Cañon City record., 1903-10-22
A NOVEL ELOPFMfNT
fOrtginsl.1


an old fashioned uiIn. man VII"
hated Innovations. He had no o g
ton to his daughters suitor. Bunker.
except that Bunker had 10 occupat, n
living on an income he had inheri e,.
Just as Bunker's affair with Susie Ma
thews came to head he must 20 al J
invest in an automobile That set. 'rl
It with Papa Mathews Any man w.;li
nothing better 10 do than drive ~:
chine that puff d like a b4by loco.n"
tive and smoked like bicycle L.in
should never marry his daughter.
why. Mr.. Mathews" said Epnkrr
one day. .jnSt wait till l get accu ltoai
ed to my auto and I'll take you to ride-
I'll wager you'll pronounce 1t exh.,i.
rating
Thank you" replied Mr.. Mathew
grimly Il prefer TO walk"
But walking takes so much fir1e
and I've often heard you speak of the
importance of econoLiizing time"
You don't econcnize time with ;
thing that won't go when you want II
10. 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
II have it, he said at last I'll take
bis daughter into the auto and ru-1
away with her There's nothing | can
do that would put the old curmudeeon
In such fume. What fun to wave a
hand with TIA. ta.- at the stern par
ent and sail away. Talk Of stories Of
lovers feeins, 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 hourT
Susie was persuaded She thought II
would be fine TO elope as no other girl
had ever eloped- The affair came Oh
rather prematurely. for old Mathews.
mistrusttng that something was In the
wind. ordered his daughter to make
ready for trip to Europe. the start to
be made within three days.
The day before the intended depar-
ture Bunker called and sent up an IN
vita tiou to Susie 10 rsde in the new au-
tomobile. Susie came down in travel
ing costume, while q suit case and two
satchels were anuggied out to the auto.
Are you sure. Simeon, that you are
samcientiy familiar with the working
e the thiner'
II think SO. darling took my hast
lesson this morning and rot on very
weli-that is. with an experienced man
sitting beside me-"
Well replied Susie. I'm afraid
It'll go wrong. but 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
be inopportg nelly came home at B just
In time to see the couple starting
Susie" he called, come back! l
didn't give you permission to go out In
that body crusher."
Here was Bunker's chance for q trf-
umph. and. losing his prudence, he
availed himself of IT. As he moved on
be turned to his enemy and cried:
tn. 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
on briskly. Mr.. Mathews followed, us
ing his legs for conveyance The auto
turned up and down streets till II
reached 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 smell of old lamps He
stood and looked and gave up hope.
But suddenly the auto came to halt.
Something seemed TO he the matter.
Possibly he might come up with II be-
fore IL could be started. He walked
briskly toward 1t. but in n few mo
ments II started on. Then II stopped
ngain. Bunker was wildly pulling at
cranks and turning wheels. Presently
he got II started second time; but.
great heavens 1t was moving back
ward.
Now exclaimed the old man, "I've
got him. and III make mince meat OF
him.
Back came the auto. swaytng from
one side OF the road TO the other. for II
was wonder that II could be steered
at all in reverse. til, 1t came near the
father. when Susie cried out
frantically:
Pima. xet out of the way. You'll be
killed
The passing vision of anger. alarm.
on Bunker's face almost