The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1918-05-09


miles from the mainland? The walk
ing is not very good"
felt as If had stepped off into
space from high platform. "PrOba-
bly-that is. the chances are"-I floun-
dered-"the chances are that she de-
cided to row. and the wind mfy have
carried her out of her way"
finally persuaded central to call up
HuntingdOns. l think it was curiOsi-
ty that made her relent could be
sure that she would be liste ming to
whatever might be said by Mrs. Green
and myself.
Hello"
Hello, Mrs. Green! This is Mr.
Blainey"
Hello. Mr.. Blaineyw There was a
ring of ladylike indignation in her
voice. Can you explain to me- Mr..
Blainey. how | happened to find my
self in rOwboat out in the middle Of
the lake, wearing my red silk dress
and a nightcap tied under one ear?"
wait a minute, Mrs. Green, central
is listening"
II don't care. She always does. She
probably wants to know just as much
as l do. What happened? Was there
. an earthquake? l remember the island
was sort of wOb5ly and hard to
walk on"
NO, there wasn't any earthquake" a."
answered. I'VE were fasting, you re-
members"
Yes. l remember that. but In not
any more. The first thing l did when
l landed was to break into this house
and cook myself a can of baked beans.
, It's funny if there wasn't any earth
! quake. l remember the floor Of the
house all running in funny little
waves"
I'm afraid our time must be nearly
up" l suggested in the hope of turn
| ing the conversation. Central will
cut us off"
NO, l won't" interposed third
voice, the sweetly professional one Of
| the operator. Talk all you want to.
There amt anybody waiting for the
line"
Il suppose l must have got into the
boat when the earthquake commenced,
persisted Mrs. Green, but how did
get on the decollete red dress? And
where did l get the nightcap? l have
not worn that dress for ten years"
I told her that we would have to
wait until she got home to explain a
number of things. Lucille will be
very glad to know that you are safe,
l added casually as if she had just
gone over to a neighbOr's, hoping to
deceive central. "She was afraid you
might get wet"
Did Lucille know was gOing?' in
quired the startled Mrs. Green, who
apparently did not catch on to my
acting.
NO, not until after you had started,
l said, skirting the edge of the truth
neatly. "She will be very glad to hear
that you are all right. Ill tell her as
soon as she wakes up. She is resting
now"
Sleeping? Now? What for?"
Why" l explained, ''she was up all
night"
What? And all alone on that island
with you two young fellows and nc
chaperOnw
"Oh, no." / hastened to reassure hel
and central, mot alone with us! There
are a lot of people here-six or seven
should say"
Holding a convention of earthquake
sufferers, suppose" Mrs. Green sur
missed caustically. What sort of peO
pie are they?"
"Oh. very nice people" answered
promptly. "One of them is a lady,"
How do you know she is a lady,
inquired Mrs. Green-"juSt because sh
happened to be wearing skirts whel
she arrived!
"Oh. no. l said hastily. How cOul
tell this elderly, dignified lady tina
our feminine guest had not worn skirt
on her arrival.
"Humph." Mrs. Green was not pal
ticularly impressed. 'The sooner / ge
back the letter. You'll have to SEN
some one over after me because ther
weren't any oars in the boat l cam
in. l wouldn't go out in rOwboa
again anyway. Send a big boat or
won't leave here"
I'll send for you just as soon as
can" l was glad to have the cOnveI
| 20
& bad enough already. but who cOul
tell what else might come out If W
d kept on talking? The storm ought t
d quiet down soon now. Goodby for tn
present"
e wait minute. want to ask
e l am afraid was guilty of rank dis
# courtesy in hanging up the receive
Is before l heard her question, but kneV
l should be unable to answer it any
Is way, and had to have an opportunit
to think what 1t was all about.
Il First of all, Lucille must be told an
s. an end put to her anxiety. l weI
upstairs and called "Lucilew
CHAPTER X.
- The Clam Hunter.
~ HERE was no answer. and
~ stepped to the door Of her room
which stood open. She was /
- ing on her bed. dressed, wit
her head on her arm, sleeping the des
ie sleep Of utter exhaustion. She SCENE
p very small and childish, and her q
D" gers curled adOrably, like baby's.
;" didn't have the heart to waken her,
as tiptOed out. The news would
ell just as welcome when she waken
of her own accord, and sleep would
'ut her much good.
In When came downstairs I saw Bo