The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-06-07

"Dldn't / tell you l wanted to be ar
rested so that Miss Dunmore would
break our engagement? jail Is better
than marriage any time. They shorten
| Jail sentences for good behavior" He
shook his fist at the departing tug.
"They were just ready to have break
fast on board too"
A confusion of inarticulate sounds
advised me that Miss Dunmore was
removing the gag from her hastily
adopted mothers mouth.
"Who are your" Mrs. Green demand
ed as soon as she could speak.
"Where's Lucille? What Is the next
thing have to do, loop the loop or be
electrocutedT
I'm a castaway, wrecked on your
island" Vida explained. "YOur daugh-
ter is all right"
"Where is she?" Mrs. Green fred
the question at me as If l were In
some way responsible.
"Why"- | started to explain, but
realized suddenly that Mrs. Green
might not take kindly to the idea of
her daughters present costume, SO
stopped.
She's over there" Captain Perkins
waved in the general direction Of the
thicket where we had last heard Lu-
cile.
"Dead?" Mrs. Green murmured, lean
ing for support on my arm.
"No, no." interposed Vida, who
should have done the explaining in the
first place. "She is just taking a nap.
She has had such a terribly exhausting
experience the last forty-eight hours
that we were all thankful when she
dozed off little while ago. Poor thing.
the rest will do her a world of good"
whats she sleeping over there for?"
pointing at the bushes. why isn't
she in her own bed in the house"
"Oh, the house." Vida repeated
blankly. Didn't any ono tell you?
There isn't any house."
"No house? Why not"
"Your house, madam" said Captain
Perkins, has been consumed by the
devouring element" He quoted fire
insurance advertisement from memory.
"Well, WE'LL" Mrs. Green repeated in
a daze. "Well, WELL"
Upton S. Clair plucked me by the
sleeve to attract my attention and
whispered in my ear, "Where are my
pants?"
"Why," l replied, 81 sent them over
to Huntingdons island, as l promised
1 would"
Are they there now?"
"Yes. Bill left them in the kitchen
for you"
"Then 1 suppose I'll have to wear
this"
81 should think that it would be i'm
modest if you didn't"
He walked away.
"Take me to my daughter" Mrs
Green said, with sigh. Let me see
that there is something left of my life
as it was before the earthquake"
"You can see her If you wish," said |
Vida calmly, "but 1 assure you she is
all right, and you will only disturb her
from a sleep which she needs very, |
very much"
Nluu Is stu lllI. III os
Green actually believed her and ceased |
to worry about Lucille. Mrs. Green is
one of those placid ladies who let 9th
er people bully them and mold their
very thoughts. Lucille had always
made her mother think just whatever
she told her to, and Vida was ap-
parently able to do the trick also.
We walked up to inspect the ruins.
1t was as nice and complete a set OF
ruins as have ever gazed upon. Moth
ing was left to the imagination-the
whole business was ruined.
While we were engaged in that
mournful amusement a tall, muscular
young man walked into our circle and
"Where is Upton S. Clair?"
''Nedr Vida exclaimed, rushing to-
ward him. She stopped when she saw
his face.
He brushed past her.
Ned Blaneyr' shouted Clair, joyful.
ly advancing toward the young man.
'You treacherous hound" Kissed
Blaney, gazing on that whiskered
without smiling. "You stole
the only woman l ever loved away
from me. Heart breaker"
81 couldn't help it," Clair admitted.
wiper" yelled Blaney as he fell on
his friend.
1t would have been fairer fight il
Clair had not been hampered by his
skirts. AS it was, it ended with Bla-
1ey athwart Clair's back, grinding his
nose into the dirt.
81 give upy' choked Clair. "I'll mar
" her"
Marry her" Blaney shook his
friend again. Not while l live"
isn't that what you're trying to
make me do" Clair expostulated as
veil as he could. Il don't want to-
hats certain"
Don't you see, Ned" Vida interrupt
ed soOthingly, "he doesn't want to mar ,,
y me. Your outrageous jealousy has
ed you into making mistakes again"
'I'm sorry" corroborated Blaney.
I've been under a terribly nervous
strain over all this, and first l was
lfraid Vida was lost in the storm. !
vas nearly frantic till l got hold of
'owboat and came over. 1t was an
lwful pull in the sea that's running out
here. But it's all right now. You must
IL come over to Fair View to see Vida
md me get married this morning."
Clair was listening to all this in a
Ort of dazed wonder. t
"Don't have to marry herr" he t
sked.
"Have to marry herT' echoed Bla- f
u 4.