Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-11-10
A Risky Expedient.
loriginaLl

One afternoon as it was growing dark gentleman threaded his way to stalled carriage and mounted to the box beside the llveried coachman. As tonlshment kept the latter silent for a moment; then when be was about to speak the gentleman stopped him.
 James he said in a low voice. you know mer'
 Certainly. Mir, Townsend"
 You also know that l am friend of your mistress. Now. wish you 10 relinquish the reins 10 me. Get off the box and disappear in the throng. Come to my office tomorrow and you will receive five years wages"
 There was little hcsltancy in accept ing such tempting offer. He had often seen the gentleman at bis niis- tress' house. Doubtless he meditated some harmless prank. Turning over the reins. James descended from the box and was lost in the crowd.
 Now, there had becc for some time | desperate love game between Mir. Townsend and Miss Annette Van De veer, the occupant of the carriage. The lady would encourage her lover for brief season. when she would suddenly treat him with the most studied indifference This blowing hot and cold on the heart alternately sets the blood coursing wildly and makes man do very reckless things. But Frank Townsend was as much of q genius at the game of love as Paul Morphy was at the game of chess. He made up his mind to a campaign which If unsuccessful would mark him for a fool. but, If he knew Miss Van Devecr correctly would win her
 The lady wondered why she was 90 long In reaching her horne. When the i carriage stopped 1t was under porte cochere The man on the box gave call. which was answered by maid. who caue out of the hou1c and recslv- cd whispered instructions from the coachman. Shc opeuei the coach door. The lady stepped out looking about her In surprise. but tefore she could collect her senses was hurried into the house She became alarmed and turned to go back through the door by which she had come 1t WIS locked.
 What coss this meeni' she erica. both indignant end terrified
 ''rhat you are prlsoIcs.''
 "A p.isp,.er?' 2"
 "Yes. but Gul't distress yourself. Ton will come 10 no harm. Ton VIII oe treated with every respect"
 Beyond this Miss Van Deveer could ! get no satisfaction. She al last con. scrteJ to 20 to her room. where sic wes locked h.
 She hEd rot Lecn thcrc long bcfols the door was opened and q nots was thrown in. II read:
 Yorr irea.In.at of r-c has made Ias desperate. 1 have Kidnapped you and 5hlr hold you til you have promised tu be my UIee. ls voY wisA t1 see rle ring. and vi.i send Tor yoI
 r. TowNSEND.
 II was but q few min ties before rias vas heard dpwns,airs. Then q maid thrsE. open tie doo- and conduct ed Mis- Van Dcvcer to the drawing room. where Nr. Townsend awaited her
 What crazy freq. is cis:" she de, mauced hacShtlly.
 If sm crazy have been uiade so by love for you.''
 Il demand to be sent home imncdi- | atcly. They vii! te frightened at my absence. IL Is not proper that should be here in yoar hoase."
 As to the first I care nothing As to the second. you shall be treated as be- comes the lady you are Do you realize that when G,y bciag here is known. as 1t will be If do not leave immediately. 1 shall be severely crit,clscd?"
 ".Ali the more reason for you to con- ! ply with the terms of ransom and go at once.'
 The lady was talking excitedly, the Italian bandit ready to cut off her ear and send 1t to her relatives.
 'I supposed. Frank Townsend, that you were reckless. but I never took ] you for fool''
 "A fool will pull the house down over his head and the woman he ! loves"
 Do you mean To say that you will permit this act to be known among ! your friends and be cut by every one of them? AS soon as they hear all ! they will exonerate me- | "If can't win you am ready to be cut by the whole world" ! There was no promise of reienting. 1 Miss Van Deveer stood looking al her captor with curious exprcs ion. { Through all her blowing hot and cold she had intended to marry him. In- deed, she was desperately In love with him. If she allowed this unheard of 1 affair to proceed 1t meant ruin to all concerned. There was no alterna tive except equalization. 'Order the carriage." she said. 'Tt is at the door, and my coachnan Is on the box. Come. can get you home before the dinner hour" Mfr. Townsend and Miss Van Deveer got into the carriage together, and ehe