The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-28
THE EVENING STORY
The Fugitive witness.
(By William H. Hamby.)

1t was an entirely new situation TO
Charley Mason He had read of such
things in stories, but he never had be-
lieved that real people encountered
anything like 1t in real life-much less
that he would.
1t was new enough to him in two
respects without being uncommon in
real life. In the first place, he never
had been within twenty hours Of his
own wedding before; in the second
place, no other man ever had been en-
gagged to a girl half SO sweet and
charming and altogether lovely as
Macy Torrey. And then. IN the third
place, came the uncommon and almost
unbelievable situation: what other in
nocent man in real life had ever been
violently possessed by a sheriff at such
a critical time?
But it had all happened simply
enough. Wahoo county had an i'm
portant case against the C. Q. & I.
railroad. Mason was agent for the
road at Belltown. and was wanted as
an important witness
He had been subpoenaed for the next
day, Thursday: but to avoid unneces-
sary risk he had planned to take the
5 O'Clock train for Layton, where his
bride-to-be lived. The relief agent had
just been checked in, the boys had
shaken hands with him, the dispatcher
clicked him GOOD luck, Charley" and
he had turned away to go to his room
to dress, when the sheriff stepped up
and took him by the arm.
"Why-why-really he began
can't go; you'll have to excuse me.
You see''-he blushed-"I am to be
married at O'Clock in the morning"
The sheriff grinned knowingly. He
had heard all sorts of excuses before.
TT won't CO." he said. Nothing will
go except your body
AS the captured witness was led
away to the officers buggy, a picture
stood wildly before his mind of the
happy wedding party growing a little
easy as the clock hands tripped along
toward eight; 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 a girl,
he reflected bitterly, "who would new
er forgive fellow for being absent on
his wedding day. Good Intentions
don't count with her; she believes in
men who do not believe in impossible
tiles
"Say, Mr.. Sheriff. said Mason af-
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 supena, 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. See?'
"Oh, yes, / see,'' answered the young
man The case did not seem hope
less yet-but mighty annoying. Doubt
less 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. It was
seventeen miles overland to the coun-
ty 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 hui
NOR, and refused to listen to the
agents excuse. Instead, he turned to
the sheriff with a peremptory: "Offi-
Ger. I 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 floor
"a room with but one window and
the door. II will leave you here
little while by yourself" said the sher-
4
don't think you want to get married
bad enough to break your neck jump
ing 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 a deputy sheriff
came. st am to stay with you tonight
and keep off the Nightmares" he said
good naturally.
serious, indeed. It was nearly seven
O'Clock. the trains through the coun-
ty 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 e fast train for Colorado for the
honeymoon. He had the passes in his
| 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 Bell
town the previous week. Mason
caught the eye of the leading man,
with whom he had become acquainted,
and they nodded cordially.
IAN old friend of mine I used to
| know in the south" said Mason to
the deputy. eff you do not object I
would like to speak to him after sup
per"
Sure" said the officer obligingly
When they arose from the table
Mason went across and gripped the
| actors hand. They had a long, conf
Dental chat which soon became so
merry that the deputy sheriff wished
| that he could hear some of it. After
| the actor had gone to get ready for
| the performance. Mason said to his
guard:
HE would like to come up to my
room and have a little visit after the
play" said Mason to the deputy. '.I
suppose you don't object
Certainly not"