The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-01-07
guise myself if anyone would meet us,
la

"Oh, my! how cute you must look!
Well, here is my handbag. my darling!
We must hurry! am all a-tremble,"
gasped Susan.
$50 am l." cooed the burglar, which
was no lie, for being privileged uneX-
| pectedly to elope with an unknown
woman was an exciting transaction.
"What all have you in this satchel,
sweetheart" he asked. in a loud whis-
per; cts ALFRED heavy!"
"Yes. l put in everything l could
Il can't tell you what ALL" buzzed Su-
sans whisper in the darkness, as she
climbed out upon the ladder. 81 made
n separate package of my silverware-
the spoons and knives and forks and
butter-dish and creamer-for if father
is mad and won't take us back we'll
have that much to commence with. any
way"
"You are darling! you are lulu!"
exclaimed the burglar, in transport
of joy.
''S-h-h-h! don't speak out loud!"
gasped Susan. "How funny your voice
sounds. Toni"
! "Yes. I've got it disguised, too" "whis-
pered Burglar Ben. We've got to be
awful careful. sweetheart, you know.
! Say, you didn't forget your pocketbook,
darling?"
"No. that's in the bottom of the bag"
"I'm glad Of that, for I didn't get
rear as much money out of the govern
or as l thought I should. How much
have you got?"
They were now on the ground in the
darkness among TIE shrubbery. "Six-
ty-six dollars" whispered sweet Susan.
"You are a peach!" gurgled Burglar
Ben, enthusiastically. "Bettter let me
carry it for you. dearest; we might pos
sibly lose the va,ise. you know!"
"Yes, of course you can take it, Tom.
and use it if you need it. too. but if
we open the handbag here in the dark
we'll surely lose scme of my things
out. Wait til we get on the train. dar-
ling" whispered Susan.
All this time Tom Trotter lay on his
back rhythmically snoring at the CELL
ing in the second story of the Trotter
avengfng nightmare, or something
more demoniac. did not seize and
strangle him is but one more illustra-
ton of the mysterious passvity ard
Indifference of nature often displayed
at one point while the most moment
Gus matters are in process of accom-
plishment at another. Surely if there
is any truth in the theory of soul-com-
munion Tom should have awakened
and rushed to the rescue of his lady
love, but the fidelity CT this chronicle
permits nothing of the sort to be re-
corded; Tom snored on until break of
day.
However, Susan's peril, for the mo-
ment at least, seemed anything but
serious, since her delightful burglar
was as tender and solicitous as any
one, save Tom, could have wished. AS
proof of this have to state that they
had no more than passed through the
gate when they paused, and in the
midst of the pause Susan again
expressed her SORROW that he had
thought it necessary to eat onions. at
spoiled the flavor of--of everything"
she said; "but she did like the mus
tache, and hoped he would cultivate
one OF his own as soon as possible"
81 will, my darling" cooed Burglar
Ben; sit shall be a world beater! Say,
you didn't forget your jewelry, did you?
the diamond ring and-and the"
"Oh. you silly thing! how could
forget those?" came Susan's painting
whisper.
"Where did the dear ducksy put her
trinkets? In the valise, of course" He
had that in his hand, and was debating
if the present moment were not good
time to bolt.
"Oh. dear no, not in that!" gurgled
sweet Susan.
"You didn't put your diamonds in
here with the swag-the silverware,
did you?" murmured the solicitous
burglar.
mo, mol" Uttered Susan, 81 can't
tell you now-wait = maybe after
awhile" But she added nothing
more. The darkness and fog mercifully
covered her bushes.
"She's hid the sparklers somewhere;
probably inside her Clothes" was the
disappointed mental comment of
| Dpi SidA bSh' was SiICHl q LiOiASHV
as he slowly picked his way down the
dark street. Lets see, your next birth
day isis" he hesitated.
"Why, Tom, have you forgotten? It's
the Esd, of course!"
"Oh, yes, certainly. How stupid
am! Then you will be jNst-just-"
"Just 10. Amt you ashamed to for
get like that? you naughty, bad boy!"
and she squeezed his arm affectionately.
"Fm not used to this. I never elopcd
before, and l guess I'm slightly rat-
tied" murmured the burglar with a
smothered laugh. "It's fun, though"
he whispered. land I'd like to elope
with some-with you, sweetie, every
night of my life!"
"Oh. my!" gasped sweet Susan, de-
lightedly, and squeezing his arm again.
''She's only 49," unused Burglar Ben;
she must be a daisy! It's awful nice 10
have a sweet creature like this so fond
of feller! Plagued if amt beginning
to love her myself. Won't the Chicago
gang screech when tell them how I
stole bride and all her traps. 1t GER
tainly takes the cake. / wonder where
the deuce the other feller was going to
take her to, anyway? I wonder if they
were going to Omaha, or Chicago, or
where? The Chicago express goes
through at three and the Omaha train
goes west at four. I'll take her to Chi