The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-04-08
An Elopement.
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When girl of eighteen is In posses
sion of a fortune, she is very fortunate
II she does not become target for
some person or persons DESTROYS Of re.
leving 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
sr's sister, Miss Barbour, a spinstcr 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 a high regard for Mr.. Atwa-
ters shrewdness and had left him sole
executor of his estate.
A pretty girl and couple OF hundred
thousand dollars were too tempting a
prize for Mr.. Atwater's integrity. Win
ming the confidence of Miss Barbour,
he succeeded in keeping the heiress
virtual prisoner with a view to prevent
her marrying-tha 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 pllghted 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 had
no wish to leave 1t, made the young
mans poverty convenient excuse for
opposing him. So 1t 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
rlage 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 way station
on a 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.
The exigencies of the case required
k1,oA 41a onvrula should %oI.n =, A.
turnpike. But how? An automobile
has for enterprises requiring swlftness
taken the place Of horses. and Bob in
laying his plans gave the fact due
consideration.
One morning there was n sharp ring
1t Mr.. Atwater's 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 a furious pace.
This information was communicated
In a 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 II an automobile had
gone that way; but. the answers being
definite and satisfactory, be 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 ferocious snort
ing behind. pulled out to the side Of