The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1918-05-09
CHAPTER Ix-continued.
SIX him | suggested


Russian duke gave it to me. | never
met him. but he sent it to my dressing
room with some flowers"
1t seemed 10 me to lie a possible way
20 gain a little solitude for reflection,
and ] assented 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 Id never tell him.
could see that Ned Blaney was 60
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, l nn-
swered il.
Hello" said a male voice. speaking
with staccatu sharpness. May speak
TO Mr. Upton S. CIair?"
put my hand over the mOuthpiece
and turned around. Lucille had gone
upstairs. hut Bopp was gazing idly
out OF the window.
is Mr Clair still there in the yard?"
l asked him.
NO: he went of down the beach
with Miss Dunmore."
Hello spoke again into the tele-
phone. Mr. Clair was here moment
ago. but he has just gone for a walk
with young lady"
"ImpOssibler' The voice at the other
end shot that emphatically at me.
ITS So
clair is a woman hater.'
What if he is? This one is going
10 convert him"
"Humph. She can't do it Who is
she!"
Her name is Miss Vida Dunmore."
Vida Dunmore 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 he Ned Blaney. as | 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
"I'u come right over after her Don't
tell her that l called up and l will
surprise her. GOodby."
He hung up before | could tell him
that hr probably couldn't get any kind
of boat 10 come over to the island.
but / Judged that he would lind that
out soon enough for himself.
Where's Miss Green" | asked Bopp.
Il advised her to lie down for u lit
tie While and rest. This search is
weaIiu. her out. She is leaving every
thing il my charge"
Il presume that congratulations are
In order" l said, extending my hand
with as GOOD Z show Of cOrdiality as l
could muster. Il do congratulate you,
ME. Bopp."
We're not regularly engaged" Bopp
said sOurly She has promised to be
mine if can ind her mother. That
makes me just about as near engaged
TO her as if We had never met
So Lucile'S promise had a string tied
to it. My heart leaped exultantly
There was a chance yet
Lets have a drink on the strength
Of your engagement anyway" l said.
starting toward the kitchen.
Water queried Bopp. hoping
against hope.
Why, yes"
NO. thanks. Ny tummie is looking
for Mount Ararat now" He sank dis.
cOnsOlately into a seat In a moment
he rose wearily. I've got to start out
again. promised Lucille would
search while she rested
Hardly had he left the house when
the telephone rang again. / answer
ed il.
Hello"
Hello. Is that you. Mr.. Blainey
Will you call Lucille TO the telephone;
want to-
The voice ceased abruptly.
Hello" l called. hello. hellor'
There was no answer.
The voice l had just been listeninj
TO was that of Mrs. Green.
After awhile got cenuaIs attention
and demanded to be told why l ha
been cut off.
THAT party called up from a privat
telephone" said central sweetly. "Sh
had no right to use it. 1t is summe
telephone only, and the instrument
TO be taken out next week"
But it was Mrs. Green who wa
talking"
1T couldn't be-" central was pos
tiye. You are speaking from Nr
Green's residence yourself"
at was Mira Green. recognize
her voice"
Just minute" There was a paus
then: Hello! That party called I
from Huntingdon's. What could Nj
Greel be doing there on a stormy di
ike thisg"
l could not explain to a gOssipy te
phone operator what had really ha
pened TO Mrs. Green. did not knC
much about II myself, and the fe
facts of her disappearance that l "
cognixant OF would hardly sound W
II repeated.
Mrs. Green" hazarded. ''went q
walking, and suppose she stopped
at Mr.. Huntingdon'S."