San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-05

pickup supper. Perhaps ] had been
moving around in sort Of daze, for
it was not until / had finished some
hot and highly stimulating soup that
| realized it might be a good idea to
call the Hedgerow and explain why
VIC had not come 10 call for Jcanic as
we had intended.
1 didn't like my job. After all the
fuss we had made about letting Jeanie
20 to the Hedgerow with Mr.. Perry,
no excuse seemed sufficient to account
for our carelessness in letting her re-
main there.
/ realized that just because our Sc
ries of accidents was so true, it would
sound all the more overstressed when
/ told how the branch had stunned
Jim, cost me my sense of direction
and sent me to Juggling Jim back in
the direction of home and not TO the
Hcdgerow. To mention my scare over
the dog / had mistaken for wolf
would make me seem absurd.
well. you've got to telephone just
the same" j admonished myself.
Imagine the impression it's going to
make on Mr.. Perry il Jeanie's family
doesn't inquire for her after all the
fuss that was mace over her going to
the Hedgerow.'
So ] went to the telephone and
took down the receiver. Moments
passed and there was no response
from the central office.
THE line can't be out of order
again." / assured myself. That
would be little 600 much.'
1 ratified the receiver up and down
and tried every possible method OF
getting attention. And as last i was
rewarded by that most musical of
sounds when it is what you long to
hear:
Number, please"
I gave the number, heard the fa-
milar buzz that indicated the ringing
Of the only number in our neighbor-
hood / have called half dozen
times and then stood and waited.
Long minutes passed. There was no
answer.
But they must answer" / assured
the operator. There are five or six
grown people in the house. Someone
is sure TO answer"
Again minutes passed. Then ]
heard d sleepy and exaspcrated
Hello, there"
as that you, Mr.. Perry" 1 asked.
"Perry's gone over to the Harri-
son place-think they call it The
Birches, worse luck" said n nonchal'
ant voice l recognized as BERTHE Lin
CARDS.
Then before I could have another
word with Mr.. Lingard, he ratified
the receiver back on its hook, leaving
me staring resentfully at the mouth
piece of my telephone, wondering
whether BERTHE Lingard was crazy oil
if Jeanie and Mr.. Perry had really
started out in the storm.
i went over to consult the clock
and discovered that it was just o.
They'll be here before 10. / told
myself. And they'll need some nour.
ishmcnt.
So l got egg-coffee all ready to boil
and then went up to see if Jim was
still sleeping peacefully. There was
soft flush on his checks and his
forehead was as cool as a healthy
child's, so ! concluded that he was
likely to sleep till morning and wax,
none the worse for his experience.
shouldn't have objected to going peace
fully to bed, but / realized that tho
only thing for me TO do was to wal
up and cake care of Jeanic when she
AID Mr.. Perry arrived after their bat
.ir with tSe oiCments which had giveI
!ac such irilhtful half hour.
81 hope they don't meet thai
wolf" l told myself. Even if it j:
dog, it may be 50 fierce with hunger
that it will give them a pretty bat
time of it. / wish l could send then
wireless message not to be fright
ened."
AS if my Thoughts had called it.
heard the animals howl again. Il
was coming closer and closer. / rar
to the windows ana pulled back the
curtains, noplug to cheer and encour
age Jeanne and Mr.. Perry with the
light and to giv- them courage t.
press on no matter how the bowling
animal might terrify them.
Suddenly / heard the dog outside
He moaned and scratched and fluns
himself against the winow again ant
again. At last when l could no long
er stand the strain of wondering il
the windows would hold against hi:
attacks, l ran upstairs to Jim. He
was still asleep. but the clock 1 haC
put by his bedside registered hal
past ten.
In sudden grim terror, 1 asked my
self;
Where Is Jeanie?"
TO Be Continued.