The Mena weekly star., 1898-02-02


 K. my sweetheart"
 "Yes. Tom," answered Susan.
 Say, my dewdroP. wouldn't it be TO- mantle to get off two or three stations out and have some preacher marry us! cooed the captivating Ben.
 "Oh, Tom!" gurgled Susan.
 "Then we will. Oh, you are lulu! murmured Ben under his breath.
 Presently they stood in the dark ness at the end of coal shed across the street from the depot. Scarcely any one was moving about, and the street lights looked like yellow spots in the fog and gloom. The pair occasionally exchanged whispered words. and again Susan protested about the onions. At last the train came in, and the men be- gan unloading the baggage. At that the runaway couple stole up to the train on the dark side, slipped into the chair car unobserved, and took seats. The lights were turned low and apparently the passengers were all asleep. Susan, all a-hutter with ex- citement, glanced at her escort. She
  but Burglar Ben put his hand quickly over her mouth.
 "Take a good look at me and see If you don't like me in my disguise!" he whispered. Susan obediently looked with wide, frightened eyes. My" she gasped. ''you are awfully changed, but are handsomer than ever, Tom"
 He certainly was stunning looking fellow, a trife larger than Tom, but dark of mustache and hair, while the unconscious snorer up in the Trotter home was a rather uncertain blonde.
 And you are peachl" whispered the eracksman. squeezing her hand.
 Two men reclined apparently asieep in the seats just before them. Glanc- ing about quickly Burglar Ben reached over and took from their hats the blue slips of pasteboard which conductors give passengers after punching their tickets. One of these he placed in his own hat and the other he stuck in the window-frame near Susan's head He then nestled down in his seat. spread handkerchief over his face, pulled his hat down over that, drew Susans yelled face on his shoulder, and began to snore in soft, slow fashion. "When the conductor comes through, darling, snore just trife," he whispered
 Susan Uttered softly. ''Oh, but you are such a case, Tom!" she whispered. You ought to have been detective."
 Burglar Ben smiled oddly as he snored.
 During this time one of the men from whom the pasteboard slips had been taken turned round with the noiseless movement of cat after a mouse. He glanced at the slip in Burglar Ben's hat, drew pair of handcuffs from his pocket. and stooping over the snoring couple softly took the cracksman's hand.
 What are you doing, dovey?" mur- mured Burglar Ben, from under the handkerchief. Then suddenly he leaped up with smothered yell and tried to strike at the man before him.
 But handcuffs were on his wrists.
 The conductor entered at that mo- ment. Susan screamed, and the burglar tried to dive through the window, but was caught by his feet and held. The depot watchman seized him by the head on the outside of the ear, and the gallant cracksman came near being pulled in twain. A brakeman quickly turned up the light. while the conductor and the men who had lost the slips pulled Bur- glar Ben back into the car, leaving his wig and mustache in the hands of the watchman on the outside. The TO- mantle cracksman looked common place, but fought with uncommon spirit
 "0h, it isn't Tom! It isn't my Tom at all" screamed Susan, jumping up and down in the aisle of the car. I'm eloping with the wrong mani" In consternation she turned to the stran- ger s*ho had manipulated the hand cuffs. "Oh!" she cried with joy. won are Tom! You are Tom!"
 No, I am not" said he; I'm Yum. not Toml I just got in from Frisco. Am on the detective force out tbere so happened to have a pair of bandcuffs in my pocket. Would have been car ried by the station only this scoundrel woke me up!"
 With gasp of joy Susan sat down suddenly on the floor of the car. and very properly went into mysteries.
 Now it would seem that this chron- | icle might fittingly end here. But there was finally wedding and a bridal trip. though gallant Tum and not To,,,