Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-19
DAILY STORY
AN ELOPEM EMIT.
IOriginal.'


lieving her of it. Bessie Grape had
been tenderly brought up until she was
seventeen years old, when she had the
misfortune to lose her father and
mother in rapid succession. Her moth
er's sister, Miss Barbour, a spinster Of
forty, was called in to take charge of
the house and the young girl as well.
The estate was administered by Arnold
Atwater, an attorney, also in middle
life and unmarried. Mr.. Grape had
conceived high regard for Mr.. Atwa-
ter's shrewdness and had left him sole
executor of his estate.
A pretty girl and a couple of hundred
thousand dollars were too tempting 4
prize for Mr.. Atwater's integrity. Win
ming the confidence of Miss Barbour,
he succeeded in keeping the heiress a
virtual prisoner with a view to prevent
her marrying-that is, unless he could
succeed in marrying her himself.
All this is an old story. The interest
in this yarn lies in an effort made by
young Bob Allison to get the maiden
out of the hands of the designing attor
ney. Bob and Bessie had grown up to-
gether and had plghted their childish
troth long before either knew anything
about worldly goods. But Bob was to
be the architect Of his own fortune,
and Miss Barbour, who, in her present
position, was In better circumstances
than she had ever been before and Lad
no wish TO leave it. made the young
mans poverty a convenient excuse for
opposing him. So it was Bob and Bes-
sic versus Atwater and Barbour
1t did not take the young couple long
to discover that there was but one
way to win, and that was to gain for
Bob the legal control of Bessie, which
would also give him the control of her
fortune. To do this marriage was nee
essary, and the only way to effect mar
rage was an elopement.
Now, in Opponents it is far easier
for the runaways to make a start than
to avoid capture. Teverton, where
these people lived, was Il way station
on great railroad. In the event of
the girl being missed the first place
those desiring to capture her would
look would be the Teverton station.
that the couple should take to the
turnpike. But how? An automobile
has for enterprises requiring swiftness
taken the place of horses. and Bob in
laying his plans gave the fact due
consideration.
One morning there was a sharp ring
| at Mr.. Atwaters telephone. and the
| crisp voice of Miss Barbour Informed
| him that Bob Allison had come to the
house in an automobile; Bessie had
| evidently been expecting him. for she
was dressed for a ride: she had run
out and jumped into the automobile
before she could be prevented. and
| they had sped away at Il furious pace.
| This information was communicated
| in few fragments of sentences. At
water threw down the receiver. seized
| his hat and in two minutes was in an
automobile garage offering any amount
! for the use of the fastest machine in
the place. One was Immediately plac-
ed at his disposal, and, proceeding to
pick up Miss Barbour. he sped along
in the direction she indicated.
Twice only he was obliged to slow
up before getting on to the main road
to make inquiries if an automobile had
gone that way; but. the answers being
definite and satisfactory. he was not
obliged to ask again. for there was
but one road in the vicinity on which
an automobile could make progress,
that beside the railroad.
Sundry vehicles were passed on the
way. and all, hearing a ferocious snort
ing behind pulled out to the side of
the road. But one old trap of station
hack logged along without paying any
attention to the coming clattcr. Atwa-
ter was obliged to slow up. attempting
first TO get by on one side. then on the
other. the hack driver taking up most
of the road. Atwater. who was Of q
suspicious nature. suspecting that the
man might he in league with the fugi
/ tives to delay him. threatened to run
him down If he did not get out of the
way. This brought the driver to his
senses. and he drew up on one side
while the automobile whizZed by like
n cannon ball.
The delay was but slight, and. the
power of the automobile being tremen
dous, the pursuers forged ahead at the
rate of forty miles an hour. Since
there was no machine to be had a
Teverton that could do better thar
thirty Atwater felt confident of sue
cess. Indeed, in turning the next benz
in the road he saw ahead a cloud OF
dust that lie knew concealed an auto
mobile.
It was mad chase, dangerous
chase, but from the first it was eviden
that the automobile ahead was III
match for the one behind. Every mil,
passed by the former resulted in hal
mile gain by the latter. The dus
concealed the fugitives. but Atwate
had no doubt whatever that they wer,
there, for their machine was putin.
on all the speed of which it was capa
BILE in an evident attempt 20 distance
him.
In due time the fugitive machin
was overtaken, but what was the pur
- l,