The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-11-17
On the Run
BY A. M. Peterson.

The boss" looked up from a pile of
papers.
I'm going to send you to Frisco,
Wilson; Adams is sick. You must
take his place. We have a big deal
on there now, and it's got to go
through. You'll have to catch the
next train. That gives you an hour
and a half"
Outside the office Wilson's face
heightened dismally.
"M%arjorie!" he gasped. Frisco!
Good Lord | cant go, with things in
this critical condition. Then others
are always hanging around. 1t won't
do. 1t mightn't be Marjorie when |
get back"
He jerked out his watch. AN hour
and twenty-five minutes left. That's
plenty of time. I'll do it. I'll know my
fate before | leave"
Fifteen minutes later he was shown
into the parlor of a large, prudish-
looking apartment house. In one cor
ner sat three ladies'. They stared at
him.
Wonder how long they are going to
stay?" he thought.
A swish of skirts drew his eyes to
he door, and Marjorie, all ribbons and
iimples, entered. Wilson seized the
1and she gave him and held 1t.
I've come to tell you that-that-"
From the corner precise tones came
20 his ear, and he dropped Marjorie's
hand. ITO say goodby."
I've got to go to Frisco" he ex.
planned.
There was such regret in Mar
iorie's face that his heart gave a
Jump.
After that Wilson talked without
rhyme or reason. What he wanted to
say was on the tip of his tongue, but
the three pairs of watching eyes in
the corner kept it back.
And you have to leave at 11?"
Marjorie said sympathetically.
Wilson gave a despairing glance
toward the corner and rose.
yes, but l want to say-that is, |
want to tell"
He stopped, and his eye fell on a
magazine lying on a small center ia.
BILE. He took a pencil and wrote rap
idly.
Have you read this?" he asked,
passing the magazine and pencil to
Marjorie.
What he wrote was: Il love you,
but l can't say so for those old CAB
blers in the corner"
Fol a moment Marjorie hid her face
in the magazine and even the lobes
of her ears grew red. Then she wrote
a reply.
What Wilson read was: I'm so
glad"
AS he lifted his eyes from the maya
zine he heard a rustic, and the last of
three prim figures disappeared from
the room. Then he took Marjorie in
his arms.
You must go with me-" He slapped
his hands together emphatically as
Marjorie shook her head. we must
be married now. There's almost half
an hour left"
The next instant he was at the tele-
phone, the next back at M~arjorie's
side.
The minister's going to meet us at
the station. I'll get the license. and
you must join me there"
A few minutes later two vehicles
raced up the plaza of the station:
Wilson alighted from one, Marjorie
from the other. They had only five
minutes to spare, but no minister was
in sight. Suddenly a fog-horn voice
announced their train was on the eve
of departure. At that instant a meek
looking little man entered. The next
he was in Wilson's grasp, and the
next being hurried toward the tracks.
Il lost my collar button" he ex-
planned. 1T was the most extraordin-
airy thing
Listen to me-" Wilson interrupted.
"Our trains about to leave. You can
marry us on it, and get off at the first
station"
But, my dear sir, l have a minis
ters' meeting to attend this afternoon"
the little nan protested.
Across the tracks they went, and
Wilson lifted the little man on the al
ready moving train, helped Marjorie
after him, and swung on himself.
Don't talk nonsense; marry us" he
said.
The little man wiped his forehead
with a trembling hand, and hen
smiled wanly.
IF ii hadn't been for that extraor-
binary collar button l would have
been on time he declared.
AS the train was beginning to leave
the city limits and emerge into the
green country, he lifted his hands and
said solemnly:
Il pronounce you man and wife"