The Springdale news., 1908-11-27
A Risky Expedient.
tOriginal. l


 stationed at intervals to keep them in line and extricate them when blocked One afternoon as it was growing dark gentleman threaded his way to a stalled carriage and mounted to tue box beside the liyeried coachman. As. tonishment kept the latter silent fol a moment; then when he was about to speak the gentleman stopped him.
 James" he said in . low voice you know me?'
 Certainly, MT. Townsend
 You also know that 1 am a friend of your mistress. Now. l wish you tt relinquish the reins to me Get oil the box and disappear in the throng Come to my office tomorrow and you will receive five years wages
 There was little hesitancy in accept ing such tempting offer. He had often seen the gentleman at his mis 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 been for some time desperate love game between Mr 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 q man do very reckless things. But Frank Townsend was as much of q genius at the game of love as Pau Morphy was at the game of chess. He made up his mind to campaign which if unsuccessful would mark him for a fool, but, if he knew Miss Van Deveer correctly would win her.
 The lady wondered why she was so long in reaching her home. When the carriage stopped it was under a porte eoehere. The man on the box gave q call, which was answered by maid. who came out of the house and receiv- cd whispered instructions from the eoaehman. She opened the coach door. The lady stepped out, looking about her in surprise. but before 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. It was locked.
 What does this mean?' she cried. both indignant and terrified.
 That you are Il prisoner
 "A prisoner?"
 .Yes. but don't distress yourself. Yoa will come to no harm. You will be treated with every respect
 Beyond this Miss Van Deveer could get no satisfaction She at last con sented to go te her room. where she was locked in.
 She had not been there long before the door was opened and note was thrown in. It read
 Your treatment of no has made ne desperate. have kidnapped you and shall hold you till you have promised te be my wife. If you wish to me. ring and 1 will send for you
 F. TOWNSEND.
 It was but a few minutes before a ring was heard downstairs Then a
 
 ed Miss Van Deyeer to the drawing room. where Mir Townsend awaited her
 What crazy freak is this?" she de handed haughtily.
 If am crazy I have been made so by love for you"
 T demand to be sent home immedi ately. They will be frightened at my absence. It is not proper that I should be here in your house.
 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 my being here is known, as it will be if do not leave immediately, shall be severely criticised? ?''
 All the more reason for you to com ply with the terms of ransom and go at once
 The lady was talking excitedly, the gentleman as coolly as if he were an Italian bandit ready to cut off her ear and send it to her relatives.
 "I supposed. Frank Townsend. that you were reckless. but I never took you for a 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 I am ready to be cut by the whole world"
 There was no promise of relenting Miss Van Deveer stood looking at her captor with q curious expression 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 affair to proceed it meant ruin to ali concerned. There was no alternative except equalization.
 .Order the carriage" she said
 Ut is at the door. and my coachman Is on the box Come. can get yol home before the dinner hour"