Gunnison news-champion., 1917-08-10


osar - that thsrs paanking
~3ese - IosfIsss L1elIs ~ssUG11
sWhat - care for IN 81 atfse lsse
whea NJ Tootlss = In danoss9 -
shan't say there another minuoD II !
can he3p it, ghs tried to ~ ~
board With hef Anesr naI12
-waif.- + regusstsd- Let - = this
seientinnlly..
I vrenched Q Bes from IN old arm
chair which. had already suffered the
amputation of one Of Its extrefhifies
and with that as . lever pried up one
of the flooring boards at the ends which
extended loose over the floor beams.
Al the plank came up amid cloud of
dust Lucille gave me look such ~
must have rewarded Launcelot from
the grandstand after be ran = curtain
pole through q cast iron white hoop.
We assembled around the hole had
made No Tootles In sight
"Whistle," Lucille commanded me.
I oa1eyed.
Joyful barks. 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 waitT Captain
Perkins was an earnest advocate OF
the Fabian policy.
"No."
I took up another board and yet an
other. stepping 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
ind her"
I had taken up all but half q dozen
Of the boards when my foot slipped
from the cross floor beam on which
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 ~ she saw me
sinking from sight, like the villain In
Lorna Doone."
My next conscious remembrance was
Of sitting nat In the middle OF . bed.
the springs Of which were gently
bouncing ma W and down after the
fashion Of net into which Q trapexe
performer had dropped from the top
Of the tent Above was hole In the
ceiling. around me were chunks Of
plaster and splinters Of lath. and sit
ting in chair by the window was Jim.
his mouth open. emitting q series Of
short, sharp yelps.
Lucille. Vida. Bopp. Kent and the
captain made . ring Of faces around
the hole in the ceiling.
stop barking. you darn fool!'' shout
ed tho captain after . moment devotei
to startled surprise by all concerned.
AYE. aye. sirr.. replied Jim. salut-
ing
Then It wasn't Tootles at ALL" Lu.
cils was overwhelmed by grief that
was all the more poignant because II
had been held OF 20 long by hope.
You have to admit that Jim u M
all around bright young fellow" de.
ciureL the captain proudly. "It amt
often you can and . marine engineer
who can cook and do ~ good an imi
tstion Of q Cog a. that"
"But why" hxed the captain with
q malevolent eye-"why did he initiate
dog at this particular momentf What
10 the cause Of this character study Of
. canine under noOr7 Why not .
dog out in the yard chasing his tan or
q Newfoundland pup having an arsu-
ment with dilapidated sh0eT
why, this was 4 little idea Of my
own" stated Captain Perkins modest
ly. "When I see Miss Green was 60
Ing to be all broke up II nothing an
swered when she whistled told Jim
there to 60 downstairs and pretend to
be the pup. Just SOS she'd feel better"
"What want to know. Mr.. Blainey." !"