Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-07-08

side. one had fallen. tangled In
barbed wire fence that some reckless
farmer had ST. ung close to the road.
The colonel leaped from his car and
| ran to help the traveller out Of their
predicament.
BE careful, miss-there. I'll help
you up" and he lifted from the vines
and tall grasses beside the road .
slender form garbed in gray.
rs she hurt?" came q voice from
the depth OF the tangled saplinss, ~
her companion forced his way iowa a
them.
Turning. the colonel recognized in
the bedraggled cavalier-Roberts.
He almost feared to look at the
young woman who was regainins her
feet-but he did. 1t was az he sus
pected.
Il am % sorry" he began. I sup
posed there was . clear road
I'VE don't blame you at ALL" re-
piled Roberts. cheerfully. but tie fact
Is, II 10 somewhat embarrassing.
Graces-Miss Dewey's horse has run
OF and we-that is. well, we want to
get to Rockwell City mighty bad
and quick!"
Il am sure 1t was no fault Of yours"
added the young woman. now regain
ing her feet and showing q constant
| ly increasing discontinue.
, The red motor car glared at tina
trio wickedly as IL it were glad 1t had
disconnected the plans OF any enemy OF
its master.
Now. colonel. I hate to tell you
this" began Roberts, nervousiy. 81
am sure you will sympathize with me
and with Grace Miss Dewey
You see, colonel. we are--that is. well.
We are going to be married"
IL the red automobile had turned
somersaults, II the river haG suddenly
stood on end, the colonel could scarce
ly have been more taken aback. he
turned his face SO that IL would not
show pale in the glare OF the pilot
lamp.
Yes, / understand" he finally man
aged to say.
And Miss Dewey's father does not
like 1t very WELL" with the suspicion
of a laugh in the words. 'In fact, he
will probably be after us when he
finds out. We have come this round
about way to throw him off the track
and you see where we are?"
Yes, see." was the slow response
The colonel's voice was strangely
cold, anc he was conscious of q dis.
tinct effort in getting the words out In
the proper form. Il see. You are
afraid he will catch you before you
are married? He does not like army
menu"
| There was an odd twist in the
clined to smile.
Papa has his prejudices, you
know put In Miss Dewey, demureIy.
| HE will miss us before long," the
lieuteEant's words fairly dripped with
excitement. He peered anxiously
down the road. And Crace's horse
has gone for good"
my duty is clear began the
colonel, his voice still husky. Il know
very well that you young people
should be taken I'm charge. You, lieu.
rest, and you, Miss Grace, ought
to be turned over to your ia,
Their. You both know that this should
be done"
He had not looked at them while
he talked-now that he did, he saw
that Roberts arm was around the
rancher's daughter, and that her eyes
were gazing appealingly toward him.
He always had admired those blue
eyes-he looked into them, his heart
in the glance, then with a dash Of his
hand wiped out the vision.
"You scapegraces deserve this-but
! don't know that your father, miss. IA
any friend OF mine. Where did yot
say you wanted to go?"
ITO Rockwell City--to a minister's,
eagerly exclaimed Roberts.
Climb in here-send that horse of
yours up the road-we'll get him In
the morning" His orders were posi-
tive and definite.
a stroke of the whip and the lieu
tenants mount went racing up the
path after the ranch girls Rex. Rob
erts and Grace clambered into the car
With a crunch the car started, an,
in another minute they were speedin
toward Rockwell City, 40 miles Al
hour.
Up the deserted street, across the
railroad tracks. past the hotel with
its many lights they sped. With a Jolt
they stopped at a modest dwelling on
a side street Col. Leith was first to
leap from the car.
Gently he helped the young woman
from her place, and his strong hand
was in hers as he gave her to Rob
erts' care.
This Is a very informal and undig.
nified proceeding, young people," h
began. II am sorry to see you dc
this way" He was talking against
time. for so long as he talked her hand
lay in his. Il am not going to give