The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-05-09

~ DIV ~ - ~AsA AAA1bI
sweet young girl like Vida allenated
him from human consideration.
He unused a moment. "Ill do IT,"
he exclaimed. IF / don't show up,
NUNS the word"
"You can't get away" I reminded
him. There's no boat"
II forgot to tell you that / am the
champion swimmer Of the Brooklyn
Athletic club. I think I saw some
bathing suits hanging up in the shed.
with one Of those on It viii be child's
play to me-"
Strangely cheered, he let himself out
the back way and left me to the ST.
lence Of my CLAIMS.
I left the clans to their own devices
&c. awhile and went back to the living
room. Vida was there idly taking i'm
pressions from my seal ring on some
soft kneaded rubber that lay on Luz
Giles desk. Lucille herself was not in
sight. The captain and the best cook
who ever ran a marine engine were
sunk deep In the gloom which sur.
rounds the ~nonreading man when cut
OF from his kind and his employment
"Well," said Vida when I stood over
her like IN accusing judge, what have
done now? Shouldn't ! play with
this rubber this wayT
"You know what you've DONE" I
said sternly. "You trapped Upton 8.
Clair into proposing to you"
kryA o-.f, w1aNhInD xrnnnD ahaVxl Ah.A %
Vida protested. "How do you sup
pose any man ever proposes? You
have to trap them. Were you under
the impression that adult males went
around looking for a chance to pay for
some one else's board and millinery
and hosiery and all that sort OF thing?
No, sir; the masculine mind Is very
wary. That's why we women have to
be so much brighter than the men.
It's q case of self preservation"
Hes afraid you meant 1t. He's GO
Ing to try to swim to the mainland In
order to get away"
what! Swim to the maInland?"
"Yes. He's q woman hater."
"Good heavensl He must not do
that" Vida was genuinely concerned.
"You might tell him that you are
engaged to some n else. That might
reassure him."
II will" Vida got up determinedly
and went to- the door. Which way
did he got"
fright down to the shore, I think"
I said. she seemed n trife dazed,
though, and might have wandered"
Funny thing" interjected Captain
Perkins, "the way a Teller win wan
der sometimes. My brother, he used
to walk In his sleeep. / was goin' to
tell yen where the zebra bit him that
time"
Yes said Vida eagerly. 'tell us
where the zebra bit him."
you'll have to hurry to catch him.
interrupted, -.or & viii be tee late"
The telephone bell rang.
Hello. This Is Blaney. Is Clair
there?'
mo, he's not here now"
Then let me speak to Miss Dun
me-cn
"She isn't here either" I explained.
"oh, they're put walking together
again, I suppose" said my namesake
sarcastically.
mo. not walking" I said; swim
ming"
"What2 At this time Of night?r he
yelled. Not both OF themi vida
can't SWIM"
Maybe he is teaching her how" I
suggested. / didn't know OF any rea.
son why I should ease his mind any
way. A little jealousy would be good
T1x him.
"0hr He took the blow like a man.
Then / heard him say family, Good
by" and / hung up the receiver.
Lucille confronted me when I turned
around. DO you know where Tootiea
is?'
"No, i don't know where she is," I
replied. with strict adherence to the
truth. "Isn't she here?' I added guile.
iessly.
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
on"
At this moment the unspeakable
Bopp entered. He made a great show
or WEAKNESS. dragging his feet as II
they were too heavy to lift.