The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-09

two together figured out with mathe-
NAUTICAL accuracy what had happened,
and showed the sum of the figures to
Track
News leaked into Wharton that night
that Stafford and Mrs. Track had been
seen at Hackettstown. where-so the
tale said-they had registered at the
Hotel Clarendon as Mr.. and Mrs. George
Curtis. On Wednesday morning they
miles north.
Meanwhile Track had sworn out q
warrant for the young man. He put 1t
In the hands Of Constable Gruendyke,
who httched up and drove over to
Stepnensburg, where he found the
young people at a small summer hotel.
They had settled down for a prolonged
honeymoon, fancying themselves well
concealed. When the constable showed
ms impressive papers they volunteered
to return with him II they might sit
together on the way back.
The constable carried them to Hack
ettstown. He drove reasonably slow.
1t Is said that a romance once bloomed
in his early life.
Most solemnly did the constable de-
liver the pair into the presence of JUS
! tice Laber. Track was in court when
the runaways were brought to the bar.
Justice Laber was inclined to send botL
| to Jail forthwith.
| Mrs. Track turned from the stern
face of the Judge to the kindly one OF
her husband. Suddenly she threw her.
self at his feet in tears and begged his
| forgiveness. Track stood unmoved for
moment. Then reaching down he
| lifted her in his arms, and nodding to
| the judge he said:
Il guess I'll withdraw that warrant
| and take her home.'
| Stafford walked out of court, free but
| defeated. Track went out with his wife
| on his arm to wait for a train home.
She seemed most attentive to him, and
| glad to be out of Constable Gruendykes
70 Loot o1
uneasily. Occasionally in the course
| of the day he caught sight of Mr.. ano
| Mrs. Track, arm in arm, walking about
| the village.
| little after o'clock, Mr. and Mrs.
Track went down to the station. There
| they met Stafford, who went boldly up
to Track. told him he was sorry for the
| trouble he had caused him and offered
him cigar. They shook hands and
| Track took the cigar.
| On the pretence that he had a word
| for Tracks private ear Stafford took
the mine boss around the corner of the
buildings He held him there In con-
versation for few minutes. When they
walked back to the front Of the station
Stafford excused himself and Track
looked about for his wife. She was
| gone.
| Some one among the bystanders al
! the station said that a woman wheeling
| a bicycle and carrying a grip had gone
down the track some time before anC
a man had followed her a little later
| Track ran down the track in pursuit
| He heard noises in the gloom in from
of him, and kept on running until he
reached Rockport, a quarter of a mile
| away. Here he got close enough to tn.
runaways to discern the figures of &
| man and a woman pumping with al
| their combined energy on the handle:
! of an Old-faShioned handcar.
The woman was facing Track, and il
| the station lights, the car passed
Rockport, he saw the determined coun
tenance of Mrs. Track as with teetl
set, hat gone and skirts flying, she len
her strength to the motive power of tn
heavy old machine. They had made SLOW
progress thus far because it took 8,
much power to get the big car in mo
tioss.
But just beyond Rockport the track
go to sharp down grade. AS the ca
gathered speed under this welcome i'm
petus, the woman let go of the handl
and waved her hand in farewell TIL
rattle of the flying car as it sped int
the darkness told Track that pursui
| was vain. He turned back.
| This morning the car was found a
| the end of the grade. 1t had served it
purpose. and the runaways had aban
doned it for some other mode of trave
No information of their whereabout
| has reached here since. Mr.. Track ha
| gone back to Wharton.