The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-04-26
Indeed q
Cheerful
Tale
Copyright, Frank A. Munsey Coz

l done now? Shouldn't 1 play witt
this rubber this way?
"You know what you've done" !
said sternly. "You trapped Upton s
Clair into proposing to you"
"Theres nothing wrong about that,
Vida protested. "How do you sup
pose any man ever proposes? You
have to trap them. Were you under
the impression that adult males went
around looking for chance to pay for
some one else's board and millinery
and hosiery and all that sort of thingl
No, sir; the masculine mind Is very
wary. That's why we women have TO
be so much brighter than the men.
It's case Of self preservation"
Hes afraid you meant it, He's go
ing to try to swim to the mainland In
order to get away"
what! Swim to the malnland?
YES. He's woman hater."
Good heavens! He must not do
that" Vida was genuinely concerned.
"You might tell him that you are
engaged to some one else. That might
reassure him"
81 will" Vida got up determinedly
and went to the door, (Which way
did he go?'
fright down to the shore, I think"
I said. "He seemed a trIne dazed,
though, and might have wandered"
Funny thing" interjected Captain
Perkins, "the way a feller will wan
der sometimes. My brother, he used
to walk in his sleeep. l was goin to
tell you where the zebra bit him that
time"
Yes" said Vida eagerly, tell us
where the zebra bit him."
You'll have to hurry to catch him."
l interrupted, ''or it will be too late"
The telephone bell rang.
Hello. This is Blaney. Is Clair
there?'
mo, he's not here now"
"Then let me speak to Miss Dun
mere"
"She isn't here either" explained.
"Oh, they're out walking together
again, suppose" said my namesake
sarcastically
mo, not walking" 1 said; swim.
ming"
What? At this time OF night?' he
yelled. Not both of them? Vida
can't swim"
Maybe he is teaching her how"
suggested I didn't know of any rea-
son why I should ease his mind any
way. A little jealousy would be good
for him.
oh" He took the blow like a man.
Then l heard him say family, Good
Dy," and l hung up the receiver.
Lucille confronted me when turned
lround. "Do you know where Tootles
81"
mo, l don't know where she is" 1
'eplied, with strict adherence to the
ruth. Isn't she here?" added guile.
essly.
mo, and I'm dreadfully worried.
There are 50 many strange people in I
he house that some one may have let
Ter out, not knowing how careful we !
re with her. She might get lost and )
tarv2d or get her feet wet and have ,
or hawk might carry her .
f."
At this moment the unspeakabie ,
'opp entered. He made a great show
WEAKNESS, dragging his feet as if ,
hey were too heavy to lift.
Have you seen herr" demanded Lu. ,
lie.
NO" Bopp said wearily. eve
amped all over the island again and j
gain. There's no ravine, no gully, no Il
lsh that haven't investigated. She
ust have left the island"
"She can't swim!' moaned Lucille. s
Her little legs are too short, and her r
If would get in her eyes" V
WHAT he yelled. Eur get in her !,
esq" h
'Tootles is lost" threw in by way "
explanation.
'Tootles?" said Bopp. bewildered r
We been looking for Mrs. Green" L
i'Oh, she's been found" Lucille ex.
aimed. +,
'When?" nj
oh, hours and hours ago. She tele- b,
one6 Mr.. Blainey. She got in Mr.. T
ent's rowboat and was blown to tt
arby island" III
CTO BE CONTINUED W