The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-16
TIE EVENING STORY
Chauffeur Pro Tcm.
(By Mary w. MountO

away Stdtlon and toward this
| Etnel Bristow ran with unseemIy
haste 1t was imperative that she
should not lose moments time. for
she was to act as bridesmaid at a we'd
Jung Mitnin an hour She had missed
an earlier train and no one had appear-
ca 10 meet her at this one.
For the first time in her dignified
young haywood she was left to shift
could.
She sprang into the hanson.
l. NO - Fifth avenue, and go as
Iast as you cam" she ordered breath
iessly. Then she gave gasp and
siared with bewildered eyes at the
He had helped her into the hanson
and stood beside it.
1T is not safe. madam. to take this
hanson today" he demonstrated
Ihere is strike and shall probably
De attacked as soon as I get out on
the street" His voice was high and
peculiar
The color came and went in the
girls face. The puzzled look Deepen
ed in her eyes.
But I must take 1t. 1 must. 1t is
impossible for me to wait one minute.
You have got to get me uptown in fif-
teen minutes!" she insisted.
He wayered.
take me. The strikers will not dare
attack a woman"
1t had been his own thought. He
swung himself into the drivers seat
and glided swiftly out into the street.
Ethel noticed that uniformed men
on bicycles rode beside the hanson.
She leaned back, painting from hurry
and excitement. A frown wrinkled her
forehead. What q resemblance! she
exclaimed to herself. What a WON
derful resemblance! II it hadn't been
for his sQueaky voice, would be GER
tain that man is Maxwell Caresford."
She forgot about the danger OF which
the schauffeur had warned her-forgoU
the wedding for which she must dress
with such haste. Her telegram had as
sured the bride that she would be pres
ent. She felt herself gliding toward her
destination with unusual speed through
the crowded streets. Her mind became
filed with painful recollections of that
quarrel with Caresford, when she had
told him that she hoped never to see
him again. How he had loved her! She
had denied herself thought of that until
this moment when the memory of his
love clamored to be heard. Through all
her anger and pride over the foolish
quarrel which had separated them ran
the conviction that the fault had been
hers. She had been all the harder upon
him because she had felt that he was
right and she was wrong in the matter
of the quarrel. He had been dlgnined
and panied and she had been, oh, so I'M
reasonable and angry! She flushed
warmly at the recollection of her words.
IF only hadn't been SO very final
she murmured. Then she sighed. ''Ah,
we'll. he will marry some girl in his
English home who will suit him better
than I ever could. I'm too quick-tem-
pered," she admitted. contritely. Still,
it seems to me that if he loved me as
much as he protested he did. he would
have come over and tried to make up.
She felt aggrieved-
Crash!
Ethel started up with a little Shrek.
Stones and broken bricks rained upon
the top of the hanson. Yells and curses
Mortified her. 50
the attacking strikers kept up with him.
They blocked the street. He opened the
trap door.
Don't be frightened, and get out when
I tell you,' he commanded hurriedly.
He put on the brakes.
Shame! To attack womani" he
Numbered at the crowd. Let the lady
out and then settle with me- Make
way for the lady!''
He brought the hanson to the curb
The strikers held back.
Eyes, let the lady out!' called their
leader.
"Get out at once!" ordered the chauf-
feur through the trap door, for the
girl had made no move to descend.
Her face was blanched but her fright
a
cash on the chauffeur's head, which
she could see through the trap, and
not on the surly mob around them. The
chauffeur had forgotten his high PEI
culiar voice. His tones were deep and
full. She recognized Caresford even
in the uniform of the chauffeur.
"Get out, 1 implore you!" he begged.
II can't hold those villains back any
longer. You will be safe, and can es-
cape" added, reading protest in her
eyes.
DO you think L will leave you in
dangeri'' she cried, reproachfuliy.
Joy flashed in his eyes
eff you are safe. 1 can take care of
myself. Get out at once, insist" he
urged.
why don't she get out?" yelled the
impatient crowd. Nobody wants to
hurt her"
eff she don't hurry herself we won't
watt threatened a growing voice.
Ethel's temper f1ared up. She lean
I'd forward, her eyes blazed at the
faces about her.
"Cowards!" she cried. "How dare
you attack a woman!"
1uced a sensation. Some of the men
SUNK away; some laughed: others re-
Nobody wants to hurt
you'll"
Caresford's alarmed tones through
he trap besought her to be silent
'I dare not leave this seat to helm
7ou," he said "they would smash the
ransom to atoms.
Police had struggled with the mob
which Caresford's harangue and Eth
.Ps unexpected denunciation had re-
strained for the moment. At this in
tant a way opened among the strik-
,rs Caresford dashed the hanson
through it. So unexpected was his
move that unconsciously the crowd
made way for him. Bruised and bleed
ng. he rushed the hanson toward its
destination. Both strikers and DO
ice were left far behind.
The trap opened and an anxious. an
,ealing face peered up at the chauf-
eur.
Are you terribly hurt p" asked a ten
Ter, woe-begone voice
Just a few scratches that a dav or