The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-04-04
CHAPTER Iv.--contlnued.


Ali the time l was listening my
mind was occupied with trying TO &C,
count for the thrill which had jolted
mo when I had taken Lucile's hands in
mine at the top OF the staircase,
decided to put my fortunes to the test.
4 would SIT up until Bopp went to bed
and then ask her to marry me-.
Kent, the telephone man. retired first.
II think I'll sit up awhile" l said,
stealing Q leok 81 Lucille and hoping
that she would comprehend my inten.
ton.
sIf you're going 10 sit up I'll stick, -
said Bopp. with Mnchiavelllan cordial
fly. "I1I split a gallon Of water with
you"
There we sat, and we drank glass
after glass of water until IL o'clock.
Then Lucille decided to retire and spoil
ed the whole game.
II guess I'll turn In now, too" I sug-
geSted tentatively, hoping at least that
I would get a chance to speak to her
OF the stairs.
But no. Bopp developed a sudden
fondness for my society and accompa.
MED me TO my DON and sat on my bed
Tor awhile talking about affairs the
n~tricsl, assuming that / was interested
In them. which I was not.
When be finally departed the house
was dark and the wind OF the storm
made unearthly noises around the
cares. I was more tired than re-
membered to have been for years, but
not sleepy. / don't know whether Il
was actual hunger or merely the idea
that / had not eaten anything for for.
ty-eight hours which haunted me. A.
any rate, every time that I closed my
eyes I'd have a vision OF those dog
biscuits. 1 might Just as well have
pictured q chocolate cake or a dough.
nut to myself; but. mott was a dog
biscuit
After an hour or 80 OF that kind OF
torture I at last decided to satisfy my
fool imagination by showing It a dog
biscuit In the life and proving that II
was not desirable at all. That was the
only reason that l went downstairs.
Il =sEas rather tfeikiish business roam.
ing around q strange house wearing no
other padding than a suit Of pajamas.
I banged my shins numerically
against several hundred pieces of fur
niture, but l toned my remarks there
at 20 q pitch below the bowling OF the
storm. An occasional fash Of light.
ming helped me momentariiy from time
to time. but left me laundering In the
intervals
Finally In the kitchen. I CROPPED my
way to the shelf, and the box OF dog
biscuit was In my hands. Furtiyely
took one out, fondled It and smiled II
Being alone there with that unpro-
tscted dog biscuit was too much fol
my moral courage. / decided to throw
honor to the winds. There was sc
much wind and SO little honor that NC
enc would notice ~ n
set my teeth In the dog biscuit
suddenly there was a sound on the
stairway. I listened intently-the creak
ing OF a stair
who could It be7 Possibly It wa
Kent. the ex-wire Taper. His earl,
training might have proved too mucl
Tor him and he had decided to loo
the place and make his escape. I mad
up my mind TO behave yaliantly ant
grasped q dog biscuit firmly IL on
Assa, determined 10 sell my life a
dearly as was consistent with the higl
cost OF living. The box containing thu
rest Of the biscuit ! put back on tn
shelf and crouched behind the stove
ready 10 spring &C the intruder IN
awares as soon as he entered. .
had a OF those flashes Of insan
bravery which IL nine-tenths fear whei
saw the light Of q pocket lnnterl
straessing along the wall at the foo
OF the stairs. I jumped four fee
straight up in the air when somethinl
wet touched the sole OF my bare foo
which was extended behind me as
ihnelt behind the stove. My exclama
lfion was drowned I'm q crash OF thur
der. Burglar or no burglar, ! wa
about to run to him for protection
from that clammy thing which hat
touched me when a second dash o
ll1ghfning showed Mech, horrorsi !
was Tootles frisking around my feet.
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