The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-06-14
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey
Company
CHAPTER xlx-contlnued.


TO your own"
"She's engP ed to Bopp," protested
feebly.
ITO make you angry" she whispered
II can't talk to you any more because
Ned is getting red behind his ears
That means that he is fearfully jeal
Gus. must run along and be scolded
Think 1t over"
She skipped blthely to the side OF
her soon to be lord and master (may'
be), smiling into his face with look
80 childlike and ingratiatng that
OthellO would have eaten the bolster
himself had he been in Blaney's shoes
Mrs. Green halted the procession.
II can't go without Lucille"
"Mr Blainey will explain 1t to Lu-
bile" Vida assured her, taking my ac-
quiescence for granted. "You see, I
need you terribly because have no
other woman friend with me. My own
mOther"-her lips quivered.
'Pm sorry" said Mrs. Green. "Has
she been dead long"
"Shc isn't dead, but she's in stock
company in st Louis"
"You really ought to go to the main
land" said, thinking to help matters
out, "ln order to bring back some
clothes for Lucille"
whats that" Mrs. Green turned
"Hasn't she any clothes on?"
Certainly" Vida hoped into the
breach surefoOtedly, "she has plenty
Of clothes on, but they would not be
suitable for her to wear to 90 over to
the mainland and register at hotel"
Vida spoke the truth almost as con-
vincingly as she lied.
please come" she urged.
'I'll 60" decided the older woman.
Fortunately she forgot that her own
costume was a trife bizarre for a
morning wedding, even in Fair View.
l conducted the company to the dock
and saw that they were made as com
Portable as possible in the Merry
Widow.
BILL" 1 commanded, get that row.
boat that Mr.. Blaney rowed over In
and tie it en- behind the Merry Wild
oW."
1 departed for the summer house,
vaguely wondering if l could silence
the reporter without using chloroform.
When entered the summer house he
eyed me with a cold cleaning sort of
hate, that made me think of Italian
daggcrs or Malay krisses
"If let you CO." began the parley,
how much will you take to shut up
and not ask any questions"
Nothing doing" he declared without
besitation. I'm going to get you and
I'm going to get you good"
That's all right" conciliated. "You
can get me just as soon as you like, but
all ask is that you do nothing to in
jure some perfectly harmless people"
He looked at me keenly.
You're not the caretaker here, as l |
thought, are your"
why, no." l replied modestly, mot
In professional way anyhow"
"Who are you" His newspaper In
stinct made him put the usual ques-
tions in spite of his dislike.
I'm just guest" said.
II know. but where shall l find you
If you dare meet me when we get Off
this island and my hands aren't tied?
WHAT'S your nameY
"You can find me any time you like
in the editorial rooms in the New York
Planet, and my name is Blainey."
Not MOntmorency Blainey, the dra-
matte criticY
That's the one" l was gratified
that my fame had spread so far.
''They say" quoted the reporter,
"that you are the worst dramatic critic
in New York"
THAT is an enviable distinction" l
lin place where they are
so numerous and bad"
what l mean is that you are the
most severe. If play gets praise from
you it's sure of success"
"Well, hardly that" l explained. 81
have picked good many winners
that's ALL"
The young man looked up at me.
1--WE written play" he announced.
"Only one?' l asked with simulated
interest. almost every person in the
United States has written one play.
To attain distinction you must meas
Ire your dramatic achievements by the
)ushel"
But mine is different"
Yes? Wherein lies the difrerence?"
mine is going to be produced"
'"rhat may or may not be an advan-
age"
with your help it is going to be an
dvantage."
How is thatY l inquired politely,
With u sinking premonition of what my
Dart was going to be.
when the play is produced you are
.oing to hail it as the great American
lay of the century. No matter If the n
ther critics condemn it, they will quail h
fy their criticism when they note your f
They will go again and
iScOver subtle merits that escaped NJ
heir first attention. Started by your m
its fame will grow, the pub
C will attend, shall get contracts for as
lore plays and shall have arrived" Sc
"Very clever" / sneered, "but your
lay is probably rotten, and 1 shall tell ia
le public So" pt
''Then I'll tell all know about what al
as happened on Green's island, and / sh
nall hint at lot of things 1 don't ia
now. If you will agree to like my
lay I'll promise to shut up and not ask 81
ny more questions"