The Carlisle independent., 1918-02-28

Just a minute" There was q pause, then. Hello. That party called up from Huntinsdon's. What could Mrs. Greer be doing there on a stormy day like tais?"
 i could not explain to q goSsfDy teIe- phone operator what had really hap peHed to Mrs. Green. l did hot know much about 1t myself, and the few facts Of her disappearance that I was coenizaHt of would hardly sound well if repeated
 Mrs. Green. hazarded, went out walking. and l suppose she stopped in at Ae Huntingdon's.a
 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"
 I felt as if I had stepped off into space from high platform. "Proba- hlE-that is the chances are"-I foun- dered-"the chances are that she de cided to row, and the wind may have carried her out of her way"
 I finally persuaded central to call up Huntfngdon'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
 "Hellor'
 Hello, Mrs. Green! This is N1r. Blainey."
 Hello, Mir Blaineyr' There was a ring of ladylike indignation in her voice. Gan you explain to me. Mir. Blainey, how I happened to find my self in 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"
 T don't care. She always does. She probably wants to know just as much as l do. What happened? Was there an earthquake? I remember the island was sort of wobbly and hard to walk on"
 No, there wasn't any earthquake" l answered. "We were fasting, you re- member?"
 ''Yes. I remember that. but I'm not any more. The first thing I 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. l remember the floor of the house all running in funny little waves"
 I'm afraid our time must be nearly up" I suggested in the hope of turn ing the conversation. Central will cut us off"
 No, ! won't" interposed a third voice, the sweetly professional one of the operator. Talk all you want to. There aint anybody waiting for the line"
 T suppose I 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? I have not worn that dress for ten years"
 I told her that we would have to wait until she got home to explain a number of things Lucille will be very glad to know that you are safe" I added casually as if she had just gone over to neighbours, hoping to deceive central. "She was afraid you might get wet"
 Did Lucille know I was going?" in- quired the startled Mrs. Green, who apparently did not catch on to my acting.
 No, not until after you had started" I 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" l explained, "she was up all night"
 What? And all alone on that island with you two young fellows and no chaperonw
 "Oh, no," hastened to reassure her and central, mot alone with us! There are lot of people here-six or seven, I should say'
 Holding a convention of earthquake sufferers, I 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?"
 oh. no." I said hastily. How could tell this elderly. disuihed 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 I came in. l wouldn't go out in a rowboat again anyway. Send big boat or I won't leave here"
 I'll send for you just as soon as