The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-04-19

miles SOuln OF WHERE you uIe anu luIce
miles from the mainland? The walk
ing is not very good"
l felt as If | had stepped of 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 up
Huntingdon's. think it was curiosi-
ty that made her relent 1 could be
sure that she would be listening to
whatever might be said by Mrs. Green
and myself.
"Hellor
Hello. Mrs. Green! This is Mr..
Blainey."
Hello, Mr.. Blainetw There was a
ring Of ladylike indignation in her
voice. Can you explain to me. Mr..
Blainey, how | happened to find my
self n a rowboat out in the middle of
the lake, wearing my red silk dress
and nightcap tied under one ear?"
"Wait a minute, Mrs. Green, central
is listening"
Il don't care. She always does. She
probably wants to know just as much
as 1 do. What happened? Was there
an earthquake? l remember the island
was sort of wObbly and hard TO
walk on"
No, there wasn't any earthquake"
l answered. I'VE were fasting, YOU re-
memberT
"Yes. remember that but I'm not
any more. The first thing did when
l landed was to break into this house
and cook myself can of baked beans.
It's funny if there wasn't any earth
quake. 1 remember the floor of the
house all running in funny little
waves"
I'm afraid our time must be nearly
up" suggested in the hope of turn
ing the conversation. Central will
cut us off,"
mo, l WON'T interposed third
voice, the sweetly professional one Of
the operator. Talk all you want to.
There amt anybody waiting for the
line"
Il suppose 1 must have got into the
boat when the earthquake commenced"
persisted Mrs. Green, but how did
get on the decollete red dress? And
where did I get the nightcap? 1 have
not worn that dress for ten years."
l told her that we would have to
wait until she got home to explain
number of things. Lucille will be
very glad 10 know that you are SAFE"
1 added casually as if she had just
gone over to a neighbor's, hoping to
deceive central. "She was afraid you
might get wet"
Did Lucille know l 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. I'll tell her as
soon as she wakes up. She is resting |
now"
Sleeping? Now? What for?"
Why" 1 explained, ''she was up all |
night"
What? And all alone on that island |
with you two young fellows and no
chaperonr'
"Oh, no." 1 hastened to reassure her |
and central, mot alone with us! There
are lot Of people here-six or seven,
1 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 arrived?"
"Oh, nor said hastily. How could
tell this elderly, dignified lady that
our feminine guest had not worn skirts
ON her arrival.
'Humph!" Mrs. Green was not par
ticularly impressed. 1.-The sooner get
back the better. You'll have to send
some one over after me because there
weren't any oars in the boat 1 came
in. 1 wouldn't go out in a rowboat
again anyway Send big boat or l
won't leave here"
''Tll send for you just as soon as 1
can" l was glad to have the conver-
sStion draw to a close. 1t had been
bad enough already. but who could
tell what else might come out if we
kept on talking? 1.-THE storm ought to
quiet down soon now. Goodby for the
present"
wait minute l want to ask
l am afraid l was guilty of rank dis
courtesy in hanging up the receiver
before l heard her question, but knew
should be unable to answer it any
way, and l had to have an opportunity
to think what it was all about.
First of all, Lucille must be told and
an end put to her anxiety. l went
upstairs and called "Lucilew
CHAPTER x.
The Clam Hunter.
FYa HERE was no answer. and l
stepped to the door of her room,
which stood Open She was ly-
ing on her bed dressed. with