The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-06-01

happy wedding party growing little
restless, then nervous and then un.
easy as the clock hands tripped along
toward s. He saw the face Of his
lovely, happy bride as she waited, and
then saw the modification, the agony,
the scorn in her face when the hour
came and no bridegroom.
"And she is just the sort Of girl"
he reflected bitterly, who would never
forgive a fellow for being absent on
bis wedding day. Good intentions
don't count with her; she believes in
men who do not believe In impossi-
bilities."
"Say, Mr.. Sheriff. said Mason at
fably as they reached the buggy, Il
acknowledge service all right, and you
just leave me here to fix up things,
and I'll be over In the morning In time
for court"
mot much" The sheriff grinned
again. "The Judge Is wrathy. You
lodged one subpoena, you know, and
he said for me to hold on to you this
time-and If you make an effort to
dodge this time he'll throw you into
jail for contempt Of court. Seer"
ooh, yes, see," answered the young
man. The case did not seem hopeless
yet, but mighty annoying. Doubtless
the Judge would let him off when he
heard the circumstances, but it would
make it a case of mad hurry to get
back to Belltown in time for the 4
O'Clock train next morning. 1t was
seventeen miles overland to the county
seat
For several miles Mason argued and
begged, but the sheriff only grinned.
Very well, he would wait until he saw
the Judge. But when they reached the
county seat the judge was in a bad
humor and refused to listen to the
agents excuse Instead he turned to
the sheriff with peremptory Officer,
1 hold you strictly responsible for the
appearance of this witness in the
morning; commit him to jail If neces-
sary."
Hell be in court in the morning,
your honor" said the sheriff, with his
exasperating grin.
The officer took him to the hotel and
engaged a room on the top hoor-a
room with but one window and one
door. 81 will leave you here little
while by yourself" said the sheriff
after inspecting the window. II don't
think you want to get married badly
enough to break your neck jumping
out of that" 1t was brick wall
dropping sheer thirty feet to the
ground. He went out and locked the
door behind him.
In a few minutes deputy sheriff
came. Il am to stay with you to-
night and keep off the nightmares
he said good naturally.
Things began to look serious-very
serious indeed. 1t was nearly Z o'clock,
the trains through the county seat
made no connection with those through
Belltown and Layton, and it was forty
miles overland to the latter. Twelve
hours more and the wedding guests
would begin to arrive.
They were to be married at and
take fast train for Colorado Tor the
honeymoon. He had the passes IN MS
pocket
They went down to supper. The
deputy stayed close at his side, evil
IDENTIFY intending that he should have
no temptation to run. Despair thick
and black was rapidly settling down
upon the desperate bridegroom when
travelling theatrical company came into
the dining room. 1t was the same
troupe that had been at Belltown the
previous week. Mason caught the eye
Of the leading man, with whom he had
become acquainted, and they nodded
cordially.
"An old friend of mine l used to
know in the south" said Mason to the
deputy. "If you do not object would
like to speak to him after supper"
Sure" said the officer obligingly.
When they arose from the table Ma
son went across and gripped the ac-
tors hand. They had a long, confiden-
tial chat which soon became 30 merry
that the deputy. sheriff wished that ne