently able to do the trick also,
We walked up to inspect the ruins.
1t was as nice and complete set of
ruins as have ever gaZcd upon. Moth
ing was left to the inaginntion--the
whole business was ruined
While we were engaged In that
mournful amusement n tall. muscular
young man walked into our circle and
demanded. "Whcrc is Upton S. Clair?
"Ncd!' Vida exclaimed, rushing to-
ward him. She stopped when she saw
his face.
He brushed past her.
Med Blancy!" shouted Clair, joyful
ly advancing toward the young man.
you treacherous hound! Kissed
Blaney, gazing OH that whiskered
travesty without smiling. "You stole
tho only woman ! ever loved away
from me. IIcnrt breakcr!
II couldn't help It," Clair admitted.
"Viper!' yelled Blnncy as he fell on
his friend.
1t would have been faircr fight If
Clair had not been hampcrcd by his
skirts. AS it was, 1t ended with Bla-
ney athwart Glars back, grinding his
nose into the dirt.
II give up!' choked Clair. "I'll mar