The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-04-19
CHAPTER Ix-contlnued.
"Ask him" | suggested.

I
1t seemed TO me TO be n possible way
to gain a little solitude for reflection
and asscnted to the wager
you don't intend to tell him, then
that you are engaged already?'
"Oh, no, not until he proposes. OF
course might like him better than
do Ned. Then I'd never tell him"
l could see that Ned Blaney was go
ing to have the time of his life imme
diately after he found himself hitched
more or less for life to this volatile
young person. Vida was not one OF
those who would pass by an inviting
pasture lot simply because she was in
harness.
The rest of us went into the house
As we came in the telephone was ring.
ing. Asking Lucile's permission, 1 an
swered it,
Hello" said a male voice, speaking
with staccato sharpness. May l speak
10 Mr.. Upton S. Clalr?"
put my hand over the mouthpiece
and turned around. Lucille had gone
upstairs. but Bopp was gazing idly
out of the window.
rs Mr.. Clair still there in the yard?'
asked him.
NO; he went off down the beach
with Miss Dunmore"
Hello" / spoke again into the tele-
phone Mr.. Clair was here a moment
ago, but he has just gone for walk
with young lady"
"Impossibler The voice at the other
end shot that emplatically at me.
"It'S So"
"Clair is a woman hater."
what if he is? This one is going
to convert him"
"Humph. She can't do it. Who is
she?"
Her name is Miss Vida Dunmore."
vida Dnmore there?"
Certainly"
"Thank heavenr' he calculated fer
vently. I've been waiting for hours
for her to get here. How does she
come to be there?"
| explained to the young man, who
proved to be Ned Blaney, as l had al
ready suspected, all about the wreck of
the Mary Bell and the casting ashore
Of her passengers.
Thanks very much,' said Blaney,
with considerable relief in his voice
"Ill come right over after her. Don't
tell her that l called up and 1 will
surprise her, Goodby."
T L
that he probably couldn't get any kind
of boat to come over to the island,
but l judged that he would find that
out soon enough for himself.
where's Miss Green?" asked Bopp
Il advised her to lie down for Il lit
wearing her out. She is leaving every
thing in my charge"
Il presume that congratulations are
in ORDER" l said, extending my hand
with as good show Of cordiality as
could muster. Il do congratulate you,
Mr.. Bopp."
We're not regularly engaged" Bopp
said sourly. "She has promised to be
mine if l can find her mother That
makes me just about as near engaged
to her as if we had never met"
So Lucile's promise had u string tied
to it. My heart leaped exultantly.
There was a chance yet.
Lets have a drink on the strength
of your engagement anyway" 1 said,
starting toward the kitchen.
"Water?" queried BoSp, hoping
against hope.
why, yes"
"No, thanks. My tummie is looking
for Mount Ararat now" He sank dis
consolately into seat. In moment
he rose wearily. 1--WE got to start out
again. l promised Lucille 1 would
search while she rested"
Hardly had he left the house when
the telephone rang again. 1 answer
ed 1t.
Hello"
Hello. Is that you, Mr.. Blainey?
Will you call Lucille to the telephone?
want to-
The voice ceased abruptly.
"Hello," l called, hello, hello"
There was no answer.
The voice 1 had just been listening
to was that of Mrs. Green.
After awhile got centrars attention
and demanded to be told why | had
been cut off.
THAT party called up from a private
telephone" said central sweetly. "She
had no right to use it. 1t is summer
telephone only, and the instrument is
to be taken out next week"
But it was Mrs Green who was
talking"
1T couldn't be-" central was posi-
tive. "You are speaking from Mrs.
Green's residence yourself"
at was Mrs. Green. 1 recognized
her voice."
"Just a minute" These was a pause,
then: Hello! That party called up
from Huntingdon's. What could Mrs.
Greer be doing there on a stormy day
like this?"
could not explain to gosSipy tele-
phone operator what had really hap
pened to Mrs. Green. / did not know
much about it myself, and the few
facts OF her disappearance that was
cognizant Of would hardly sound well
II repeated.
Mrs Green" I haxarded, went out
walking, and suppose she stopped in
At Mr.. HuntingdOn's,"