The Washington herald., 1914-11-01

made 'em wear last winter. Before the
family found she'd gone she was well on
her way, and, Just to double-cross the
shiny badges lined up on the Baltimore
platform, she changed to a local train at
Harrisburg and got off at an obscure
station, where a high-powered motor car
was waiting. She was whisked to
boarding place in Towson, a suburb OF
Baltimore, to await the coming of Cap
tain Collins and the visit to the home OF
the clergyman, with whom all arrange
ments had been made. So was the time,
the place and the girl disposed of. But
the groom-oh, where was he?
On the night of Miss Wheeler's arrival
in Towson Captain Collins gave a little
party for some of his friends at the
Belvidere Hotel, Baltimore. 1t was after
the third cork popped that he told them
his plansl Said he'd give a thousand
dollars payable after marriage) to any
one who'd successfully hide him twenty
four hours. After the popping had be-
come a sort of roll, he said he'd be
darned-or words to that effect-if he'd
hide from anybody. After that he took
the crowd to the theater.
II was the next morning that the cap
tain first noticed the half dozen rough
but husky-looking men with whom he
subsequently became better acquainted
He tried another cafe, and when they
appeared there he decided that he was
being followed.
Finally he visited the home of an ac-
ouaintance, and didn't come out. though
a middle-aged woman in mourning
moved with stately tread to taxicab
waiting at the curb. Her machine start
ed toward Towson, and the occupant,
looking back, saw another motor with
five men in the tonneau, inhaling the
exhaust of the taxi, and smoking his
cigars He offered the chauffeur $50
(payable that night) if he'd beat the
other car. They broke speed laws for
an hour Then the captain gave it up
and went back to his hotel. where he
discarded his widows weeds and tels-
phoned to Miss Wheeler that their party
was off. She went back to Chicago
In August, for the fourth time. Miss
Wheeler consented to elope again Per-
hans Papa Wheeler had become tired of
having her watched; Or perhaps expert
ence had taught her ways of Outwitting
detectives Anyway, she got to New
York safely and met the captain there,
and they motored to Baltimore. Their
romantic marriage took place July l ) in
the humble home of Rev. Thomas
Pearce. a retired Baptist minister. at
midnight, with no witnesses present.
sss
rrE WANDERED out to a corner OF
n Battery Park one night, and paced
l. up and down, up and down. \
tall, well-proportioned, military figure
he was. pacing with restive, discOntented
tread His dark, handsome face was
moody under the light; the smile in his
eyes was too surely at Life.
Benches he passed. filled with immi-
grants, suggesting far countries. dis
tance freedom. The violet river lay
smooth; many a distant light it caught
and held, beckOning.
The Soldier of Fortune paused in a bit
Of shadow, and fixed the sinister smile
on the lights. Beyond the river were
boundless spaces; the big. impersonal
world, wherein lurked adventure. The
other way was-what?
one-time wife struggling to support
herself. For William Laimbeer was
killed in an automobile accident last
summer: he left nothing but debts to
Nathalie Schenck Collins Laimbeer and
their two children. So she took up the
burden Of life. and in her home in West
bury, L. l., aided and encouraged by her
Newport society friends of other years,
she is making mincemeat and preserves
with which to pay for her living.
Inc OIneF way was also the daughter
Of the sewing machine millionaire But
she was Mrs. Collins now.
Domesticity-the quiet that turks
within four walls-day after day telling
themselves over like beads on a string.
And out there freedom, excitement,
change! Perhaps, after all. the disgrace
that lost an army post was forgotten.
And rumor said there'd be a war in
Europe. All!
The lights in the river rose and fell,
and beckoned. Whimsically the Soldier
of Fortune snatched of his hat
M COLLINS received this cable mes
sage from London on September 3:
"Gazetted back Captain Of the Came
,on Highlanders; appointed on the Gen.
sral Statf of the Third Army"