The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-07-11

/ u
Wear them down." said the Hon,
orable John Ruff1n with decision
I've been wearin' them down - for
months, don't you know; but it doesn't
seem to, come off, said Captain
Croome, ruefully And IL it doesn't
come off soon, it won't come off at all.
The old cat has caught the Otter for
| Grizel. and the marriage Is nearly
fixed up"
Sir Otto Letter, an English baronet
| (by right of purchase) of the old Ham
burg strain, was known to his &C
quaintances as the Otter on account
of his remarkable sickness.
yes: was told that 1t was ar
ranged" said the Honorable John
Ruf1in.
We'll, I'm goin' to stop IT." cried
Captain Croome, with some heat
II don't think you will Lady Tul-
lislaith is tough old cat, and the
Marques is a hopeless stick. Your
only chance is to persuade Lady Grizel
to chuck the Otter"
| But that's just 1t. / can't get a
chance of persuading her to do any
thing, because | can't get near her."
said Captain Croome. dolefully Lady
Tullislaith told me she didn't want
me at her house as soon as the Otter
reared on the scene. And now that
IS nailed him, she doesn't let Grizel
out of her sight. She never lets her
| go to a dance where we could talk
only to dinners where she won't meet
me, and 10 theatres with the Otter.
Grizel never stirs out Of the house
without her mother or perfect beast
of a maid to keep me off. How can
persuade herr"
There is the penny post, which
was invented by Sir Rowland Hill to
meet emergencies Of this very kind.
| Wherever we're you at school not to
learn that? Use it, man-use It," said
| the Honorable John Ruffin.
But | can't use it," cried Captain
Croome, dolefully. "The old cat opens
all Grizel's letters, and sends mine
| back to me with nasty remarks about
my prosecuting a young girl with un-
welcome attentions. And they aren't
unwelcome-I know they aren't"
We'll, if you're sure Of that. you've
only got to be patient. Lady Grizel
has much too much character to
marry the Otter, If she really cares
| for you"
ooh, come, Ruffin, you know that It
isn't safe. You know that girls are
always being worried into marrying
| these rich Founders they hate. That's
one of the things that keeps the di-
vorce court so full"
Yes, there is that danger" said the
Honorable John Ruffin, thoughtfully.
"And after all, things look bad; they're
| not quite twentieth century; there's
medieval breadth about Lady Tul-
lislaith's methods, and | don't think
there's much she'd stick at I loathe
the old cat myself"
so do l." said Captain Croome,
heartily. What am to do?"
We'll, when you meet the middle
ages, the only thing to do is to be
medieval But you can't carry off a
girl by force nowadays"
Il wish could" said Captain
1 Croome
Still you might persuade her to run
away with you. Get special license,
and any parson can marry you any
where There's very good church
over the way. Why not use it? No
one would look for you there-if the
Tullislaiths pursue"
Good man! I'll do It," cried Cap
tain Croome. Then his face fell, and
he added But | say, isn't there
something about being Of age when
you get married? Grizel is only nine
teen and a half"
Then. on the old Jesuit principle
that the end justified the means, you
will have to raise her age in getting
| that license to twenty-one and q half.
Of course this renders you liable to
prosecution for false entry. But no
true lover would let prison stand be-
tween him and wedlock,' said the Hon
orable John Ruffin, enthusiastically.
eff it was for Grizel, I'd stick it
out" said Captain Croome, simply.
But all the same l shan't persuade
her to bolt with me in one letter or
in two. She's been so strictly brought
: ND. Will you lend me your little
housekeeper to work the letter
racket"
"only after bacon hours" said the
Honorable John Ruffln, firmly.
Bacon hours?" said Captain
Croome, with puzzled face.
"In spite Of her red hair, or perhaps
| because of it, Mrs Bride is the one
person in London who can grill bacon
as bacon should be grilled She must
| not leave here till after breakfast
said the Honorable John Rufin.
That's all right" said Captain
1 Croome, with some relief "Grizel
walks in Kensington Gardens from
| eleven to twelve every morning.
But how is Mrs. Bride going to
| deliver your letters?"
/ ut isn't going to be an easy job,
| said Captain Croome II was think
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