The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-17
THE EVENING STORY
Their Underground Elopement.
Rv Horace Stacx.l


Whats the matter with slipping out
now and getting married?" demanded
Dudley Winthrop. You are over legal
age and the marriage cannot be nullihed
even though that ridiculous will does
make you Mrs. EatOn's slave for three
years more.''
Elizabeth coIored.
You see,'' she said shamefacedly.
"Auntie is afraid of some such thing
and-and John watches"
You don't mean to say that she had
the footman act as spy upon you p
he gasped.
Elizabe nodded
You don't realize how bitter auntie
is" she explained.
Just because my father married an
other girl? Surely that does not excuse
her setting the servants to spy upon
you. We can slip out of the side door,
then"
Robert is in the side street with the
carriage" she said, while the blood
dyed her face to a deeper red. Pm
afraid that there is no chance, dear"
But you would if you could?"
You know that Dudley
'Tll make the chance" he said. II
never heard of such a thing. I'm going
now. 1 don't want to take a chance of
meeting Mrs. Eaton until I've had time
to cool down. I'll send you word"
winthrop passed out with a pleasant
adieu to his hostess and, as he descend
ed the steps the sudden alertness OF
the footman in the Eaton livery, told
him that Elizabeth's suspicious were
correct.
Mrs. Eaton had never forgiven Dud-
ley Eaton's father for his fancied slight.
She had determined to marry him, but
while he was attentively courteous he
had given no indication of his prefer
ence for her. For all of that, his mar
riage to another woman had been de-
feat she had never forgiven, and now
that she was the legal guardian of her
sisters child until Elizabeth should BE-
come twenty-one, she threw every OBJ
stacle in the way of the match between
the two young people, even planning to
Illustrate an elopement through the
watchfulness of her carriage servants.
Dudley had an appointment with an
out-of-town acquaintance, and when
he came to Forty-second street, he
turned his steps toward Broadway
The man he sought was in the grill
room in the new hotels basement.
they told him, at his desk. and pres
entity Dudley found himself facing the
long marble corridor from his seat at
one Of the tables.
Whats the procession?" he de-
manded as he pointed to the persons
who, after descending the stairs, van
ished down a short corridor just be-
yond.
"Going to take the subway" said
the visitor. II thought you New York
ers knew everything. Don't you know
that the Knickerbocker has two en-
frances to the subway-one through
the cafe and one down that hallway?
It's great on rainy day.
TITS good any old day. smiled Win
throp as a sudden inspiration came to
him. I'm glad I found it out"
After that Winthrop became a regu-
lar occupant of the table that gave q
view of the corridor, sitting there
sometimes for an hour after the black
coffee had been served, and at last his
patience was rewarded for Elizabeth
came hurrying down the stairway.
Lets rum" she cried as he hur-
ried forward. II told auntie / wanted
to stop and telephone. She only knows
the hotel from the restaurant, and
she's having cup of tea in there this
blessed minute, safe in the knowledge
that the men are on guard outside"
She was dragging Winthrop down
the corridor and across the platform
Through the tunnel came the rumble
of an approaching train, and they slip
ped through the gate just as it came to
a stop.
(Which way are we going?" she de-
as she settled into the seat.
DOWNTOWN he explained There
Is a little tunnel that leads over to the
uptown platform. We can get off at
the next station and cross there. DR..
Bliss lives on Ninety-sixth street"
The plan was simple enough, and
n
town express, they were soon on board
There is a curve at Forty-second
street where the tracks swing into
Broadway, and here the train slowed
Down. Elizabeth, looking through the
gave a little scream. Standing
n the entrance from the Knickerbock-
er was her aunt with a most laughabI
expression of bewilderment upon her
lace. 1t was just a f1eeting tableau,
hen the train gathered speed and
N haa l.
''Auntie has just discovered the
light, she announced with a low rip
pie of laughter. Her expression was
he funniest thing, Dudley"
IT wish I could hear what she is
saying" he chuckled. ct fancy that
'he will lose her faith in coachmers
pies now; It's a mighty good lesson
n giving the lesson" she said de-
nurely. ut does great credit to your
They both laughed at the sugges-
ion until the train shot into the |
hurried above ground.
Half an hour and the kindly old |
ector had escorted them to the door |
elizabeth clutched the certificate of !
marriage as though she feared to lose |
t. and sighed with relief as she heard
Winthrop give his address to the |
lriver.
But she gasped as they drew up in !
ront of the house and saw the Eaton |
arriage driving slowly up and down,
While the footn1an paced the walk
"Auntie must be waiting for u.s."
he said. DO you suppose she is very
ngry, Dudley?''
Let's find out" he suggested, as he |
lelped her out and ran up the steps.
"Are you married ?" demanded Mrs |
eaton from the drawing room, as they
inferred the hall.
''Half an hour ago." declared Win
hrop.
Then" she said, practically, "I
hall have to make the best of it, I
but must say that when 1 |
aw that the hotel advertised every
n0darra eOra1ranianoa /