The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-08-24
THE FORCE OF
EXAMPLE.
A Race After the RunaWays That
Was Not a Failure.
BY KENYON SANDS.

/
curve by the house on two wheels and
brought up at the steps with an ad-
ruptness that all but sent him head
long through the wind shield.
On the wide veranda Colonel Thorn
ton was pacing agitatedly to and fro.
his lips set tight and his keen old eyes
flashing fire.
"Its come at last, just as l expect
ed he raved as the car came to its
spectacular stop. "Mabel has gone
with that young upstart Nixon
-gone-eloped! Do you under
stand? That's why sent for you. I'd
go with you myself if riding in the
wind didn't bring on my asthma so.
I'd go with you and make it hot for
him, swear / would. AS it is you'll
have to take Nell She'll know what
to do. Ho, Nell, Nellp' he called sun
denly through the open front door.
Here's Jimmy in the racer. Hurry
up! You haven't a minute to loseP'
Light footsteps battered on the
SUITS. vi W lie NeIduud CduS NcAA
Thornton.
s'They've gone across the state line
| to Worthwhile, of course" the colonel
declared. You can get 'em if you
hurry. Let out that car, Jimmy Don't
let 'em make it ahead of you"
Jimmy opened up the car, and down
the drive they went at a reckless pace,
swung into the road and went whirl-
ing toward Worthwhile, leaving in their
wake cloud of dust that rose even
above the treetops
Once they reached a straight stretch
Of road Brice leaned toward the girl
beside him.
"We'll overtake 'em if they haven't
too much of a start" he declared.
"How long have they been gomez
Half an hour" she answered.
'@Then we've got 'em," said he en-
couragingly. "Of course we've got to
head this thing off,"
"Of course" she agreed, but some
how Jimmy was impressed with the
idea that she was not overenthusiastic
about it.
II almost wish we could let 'em CO."
said be- "She's desperately in love
with him, and Nixon isn't half bad
chap
That's impossible" said she. "She's
nothing but child. l almost think If
she had been firm with papa he would
have consented, but to try to take the
matter in her own hands this way has
sent him into frightful rage"
They reached a fork in the road One
branch led to Worthwhile, the other to
Standish.
Jimmy swung the car into the left
hand branch of the road and gave it
full speed again.
'What are you going to do when
you catch them?' he asked.
at shall be very firm, and you must
back me up"
"All right" he agreed cheerfully
"Of course l will; but, honestly, Nell,
hate like fury to butt in"
you're not going to desert me at
the critical moment, are your she
questioned anxiously.
sSure Pm not! Watch me-" he
laughed
The soft May dusk was coming on
They shot past houses in which the
lights were already beginning to twin
kle.
''Seems to me we ought to be get
ting a squirt at them pretty soon"
said he.
"rheres car ahead" she cried sud
denly. aHurry-oh, hurrym
The road car seemed fairly to lift
itself from the ground. They sped up
to the car ahead. but its occupants
were a middle aged couple who looked
/ I'D in mild reproof as they tore past.
Jimmy Brice laughed. "Foiled again!"
he Knocked. IT believe they're going
to make it after all"
"They mustn't-they mustn't" said
the girl. Cant we go any faster"
Jimmy shook his head. This is her
best speed" he declared.
Now they had reached the outskirts
Of Worthwhile. With honking horn and
undiminished speed they tore along the
/ elm lined streets.
They've got here ahead Of us, all
right" said Jimmy. "Our only hope is
to interrupt the ceremony before it's
too late. Wherell they go? Have you
any idea"
'aThe parsonage of the brick church.
the girl explained. "That is where all
such couples head for. believe"
They turned a corner. Just ahead
was a little church, nesting beneath
| giant elms, and beside the church was
snug little parsonage.
The car came to a stop. Jimmy and
the girl both leaped out and ran up the
path to belabor the polished brass
knocker on the front door. An elderly
woman in cap and apron answered
their strident summons and smiled
upon them knowingly.
"Step right into the parior, # you
please" she invited.
"Has a couple been here recently
little girl, blond, and man, tall and
iark?" Jimmy asked pantingly
"Yes; they're in the study now" said
the woman.
Without a word Of explanation
Jimmy pushed past her, and, with the
girl following after, he strobe into q
room, where a pleasant faced clergy
man was reading the marriage service
generously. Jimmy took a step for
ward, stopped. chuckled and turned tc
wen, peslde MIN. The couple was no
the one they sought.
Then even as they stood there II
embarrassed silence they heard tn
couple pronounced husband and wife
And now, my young friefds," SAT-
the clergyman tentatively, advancing
In their direction.
''Have you married any other coupl
today?" Nell gasped.
The clergyman shook his head.
"Of course you haven't your II
censes," he said to Jimmy. "Fortu
nately the clerk of this town lives mex
door, and if you will kindly give nj
the necessary information I'll SCI
about them for you"
Jimmy began to chuckle. He wa
about to explain to the clergyman nj
mistake when suddenly he squared hi
shoulders, looked quickly at Nell ant
then faced his interlocutor resolutely
And almost before the girl was awar'
of what was happening Jimmy ha'
given the requested information ant
the clergyman had tripped out to sc
cure the licenses next door.
JIMMY she gasped as the doc
closed behind the retreating parson
Jimmy! For goodness sake
Jimmy Brice took her hand in hi