Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-06-14
CHAPTER III.
In Darkest Chicago.

In Darkest Chicago.
The castaways from the wrecked
taxicab hurried along the dolefu
street. Both of them knew their Chi
cago, but this part of it was not thei
Chicago.
They hailed pedestrian, to asl
where the nearest street car lin,
might be, and whittier it might run
He answered indistinctly from dis
Greet distance, as he FASTENED away
Perhaps he thought their question
merely a footpad's introduction to {
sandbagging episode. In Chicago a.
night one never knows.
"As near as l can make out what ht
said, Marjorie" the lieutenant pom
dered aloud, I'VE walk straight aheac
till we come to Umptyump street
and there we find Rarara car thai
will take us to Bloptyblop avenue.
never heard of any such streets, die
you?"
Never" she painted, as she Jog
trotted alongside his military pace
Lets take the first car we meet, and
perhaps the conductor can put us Oh
at the street where the minister
lives"
Perhaps" There was not much
confidence in that perhaps"
When they reached the street.carred
street, they found two tracks, but
nothing occupying them, as far al
they could peer either way. A small
shopkeeper in tiny shop proved to
be delicatessen merchant SO busily
selling foreign horrors to aliens, that
they learned nothing from him.
At length, in the far-away. they
made out headlight, and heard the
grind and squeal of car. Lieutenant
Mallory waited for it, watch in hand.
He boosted Marjorie-s elbow aboard
and bombarded the conductor with
questions. But the conductor had nc
more heard of their street than they
had of his. Their agitation did not
disturb his stole calm, but he invited
them to come along to the next cross.
ing, where they could find another car
and more learned conductors; or.
what promised better, perhaps cab
He threw Marjorie into a panic by
ordering her to jettison Snoozleums
but the lieutenant bought his soul for
small price, and overlooked the fact
that he did not ring up their fares.
The young couple squeezed into q
seat and talked anxiously in sharp
whispers.
Wouldn't 1t be terrible, Harry. II,
Just as We got to the minister's. we
should find papa there ahead Of US.
waiting to forbid the bands, or what
ever it is? Wouldn't it be just ter.
rible?"
Yes, it would. honey. but It
doesn't seem probable. There are
thousands of ministers in Chicago.
He could never find ours. Fact is, I
doubt if We find him ourselves
Her clutch frightened till he would
have WINGED, If he had not been q
soldier
What do you mean, Harry"
well, in the first place, honey, look
what time it is Hardly more than
time to get the train, to say nothing
Of hunting for that preacher and
standing up through a long rigma-
role"
why, Harry Mallory, are you get
ting ready to jilt me?"
Indeed I'm not-not for worlds,
honey, but I've got to get that train,
haven't II"
Couldn't you wait over one train
Just one tiny little train?"
"My own, own honey love, you
know It's impossible! You must re-
member that I've already waited over
three trains while you tried to make
up your mind"
"And you must remember, darling,
that it's no easy matter for girl to
decide to sneak away from home and
be married secretly, and 60 all the
way out to that hideous Manila with
no trousseau and no wedding pres
ents and no anything"
Il know 1t isn't, and l waited pa
tiently while you got up the courage.
But now there are no more trains.
shudder to think of this train being
late. We're not due in San Fran
cisco till Thursday evening, and my
transport sails at sunrise Friday morn
ing. Oh, Lord, what If should miss
that transport! What If l should"
What If we should miss the min.
ister?"
1T begins to look a great deal like
It,"
But, Harry. you wouldn't desert
me now-abandon me to my fate?"
We'll, 1t isn't exactly like abandon
ment, seeing that you could go home
to your father and mother In a taxi
cab"
She stared at him in horror.
so you don't want me for your
wife! You've changed your mindl
You're tired of me already! Only an
hour together, and you're sick of your
bargain! You're anxious to get rid of
me! You"
"Oh, honey. want you more than
soldier, dearie, a mere lieutenant in
the regular army, land I'm the slave
of the government. I've gone through
West Point, and they won't let me re-
sign respectfully and If did, we'd
starve. They wouldn't accept my
resignation, but they'd be willing to
courtmartial me and dismiss me from
the service In disgrace. Then you
wouldn't want to marry me-and l
shouldn't have any way of supporting
you If you did. l only know one
trade, and that's soldering"