The Caucasian., 1912-03-28

upOu tne undTkou WiuuOW. CFeepiHS
across the lawn, he tossed u handful
of pebbles against the pane.
A brief moment of suspense. then the
light went out in the upper room, a
hand pulled in the scarf, and the win
dow slid up a few cautious inches,
There was some low toned parleying;
then the man strode around the rear of
the house and disappeared Some
where a door was softly opened and
shut. Anne Rugged herself and tidget-
ed. All, there they were at last. The
two figures, hand in hand, issued from
the shadows back Of the house.
"Where did you leave the auto,
George?" was waited to her in pant
ing breaths as they whisked past
Down the hill in that first hollow.
Hanson's waiting for u.s." explained
this gallant Lochinvar. and off they
was darting along the path toward her
touring car at the gate.
"Skeleton's out of the closet!' she
giggled beneath her breath. What
would you give. Mr.. Andrew Rowland,
to have me chase it back" She
paused irresolutely. glancing back.
"Oh, well. my lord, since you won't
grant me my interview must content
myself with your angel child's elope-
ment. Here goes!"
She was about to leap into the car.
but stopped short with a cry of dismay.
THE gasoline! Oh, perdition, forgot!
ought to have filed it. Now. where's
that CAM"
Cropping frantically in the back OF
the car. she finally extracted from the
chaos of the tool kit a can Of gasoline
and began an impetuous assault upon
it's stopper The next moment she
was crouching low in the shadow of
the car, for her ear had caught the
scurry of returning footsteps and the
murmur Of excited voices, which seem
ed to indicate that the course of true
love was still running in jerks.
"Oh, George, are you sure you told
him to wait there?' came the girls
agitated voice. Dear, dear, what shall
we do if he's drunk again and gone
back to town."
"I'll break his cursed head for him
when 1 catch him!' fumed George.
Dear, what if papa should Gomez"
moaned Miss Rowland. George, we'll
have to walk to the city. Come on:
it's only four miles. Why-~hy, there
it is. There's the car at the gate,
Why didn't we look there before? Run
quickr'
It was not in Anne Cullom to hesi-
| tate when action was possible. She
scrambled to her feet and, composing
| her features to accommodate an eX-
preston of mild and seraphic astonish-
ment. faced the fugitives serenely as
| they came painting up With smoth-
| cred shrek Miss Betty promptly back
| ed into the arms of Mr.. George Ger
| maine Bracket, Jr.
"'Tisn't yours at all. George" she
gasped.
"Good evening"" said Anne sweetly.
rs anything the matterT
"We've-we've lest q motorcarr' Wo,
manlike, Miss Betty was the first to
| recover. 1T was to wait for us, but
| I'm afraid the chauffeur's misundar-
stood and gone off without US, and we
| simply must get to town tonight. Oh,
won't you let US have your car? George
win pay you anything you ask-any-
! thing. Won't you, George?"
George stood to his guns valiantly.
"Yes, and I'll have a man bring it back
to you the minute we get to town. You
| will have it back in half an hour"
| ''That sounds straight" admitted
Anne cautiously, "but you never can
| tell. / never lend my car to any but
persons Of - er - acknowledged good
| character. That was a good one for
Rafferty," she added mentally. 1t was
Rafferty's car.
| Jump in, Betty; We'll take it any.
| way" The groom was already laying
possessive hands ON the motor.
81 seem to have no choice" Anne
was enjoying herself tremendously.
Anne watched them till they were
well under way, feeling very much as
| though she had at last found lever
| long enough to swing the world. Then
| she few back to the house and gave
| the front bell violent pull.
IT must see Senator Howland in
| stantlyi Do you hear-instantly? It's
| matter of life and deathr'
| Her vehemence must have carried
conviction, for the aperture of the door
widened cautious six inches, and the
stolid domestic backed off a few feet
| In ungracious invitation Suddenly
from the far end Of tho hall deep,
testy voice doomed out: "a matter of
life and death, eh? Humph! What's
| matter of life and death p
AIne's heart pMnded a little un-
evenly as she stepped forward and
confronted the man whose name was
on eyerybody's lips.
"My name is Anne Cullom.'' She
went straight to the point. II hate to
butt in, but I thought you'd like to
| know that your daughter is about to
e!ope with young man she calls
George