The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-11
TEE EVENING STORY
An Attempted Abduction.


'In hunt him down, if 1 have to
put bloodhounds on his trail!"
''Now. major!" soothed the wife.
''Now, papa!" soothed the daughter.
"The scoundrel shall not escaped"
roared the major as he paced the
room. It'll have the police after him
within an hour-within a quarter of
an hour!'
But, major!"
But, papa!"
Marjorie had been uptown to do
some shopping. The major had been
talking of buying an auto, and expect
ed to close the deal that day. If the
event came off the machine would be
at the depot to meet her as she came
home .on o'clock train She had
only stepped off when 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 hand to
reach the tonneau, and as she seated
take the right direction, but she didn't
notice this fact for a minute. When
she did she called out:
You are going wrong! You must
turn arOundi"
"I'Il get you there, all right" was
the reply.
Then Miss Marjorie opened the door
and leaped straight out, to lose her
ground and fall and roll over and over
! in the mud. At the same time she
screeohed. 1t wasn't dainty little
| scream, but a long-drawn sore ech that
was heard a quarter of a mile away
and started men running for the
scene.
"Here-what's the matter!" de-
manded the driver Of the auto as he
came to sudden stop.
'Help!, Help!'
Speed was put on and the auto dis
appeared.
by George, Miss Graves,' exclaini-
ed a first conner, who at least knew
the girl by sight, but this is about
the boldest thing I ever heard of
around here!'
'Was-was he trying to carry me
OFF, was gasped.
Sure thing! Yes. ma'am, it was
a bold attempt at abduction. and the
wonder is that he didn't have a con-
federate to choke you into silence
and helplessness. BY George, but
this village is getting to be worse than
| New York ethyl"
| the depot by men who thought he
acted suspiciously. 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 or without it. Of course
| Miss Marjorie had a story to tell when
| she got home and it was the attempt
Was this the twentieth century? Was
| the police force of the village, con-
sisting of two men, being paid enor-
nous salaries to catch criminals red
| handed or to play checkers and sleep :?
The major asked a great many other
questions that neither his wife or
| daughter could answer, and wound up
| with the threat to have the state mill
tia called out.
Meanwhile something had happened
at a manor house two miles away.
Ruth Forest was coming down that
| evening for a stay of two --eeks 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. 1t 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 carelessnes s 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
| 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 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
ali 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
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 jump
ed she screeched-Lord, how she
screeched!''
got yourself in trouble I believe the
| girl you tried to abduct was Marjorie
Graves, only daughter of Major
Graves, one of the most peppery men
| in four counties.
But it was a simple mistake
| Eyes, but the trouble will be to
make him believe it. And the lamen-
table part of the whole thing is that
[ wanted you and that particular 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?"
81 guess you'll have to match me
up with some one else. She ought tic
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 wouldbe abb
| ductor. He made many moves, but
| he got no clews Ten days later he