The daily morning Alaskan., 1904-01-06
AN0VEL ELOPEMENT
ronnall

uAhA Na NNAaatNN AAaAk AAAAs AAN WAa on old fashioned man, a man who hated innovations. He had DO objec- ton to his daughters suitor, Bunker, except that Bunker had no occupation. living on an income he had inherited. Just as Bunker's affair with susie Ma thews came to a head be must SO and Invest in an automobile. That settled it with Papa Mathews. Any man with nothing better to do than drive a ma chine that puGed like a baby lOeOmO- tive and smoked like a bicycle lamp should never marry bis daughter.
 "Why. Mir. Mathews" naid Bunker one day, 'Just wait tn I get accustom- ed to my auto and I'll take you to ride. m wager youn pronounce it exhlla- rating.
 "Thank you" replied Mir Mathews grimly. 'I prefer to walk"
 "But walking takes so much time, and I've often heard you speak of the importance of oconomizing time"
 "You don't economire time with thing that won't so when you want it to, breaks down in the wrong place and Ike as not turns over on you smashing you to a jelly"
 That made Bunker mad. He said nothing, but did a lot of thinking as to how be could best ram the old man'S words back Into his throat
 or have it." he said at lagt 'IH take his daughter into the auto and run away with her. There's nothing l can do that would put the old curmudgeon in such a fume. What fun to wave a hand with ''Ta, tap at the stern par ent and sail away Talk of stories of lovers fleeing on hOrsebaok, in chaises, yachts and that sort O thing, why, an auto can SO as fast as a railroad train. And hasn't mine been warranted to make seventy miles an hourT
 Susie was persuaded. She thought it would be fine to eiope as no other girl had ever eloped. The affair came oa rather prematurely, for old Mathews mistrustng that something was in the wind. ordered bis daughter to make ready for a 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- vitatlon to Susie to ride in the new au- tomobIe. Susie came down in travel Ing costume, while a suit case and two satchels were smuggled out to the auto
 Are you sure, Simeon, that you are sufficiently familiar with the working of the thing"
 'T think so, darling. took my last lesson this morning and got on very well-that is, with an experienced man sitting beside me"
 "WeH" replied Susie, 'Pm afraid itl go wrong but hope not"
 With quick beating hearts they left the house and got into the auto. Mir Mathews was downtown and did nol usually return tln 6, This afternoon be inopportunely came home at 8, just In time-t see the couple starting.
 Susie" be called, "cOme backl ] didn't give you permission to go out in that body crusher."
 Here was Bunker's chance for a tri- umph, and, losing his prudence, be availed himself of 1t. As he moved of be turned to his enemy and cried:
 'Ta, ta. Mir Mathews. When you see your daughter again she'll be Mrs Bunker"
 'You rascal Come backr
 The old man made a rush for the ma chine. which with defiant puRs rolled oR briskly. MT. Mathews followed, us- ing his legs for conveyance. The auto turned up and down streets tn it reached a straight piece of road Mfr Mathews, arriving at the beginning of this stretch. saw the machine a mile away. followed by dust, a little cloud of steam and a smell of old lamps. Re stood and looked and gave up hope.
 But suddenly the auto came to a halt Something seemed to be the matter Possibly he might come up with it be- fore lt could be started. He walked briskly toward it, but in a few mo ments 1t started on. Then 1t stopped again. Bunker was wildly pulling at cranks and turning wheels. Presently he got it started a second time; but, great heavens, 1t was moving back ward
 ''Now," exclaimed the old man, 'I've got him, and Tll 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, dll 1t 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 Mir. Mathews for the trOu- ble and irritation be had been put to. AS the machine puffed by be shook his fst at bis would be son-ln-law and cried out:
 'T told you the things were no use. I'll get even with you on foot"
 Finally the amateur chauffeur sue ceeded in stopping the machine, but the father was advancing, and there was nothing to do but turn and go the other way. Bunker now saw that he had made a mistake ID stopping at all. With