The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-12-16
Miss Wendell" Norton said.

is something we call a discrepancy,
young man." he said, lin these here
statements. So just you come OF
with us to the station quietly. 1t
will be best for you in the long
run" "a,
Take your hand off that lady's
shoulder" Norton exclaimed, losing
his temper at the indignity that was
being put upon Gertrude, "or I'll
knock you down"
ooh, you will, will you!" the
man said ~insolently, making a sig
nal as he spoke, and Norton Instant
~ found himself pinioned.
"Keep the prisoners apart" the
detective ordered, and they were
marched off the steamer through a
gazing crowd and put into separate
cabs.
Whats up, governor" a man
asked.
"Elopement with robbery. Reg'ler
heartless case," said the officer.
"He's a deep 'un, too. Had provided
himself with a gents card and got
the initials painted on his luggage!"
Two policemen, great, uncouth,
coarse fellows, got into the cab with
Gertrude and sat opposite to her.
Their clothing reeked with the damp,
and the blacking on the boots smelled
strong. Although their ~propinquity
was revolving to her, and she re-
NAMED drawn back as far as the mar
row space permitted, her eyes fash
ing, her face crimson with indigna-
ton. .
$50 you weren't satisfied with yer
old man," n Of them began, with
offensive. familiarity. well, the
young sparks more in yer line, I al
low, so far as suitability goes. But
whatever do you 60 and rob the old
boy for? It'll be a pity to see a
smart 'un like you sent off for six
months, won't it, James?" .
"Ay," the other man rejoined.
"And she is a smart 'un, too. l
wouldn't mind runnin' away with you
myself, my dear, if you'll have me
! when you come out"
Gertrude fixed her steady eyes first
on one and then On the other as they
spoke, and each in turn lost conf
dence, and then subsidized abashed.
"You are very stupid men," she
said. "You ought to know the diff
ference between a lady and the sort of
person you pretend to think I am.
You must know my husbands name
well enough. I am Mrs. Leslie Som
ers..". y.... 81
@Oh, We are!" jeered one Of the
men, with a chuckle. We'll believe
that, Brown, won't we? Mrs. Leslie
Somers 'ud be running about the con-
tinent with a young fellow as calls
himself a Sandhurst cadet and doesn't
know her name, though he says he's
escortin' of her. Courtin' Of hers
what he meant, he! he! I tell you,
young woman, Mrs. Leslie, Somerses
don't appear in public with young
fellows as don't ever know their
names, nor without lady's maids,
neither. If you could hold your
tongue you might look like a Mrs.
Leslie Somers, but when you open
your mouth you betray yourself. So
you'd better play it lower down a pre-
cious sight"
Lets see your visitin' card" the
the other interposed9 He was not SO
confident as he had been.
Gertrude, unfortunately had no
card in her pocket. But, see," she
said, my monogram is on my purse,
and here again on my handkerchief"
The monogram was G. B. S., her sec
ond name being Beatrice. The po-
liceman, however, chose to consider
that the B. stood for Bannister, and
those proofs OF her identity served
only to make assurance doubly sure.
They took possession of these dainty
t%rifes, keeping them doubtless by
way of pieces de conviction, and be-
came more insolent, If possible, than
they had been.
On arriving at the station, Ger
trude had to submit to the indignity
of being searched. 1t was in vain
that she demanded telegraph forms.
The police would do nothing without
money, and they had taken her purse.
She implored them to let her speak
with Mr.. Norton, but they only
jeered at her, and made brutal sug-
gestions about locking him up with
her. She knew, of course, that the
mistake would be found out sooner
of later, but meanwhile what pre-
cious time was being lost! The
thought made her furious, and she
began to rage, but she was locked up
alone by this time, in a damp closet
of a place, a mere passage-like slip
between two walls, and If any heard
her they did not heed. Hour after
hour passed, and her mood changed
~perpeually, but it was neve a change
for the better. Her utter helpless
ness dazed her at first. Then she
thought she could escape If she tried
prisoners did escape, and tried
hard to climb up to the window.
, This dirtied her hands, and she felt
for her handkerchief. For the first
time in her life she found herself de-
prived of that necessary article, and.
absurdly enough, this trife was the
first thing that brought tears to her
eyes-tears of bitter modification,
the worst she had ever shed. She
lad 4 soft Indian muslin kerch.ef
:ound her neck. edged with lace, and
his she turned into a pocket hand
:-:chief for the time being. Then