The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-03-02
A:::!::::::P:ss o?:!S: Romance
BY LESLIE w. ouRK.

BY LESLIE w. QuIRK.


"AnyboGy in Room 1G:' ! demanded
Of the sleepy clerk.
Guess not" he grunted. studying
the register.
"I'il take il then" | announced. hur-
riedly.
Before he was through insisting that
= single person could find no use for Il
room with two beds in it / had thrown
a bill on the counter and WIS halfway
upstairs
In n drawer Of the dresser | found
the record for which | was searching.
Without seconds delay / slipped t
ON the phonOgraph | carried. The voic"
Of Lois presently broke tie breathless
silence.
Aunt Rcbccca thinks I am crazy
it said. "PcrhapS am but II is not
because I talk 10 my phonograph all
the time. but because they are taking
m away from YOU Somehow. Frank,
! feel that you will follow MS. do
not know where we 90 from here, but
you may be able to learn from the
ticket agent. We leave at $50 tO-mor-
row th ttlcSuaN) morning.
That was all. But II was the voice
of Lois. and it chccrCd me ana filed
me with fresh determination. shut
my lips firmly and SwOrc that | would
follow the two UNITS and Lois through
every country on earth rather than
lose the girl.
Think | can remember everybody
that buys tickctSf" GrOwlcd the agent
at the station when accoStcd him for
information. | cursed him for fool.
II was evident that the auntS were
using Lois money for bribcs.
1t seemed that was off the trail at
the very start. But the porter of the
parlor ear of the $50 train the next
morning set me right
Am yo' name Franl; Bomer?" ne
asked. eying me as | boarded his
train.
When I had assured him that it was
he handed me Il package.
Prom Il pow'ful scared gal" he
chucElcd.
unrollcd the Photographic record.
with the sight Of it came the awful
recollection that | had forgotten my
prOnograph.
The situation was appalling. Here
was within sound of Lois voice. but to
all intcntS aS deaf to 1t as n man with
out ears. True, | could buy another
phOnOgraph when the train reached the
city. but the chances were a hundred
to one that the aunts wouN bundle
Lois off at some little junction close at
hand.
Again the porter came TO my aid.
lie had been walking past me several
times aS | sat thinking. and was cvi-
IDENTITY deeply curious rs To the CON
tCutS Of the package he had given me.
Now he stopped hy my seat.
Dat part of a phonraph. Sah?" he
asked looking at the record.
"YcS," | explained; lit represents the
vocal organs"
He grinned. "Am yo' dc owner OF
the phon-raph in dc 'Sprcss car?"
felt the hot blood rush 10 my head,
Salvation was at my back,
1t required some iudicious tipping
and lordly airs to gain access To the
baggage car and secure possession of
the phonograph. But when love backs
man. even do-nothing can accom-
pliSh wonders, while an ordinary he
ing-wcll. | wound the machine and
waited FOR the voice OF my sweet
heart
This is the most momentouS day of
my whole life" came the clear tones
of Lois. 1T is my birthday. and am
no longer a girl. To-day | am of age.
free to marry whom please. II you
find me. Frank. | will become your
wife at once hope the promise will
spur YOU on. We stop tonight At
| Rugby"
The voice ended abruptly. and | fan.
cied the aunts must have disturbed the
girl as she was talking into the phono.
graph.
How far from here is Rugby"
asked the conductor. after I was back
in the parlor car.
"Just passed IT," he growled.
looked out af the window and
/ lOunu lilNt tue tTHln was boWhnS dlpnE
at too great n speed to jump. Spring
ing TO my feet whipped at the bel
cord. The conductor turned with M
oath and signaled To 90 ahead. The
train had barely slackened speed.
1t was time for prompt and vigorous
action. Grasping the bell cord one,
more | pulled il sharply. and then. be
fore the official with the ticket puncl
could object. pinioned him to a seat
This time the train came 20 a full stop
When | dropped of the rear plat
form and started back up the track
dare say left a car full OF astonishe,
people. know | left n blaSphemiu.
conductor and the i'll wishes of crew
whose train had been delayed tw,
precious minutes. But what does ;
man care for hades when he is chasing
heaven?
There is no need OF detailing th,
steps by which I traced the record il