The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-05-09
LGuOs of Pennsylvania Place
Her Under Fathers Con
troll, But in NetO York She
Is Her DUN Mistress
Daring Escape from Lnsti-
tuition in Which She Had
Been Confined Ward OF
II. c. Prick InDolDed in
Romantic Story.

York. infant In Pennsylvania. Miss
Mabel Mercer has decided that she
wants to stay in the metropolis.
she thinks that the laws OF the En-.
pire state give her a better chance
than those OF William PENIS old
state. As long as she stays IN New
York she Is perfectly safe from cap
ture by her father. who put her In
the Country home. AZ Germantown.
Pa. the other day. because she wants
10 be independent
Miss Mercer IS just turned rs. Here
the law says that a woman Of is is
OF age. In Pennsylvania a father is
q child's guardian until she is -. and
until then she is an infant
Bat back Of an this Is something
more. Miss Mercer had 10 make a
sensational escape from the home 20
get without the Jurisdiction Of the
laws. OF the sovereign state OF Penn
~syivania. She slid three stories o. a
rope made OF sheets. met a young
man in an automobile. whisked away
90 Philadelphia, exchanged the insti-
tution's uniform for 8 dress. which
she borrowed. made the first train
for New York. aud here she is now.
defiant but happy.
OF Prominent Pittsburs Family.
The MERGERS are among the best
known people in Pittsburg The Ia
Their Is Capt George S Mercer. super
intendent Of buildings IN Allegheny
county. Now. Miss Mercer had nm
ished school. aud was about so take
her place In society. when she met
young Carl Borntracger. a ward Of
Hcnry C. Frlck He vas young. good
looking. md he stands 10 inherit a Tor.
tuac Tie proposed; she accepted.
But Mr. Prick couldn't see q In the
Hght that the young people did, and
for that matter. neither did Capt
Mercer There was a stormy scene.
some hot words. and Miss Mercer
stalhed out Of the house.
Au right. she said. You don't
have 90 support me. I a get a POI
sllon ON the stage if have 90.
Her father laughed al this, but the
Rirl made good her threat She did
get q place Ia The Earl and the Girl"
company. and she came 10 Now York
10 reheaue for her part II looked as
10 she would succeed she was dainty.
winsomo. extremely pretty and chic.
bar along came Papa Mercer.
Your mother Is very ll. no said
"and you must come home 90 see her
OF course the Girl CAV In. Tear
fully she took The train for PitfsburE.
a. She supposed. hoping 10 see her
dear mother before she died and TO
beg forgiveness Tor running away from
home There was o stop at Philadel
phia
1--WE get out here. said the father.
stelnly. and suddenly a detective ap.
peared-he had been coached for his
part
You've got Go come along. said
the man. and itn be better % yOu
don't make a SCENE
Then Miss Mercer realized that ID
had ull been a trap Hell mother was
not 100 aud She wasn't going 60 Pitts
burg al avn Instead she found herself
on the vas TO the Country Home. an
institution conducted hy the Protest
ant Episcopal church at Germantown
a suburb OF Philadelphia
BEFORE the girl could recover from
her surprise and Indignation b wal
in uniform and under restraint Tha
was on March % last Right then an,
there she made mp her mind 20 escape
And escape she did, Now she cai
snan her fingers at the laws OF Penn
sylgauia aud her father. too. she q
at age IN New York aud an Infant nI
loager.
Here she's a mi there she's
child.
So here she proposes to remain.
Planning Her Escape.
AN this took wits aud pluck. Mis-
Mercer realized that she was beiu.
watched every minute She was mad
90 scrub floors and wash dishes wal
az the table and make heds-thing
she had never done before Ia her ltt'
She scrubbed and washed and ironc
until her white little hands wore al
red and sore But au the time sh
was waiting her chance
hnd me young ward OF Mr. Eric
wal outside. waiting 90 help her
iust the proper moment This was b.
cause Miss Mercer vas able 20 smu.
gle "a letter out Co ham making an al
polntmcni Tor him and hts big autom.
bile al just the right time
Nor was this tho frst time she ha
made an appulnimeut With ynnns n
norntraoEer last December thcs "a
away t~ogother-this ls2earoid 81
and TITS lqyear-old boz Intending