The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-16

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Literary Press
TN hunt him down, IL i have TO
put bioodhounds on his trail.''
Now, major" soofhed the wife.
Now. papa!' 'soothed the daugh-
The scoundrel shall not escape.
roared the major as he paced the
room. I'll have the police after him
within an hour--within quarter Of
an hour
But. MAORI
But. papa
Marjorie had been uptown to do
some shopping. The major had been
talking OF buying an auto. and ex-
pected to close the deal that day IL
the event came on the machine would
be at the depot TO meet her as she
came home on the o'clock train.
She had only stepped of when a man
touched her arm and raised his cap
and said:
This way to the auto, please"
So her father had closed the deal
and was probably sitting in the auto
outside waiting her appearance. But
he wasn't. The machine was tenant
less, but the man gave her d hand to
reach the tonneau, and as she seated
herself 1t whfzzed away 1t didn't
take the right direction, but she
didn't notkSe this fact for a minute.
When shs did she called out.
q You are going wrong! You must
turn around
r I'm get you there. all right" was
the reply.
Then Mas Marjorie opened the
door and leaped straight out. to lose
her balance as her feet touched the
ground and fall and roll over and
over in the mud. At the same time
she screeched. It wasn't a dainty
screech that was heard a quarter of
a mile away and started men running
for the scene.
"Here-what's the natter" de-
manded the driver of the auto as
he came to a sudden stop.
Help Heipi"
Speed was put on and the auto dis
appeared.
by George, Miss Graves" ex-
claimed a first conner, who at least
knew the girl by sight, but this is
about the boldest thing / ever heard
of around here."
'Was-was he trying to carry me
off? was gasped.
Sure thing. Yes, ma'am, Ii was
a bold attempt at abduction, and the
federate to choke you into silence
and heiplessness. BY Gesrge, but
this village is getting TO be worse
than New York city,"
The scoundrsl had been noticed at
the depot by men who thought he
acted suspiciousiy. No one had taken
the number of the auto, and it was
considered useless To follow.
The major hadn't closed the deal
for the auto. and he wasn't at the
depot--either with OF without II. or
course. Miss Marjorie had a story to
tell when she got home, and IL was
the attempted crime that reused the
fathers ire. Was this the twentieth
century? Was the police force of the
village consisting Of two men. being
paid enormous salaries to catch Grim
mails red handed or to play checkers
and sleep? The major asked great
many other questions that neither his
wife or daughter could answer. and
wound up with the threat to have the
State militia called out
Meanwhile something had happened
at manor house two miles away.
Ruth Forest was coming down that
evening for a stay to two weeks with
her old scheci ehum, Mrs. Thurston,
a bride of two years. Harry Thurs
ton. brother of the husband. had al
eaay been there week. II WAS for
him TO take the auto ana meet Miss
Ruth. She would surely lie looking
for somebody to meet her, and there
could be no mistake.
With that spirit of careiessness so
prevalent with young men, he select
ed a tall. Wtllowx girl. instead of a
short stout one, and bore her away.
He fully intended to introduce him
self and do some taIkIn@ after get
ting clear of thu depot. and when he
lost his passenger in the way he did
he was too astonished and ratified TO
do the right thing. There came an
instant suspicion that he had some
how picked up the wrong young lady.
and in his illustration he put on
speed and disappeared.
Arriving home, his explanation was
that Miss Ruth was not among the
passengers that got off. This passed
att right for half an heHT, and then
the missing guest showed up to dis
i prove it. Harry then owned up, and
after a gasp of establishment. his sis
ter said:
"A rather tall. slim girl. eh?"
Yes"
| And she knew you were headed
wrong?"
Yes"
in or near the village She didn't
command yoa~ TO -step'2e.. She didn't
denend 10 know where you were
taking herr"
mot a, command nor demand
answered Harry. She just opened
the door and jumped, and az she
Jumped she screeched--I1ord. how she
screeched'
wei. young man. think you
have got yourself In trouble. be-
lieve the girl you tried to abduct was
Marjorie Graves, only daughter OF
Major Graves, one of the most pep
perry men in four counties.
but II was a simple mistake"
Yes. but the trouble will be to
make him believe It. And the la
lfaeHtab4e- part of tha- whole thing Is
that I wanted you and that particu-
lar girl to fall in 1--WE with each
other"
.Can't@we do it just the sanse!.
why. Major Graves won't let You
come within ten rods OF his house.
And II you were to meet the young
lady elsewhere what could YOU say Y"
II guess youth havO to match me
IN with some one else. She ought to
have had a placard hung about her
neck stating who she was. All ner
fault"
The majors deal for the auto went
through three days later, but he did
not let the excitement Of 1t turn him
from the trail OF the wouid-be ABB
ductor He made many moves, but
he got no cleWa Ten days later he
ana Miss Marjorie were riding out.