Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-08-17
CHAPTER xvI--continued.


BY the violent ringing Of the telephone
bell inside the burning building.
who can be calling up at this time
Of night?" wondered Vida, voicing the
general curiosity.
I'VE PROBABLY will never know
Bopp gazed dreamily> into the fire.
Maybe some one saw the blaze from
the mainland and is calling up about
It."
"No," said Lucille, with conviction !:
ats my mother. She has seen the fire
from Huntingdon's and wants to know
NIam safe. We must answer it and
tell her that everything is all right"
mo one could go In there" l pro-
tested. 1.-The fire is raging in the liv-
ing room, and the walls may fall any
moment"
but mother will worry"
what If she does?" A man under
stress Of excitement Is sometimes I'M
Intentionally brutal.
IF you men are not brave enough"
Lucille declared, with eyes flashing, IF
you're so afraid of getting singed, I'm
going in to answer that telephone my
self and tell my mother that | am
safe"
you wouldn't be safe IL you were
talking over that telephone" / was
exasperated. but it was impossible to
allow a girl in dimsy negligee to go
into that furnace. ''Since you put 1t
that way I'll CO.,
CROPPED my way to the instrument,
1ammed the receiver to my ear and
shouted, "HelloY'
Sorry to waken you, old chap" said
a male voice apologetically, but SIM
ply must speak to Miss Dunmore."
"You go to Halifax ! requested
loudly, and, dropping the receiver.
made wild dash for the door, from
which l emerged with my clothing on
fire in only one or two spots.
THANK your lucille was very
sweet In bestowing her gratitude
"Was she very much worriedP
ut wasn't your mother" / said
shortly. ut was Mr. Blaney."
"Ned?" asked Vida; then, without
waiting for an answer. II must speak
10 him.
gently restrained her.
"Blaney? queried Lucille ola2kiy;
then, turning to me, Your brotherT
mo relation" returned.
Hes my fiance,' Vida explained
"Just the darlingest old Blaney that
eve- lived. He's waiting for me at
Fair View We were to have been
married today, or yesterday, rather"
oh" Lucille retired to her inner
Consciousness to think
told Vida that Blaney knew she
was safe, as he had called up several
times during the day.
where was IT,
"You were always out somewhere
with Mr.. Clair" 1 explained.
"YOd didn't tell Ned that did your
why, yes, guess did. WhyT"
He's so jealous" sighed Vida cit
makes him furious when l talk to 9TH
er men. OF course after we're mar
Tied III train him differently, but now
have to be careful"
Our attention was distracted from
the burning building by the arrival of
Bill Johnson, who walked unannounced
into the circle of light. The noise of
the Merry Widow arriving had appar-
emily been lost IN the cracking of the
flames.
Well" inquired, "were Mrs. Green
and Mr.. Clair all right?"
4 shall not know it." Bill replied
automatically. Il can't, by Yimminy.
find en-"
Can't find them? Nonsense! Did
you go up to the house?"
Yes, sare. And l look in all the
rooms No one shall be in each"
They can't have left. Mrs. Green
SAID she wouldn't"
What's up now?" Bopp inquired.
Mrs. Green has disappeared once
more"
.Eloped with Upton S. Clair?'
Impossible! You haven't seen him
since be left here"
hat else could have happenedT'
can't imagine It's a small island,
a1a there would be no sense in sup
to>ng that she was hiding anywhere
outside Of the house Besides. they
p'tn knew that the boat was coming
oa1A soon to get Them
Mrs. Green is so elusive" Bopp
cF'aeized' that 1 should th.-.. that
I1en once you located her you would
Na.e Kept your eye on her"
II / had" / reminded him, "you
would probably all be burnt TO Gin
eefs now, There must be some plausi-
o'e reason for Mrs Green's disappear
0ye Suppose we don't tell her daugh-
~ ngnt away until we try to find out
""a1 has happened 1t would only
ase ner additional worry"
nat was agreed upon.
at any rate" Bopp said, I'VE can
a. 20 over to the mainland in the Mer-
- widow acJ get breakfast"
No. declared Bill, shaking his
Gao. Merry Widow she shan't run.
1e broke her waive spring. Maybe Il
Ae al day 10 fix she up"
men for heavens sake get at it!'
'opP growled GROSSLY.
II him IN wiz Soma wire may.