Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-09-14
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Novel EIopement.

with no nonsense about him. He was
an old fashioned man, a man who
hated innovations. He had no obJec-
ton to his daughters suitor, Bunker,
except that Bunker had no occupation,
living on an income he hadt inherited.
Just as Bunker's affair with Susie Ma
thews came to a head he must go and
invest in an automobile. That settled
it with Papa Mathews. Any man with
nothing better to do than drive ma
chine that puffed like baby locomo-
tive and smoked like bicycle lamp
should never marry his daughter.
"Why, Mr.. Mathews" said Bunker
one day, 'just wait till get accustom-
ed to my auto and I'll take you to ride.
I'll wager you'll pronounce it exhila-
rating
'Thank you" replied Mr.. Mathews
grimly. 81 prefer to walk"
"But walking takes so much time,
and I've often heard you speak of the
Importance of economizing time"
you don't economic time with
thing that won't go when you want it
TO, breaks down in the wrong place
and like as not turns over on you,
smashing you to jelly"
That made Bunker mad. He said
nothing, but did lot of thinking as to
how he could best ram the old mans
words back into his throat
at have it, he said at last. "Tll take
his daughter into the auto and run
away with her. There's nothing can
do that would put the old curmudgeon
in such fume. What fun to wave
hand with Eta, tar at the stern par
ent and sail away. Talk of stories of
lovers fleeing on horseback, in chaises,
yachts and that sort o. thing, why, an
auto can go as fast as a railroad train.
And hasn't mine been warranted to
make seventy miles an hour2"
Susie was persuaded. She thought 1t
would be fine to elope as no other girl
had ever eloped. The affair came off
rather prematurely, for old Mathews,
mistrusting that something was in the
wind, ordered his daughter to make
be made within three days.
The day before the intended depar-
ture Bunker called and sent up an in
vitation to Susie to ride in the new au-
tomobile Susie came down in travel
ing costume, while a suit case and two
satchels were Struggled out to the auto.
"Are you sure, Simeon. that you are
sufficiently familiar with the working
of the thingP
II think so, darling. / took my last
lesson this morning and got on very
well-that is. with an experienced man
sitting beside me-
"WeII," replied Susie, I'm afraid
it'll go wrong, but L hope not"
With quick beating hearts they left
the house and got into the auto. Mr..
Mathews was downtown and did not
usually return till 6. This afternoon
he inopportunely came home at 8, just
in time to see the couple starting.
Susie" he called, "come back!
didn't give you permission to go out in
that body crusher."
Here was Bunker's chance for tri-
umph, and, losing his prudence, he
awaited himself of 1t. AS he moved off
he turned to his enemy and cried:
'Ta, ia, Mr.. Mathews. When you
see your daughter again she'll be Mrs.
Bunker"
you rascal! Come back"
The old man made a rush for the ma
chine, which with defiant puffs rolled
OF brlskly Mr.. Mathews followed, u.s.
ing his legs for conveyance. The auto
turned up and down streets till 1t
reached a straight piece Of road. Mr..
Mathews, arriving at the beginning of
this stretch, saw the machine a mile
away, followed by dust, little cloud
of steam and a smell of old lamps. He
stood and looked and gave up hope.
But suddenly the auto came to halt.
| Something seemed to be the matter.
Possibly he might come up with it be-
fore it could be started. He walked
briskly toward 1t. but In a few mo-
ments 1t started on. Then it stopped
again. Bunker was wildly pulling at
cranks and turning wheels. Presently
he got 1t started a second time; but,
great heavens, it was moving back
ward
Now" exclaimed the old man, I've
got him, and I'll make mince meat of
him"
Back came the auto, swaying from
one side of the road to the other. for IT
was wonder that it could be steered
at all in reverse, till it came near the
pursuing father, when Susie cried out
| frantically:
Papa, get out of the way. You'll be
killed.
The passing vision of anger, alarm
modification, on Bunker's face almost
recompensed Mr.. Mathews for the trou
BILE and irritation. he had been put to
AS the machine pulled by he shook his
| fist at his would be son-in-law and
cried out:
'T told you the things were no use
| I'll get even with you on foot"