Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-07-06

lHeH' deAo! mat party called up
from Huntingdons What could Mrs.
Greer be doing there on stormy day
like this?"
L could not explain to a gOSSipy tele-
phone operator what had really hap
pened to Mrs. Green. l did not know
much about Il myself, and the few
facts of her disappearance that | was
cogniA&nt of would hardly sound well
If repeated.
Mrs. Green" 1 hazarded, went ont
walking, and | suppose she stopped in
at Mr.. Hundngdon's
do you know" asked central, that
Huntingdon's is on a small island three
miles south of where you are and three
miles from the mainland? The walk
ing is not very good"
l felt as if 1 had stepped off into
space from a high platform. "Proba-
bly-that is, the chances are"-I floun-
dered-'the chances are that she de-
cided to row, and the wind may have
carried her out of her way"
/ finally persuaded central TO call IN
HuntingdOn's. l think it was curiosi-
ty that made her relent. l could be
sure that she would be listening to
whatever might be said by Mrs. Green
and myself
Hello"
"Hello, Mrs. Greeni This is Mr..
Blainey"
Hello, Mr. Blaineyr' There was a
ring Of ladylike indignation in her
voice. "Can you explain to me, MFR
Blainey, how 1 happened to find my
self in a rowboat out In the middle of
the lake, wearing my red silk dress
and a nightcap tied under one carr"
wait minute, Mrs. Green, central
is listening"
Il don't care. She always does. She
probably wants to know Just as much
as do What happened? Was there
an earthquake? I remember the island
was sort of wobbIy and hard to
walk on"
NO, there wasn't any earthquake"
1 answered. I'VE were fasting, you re-
memberY
Eyes. I remember that. but I'm not
any more. The first thing did when
/ landed was to break into this house
and cook myself n can Of baked beans.
It's funny if there wasn't any earth
quake. / remember the floor of the
house all running in funny little
waves"
Pm 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 a third
voice, the sweetly professional one of
the operator. Talk all you want to.
There amt anybody waiting for the
line"
I suppose I must have got, into the
boat when the earthquake commenced"
persisted Mrs. Green, but how did 1
get on the decollete red dress? And
where did 1 get the nightcap? I have
not worn that dress for ten years"
/ tod her that we would have to
wait until she got home to explain a
number of things. Lucille win be
very glad to know that you are safe"
1 added casually as if she had Just
gone over to neighbours, hoping to
deceive central. "She was afraid you
light get wet"
Did Lucille know was going?" in
quired the startled Mrs. Green, who
apparently did not catch on to my
acting.
mo, 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. III 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 no
chaperonw
'Oh, no." l fastened IL reassure her
and central, mot alone with US! There
are a lot Of people here-six or seven,
/ should say"
Holding a convention of earthquake
sufferers, l suppose" Mrs. Green sur
missed caustically. What sort of peo-
pie are they?"
"Oh, very nice people" I answered
promptly. "One OF them is a lady"
How do you know she is a lady"
inquired Mrs. Green-'Just because she
happened TO be wearing skirts when
she arriyed:'
on. no. ! said hastily. How could
tell this elderly dignlfed lady that
our feminine guest had NOT worn skirts
on her arrival
"Humph =" Mrs. Green was not par
ticularly impressed. The sooner I get
back the letter. You'll have to send
some one over after me because there
weren't any oars in the boat came
In. | wouldn't go cut in a rowboat
again anyway. Send q big boat or /
won't leave here"