The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-06-28
Indeed q
Cheerful
Tale
(Copyrieht. Frank 4. Nunsey Oo.)

he exclaimed. III l 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 l am the
champion swimmer OF the Brooklyn
Athletic club. think l saw some
bathing suits hanging up In the shed.
With one OF those on 1t will be child's
play to me-"
Strangely cheered, he let himself out
the back way and left me to the ST.
lence OF my clans.
I left the CLAIMS to their own devices
for 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
off from his kind and his employment.
"Well," said Vida when l stood over
her like an accusing Judge. what have
done now? Shouldn't play with
this rubber this wsy?"
"You know what you've DONE" 1
said sternly. "You trapped Upton 8.
Clair into proposing to you
"There's nothing wrong about that"
Vida protested. "How do you sup
pose any man ever proposes7 You
have to trap them. Were you under
the impression that adult males went
around looking for chance to pay for
some one else's board and millinery
and hosiery and all that sort of thing :?
No, sir; the masculine mind In very
wary. That's why we women have to
be so much brighter than the men.
It's case Of self preservation"
Hes afraid you meant it. He's 60
ing to try to swim to the mainland in
order to get away"
what! Swim to the mainland?"
Eyes. He's a woman hater."
Good heavens! He must not do
that" Vida was genuinely concerned.
You might tell him that you are
engaged to some one else. That might
reassure him"
Il will" Vida got up determinedly
and went to the door, (which way
did he go?'
fright down to the shore, 1 think, u
said. HE seemed a trifle dazed
though, and might have wandered"
Funny thing" interjected Captain
Perkins, "the way a Teller viii wan.
der sometimes. My brother, he used
to walk in his sleep. ! was goin' to
tell you 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 it will be too late"
The telephone bell rang.
Hello. This Is Blaney. II Clair
therey'
mo, he's not here now"
Then let me speak to Miss Dun
mere"
"She isn't here either" explained.
"Oh. they're out walking together
again, l suppose" said my namesake
sarcastically.
mo, not walking" said; swim
ming"
What? At this time Of night?" he
yelled. mot both of them? vids
can't swim"
Maybe he is teaching her how"
suggested. l didn't know Of any rea
son why l should ease his mind any
way. A little jealousy would be good
for him.
"Oh" He took the blow like a man
Then l heard him say family, Good
by" and l hung up the receiver.
Lucille confronted me when turned
around. do you know where Tootles
is?"
mo, don't know where she. u.s."
replied, with strict adherence to the
truth. Isn't she hereY' / added guile
lessly.
mo, and I'm dreadfully worried
There are so many strange people IL
the house that some one may have lie
her out, not knowing how careful W,
are with her. She might get lost ant
starved or get her feet wet and hav,
pneumonia, or hawk might carry he
off,"
At this moment the unspeakabl'
Bopp entered. He made great show
of weariness dragging his feet as 1
they were too heavy to lift
Have you seen herr" demanded Lu
| Gle.
NO" Bopp said YEARLY. "Tv
tramped all over the island again ant
again. There's no ravine, no gully, n
bush that | haven't investigated. Sh
inlst have left the island"
''She can't swim." moaned Lucille
Her little legs are too short, and he
fur would get in her eyes,
"Whatr' he yelled. "Fur get in he
eyes7"
''Tootles is lost" l threw In by wa,
Of explanation.
'Tootles?" said Bopp. bewildered
I've been looking for Mrs Green"
"Oh, she's been found" Lucille Ell
| planned.
"When?'
"Oh, hours and hours ago. She tele
phoned Mr.. Blainey. She got in MI
Kent's rowboat and was blown to
x-t2 {r1.