The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-05-17
RARs # n R RH a a RS
An Attempted Abduction
copyright. roIa. by Associated Literary Press)

By MICHAEL ]: PORTER

I Ruth Forest was coming down that
evening for a stay of two weeks with
her old school chum, Mrs. Thurston,
a bride Of two years. Harry Thurs
ton, brother Of the husband, had al
ready been there a week II was for
him to take the auto and meet Miss
Ruth. She would surely be looking
for somebody to meet her. and there
could be no mistake.
With that spirit Of carelessness so
prevalent with young men, he select
ed a tall, willowy girl, instead of a
short, stout one, and bore her away
He fully intended to introduce him
self and do some talking after get
ting clear Of the 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 as
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
all right for half an hour, and then
the missing guest showed up to dis
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"
"Then It must be some one living
in or near the village. She didn't
command you to stop? She didn't
demand to know where you were TAX
ing herr"
mot a command nor a demand"
answered Harry. "She just opened
the door and jumped, and as she
jumped she creeched-Lord. how she
screeched!"
well, young man, think you
have got yourself in trouble. l 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 it was a simple mistake"
Yes, but the trouble will be to
make him believe it. And the Ia
mentable part of the whole thing is
that ! wanted you and that particu-
lar girl to fall in love with each
other"
Cant we do it just the same?"
Why Major Graves won't let you
come within ten rods of his house!
And If you were to meet the young
lady elsewhere what could you say?"
q guess you'll have to match me
up with some one else. She ought to
have had a placard hung about her
neck stating who she was. All her
fault.
The majors deal for the auto went
through three days later, but he did
not let the excitement of it turn him
from the trail Of the would-be alb
ductor. He made many moves, but
he got no clews. Ten days later he
and Miss Marjorie were riding out
The major had taken three lessons in
running the machine and felt that
he knew all about it. He had done
very well for an hour at a slow pace
so well that he decided to hit 'er
up" to about thirty. The daughter
protested, but the hitting took place,
just the same. Half a mile had been
covered when the machine swerved
out of the highway into an unfenced
meadow and began to cut up all kinds
of circus tricks. 1t wiggled and wob.
bled. 1t ran in circles. 1t shaved
the whiskers off Of stumps.
Young Harry Thurston heard Miss
Mariorie's screams, and the majors
cuss-words and calls for help, from
the brook where he was fishing, and
he was soon on the scene. He lodged
here and there and shouted instruc-
tions, but the major was repeating
the Lords Prayer and his daughter
continuing her screams. The only
way was to take flying leap for the
footboard as the machine came along.
1t needed courage and confidence, but
JuO young ulhu lduNSu IlBuJJ duu bOOA
discovered what was wrong and rene
died it.
Miss Marjorie reached the ground
to faint away, and the major fell out
to gasp and swear and tell what he
would do to the seller of the machine.
1t was for Harry to act as chauffeur
to get them home, and when he had
done so and been invited in he mus
tered up the courage to tell the story
of the attempted abduction.
The result he told his sister-in-laW
and Miss Forest three hours later.
"The major called me a scoundrel,"
he said.
And then said he owed me his
life"
And the daughter?"
"She said must be an idiot to
make such a mistake, and then added
that she was glad l did"
"And-and-"
ASK my wife and me to visit you
about a year from now"