The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-02-20


look as much
travelled ae the
other one. Take ii easy going up.
The grounds muddy and treacher-
GUS"
He closed the door and settled back,
looking down at the face upturned to
his. She looked very young and child
like asleep. He bad never seen her
asleep before, and vaguely it troubled
him.
Florence stirred and opened her
eyes. as the machine dragged heav-
lily over the uneven ground. She look
ed feyerish
Dear. darling old treasure girl"
murmured Dick. gathering her into his
arms by main force. I'm awfully
sorry, but don't you see once we'd
started, We couldn't go back? You
would be the first one to rebel at fail
ure now"
Lights ahead, sir" called De
Veaux. ~ is ze hotel in ze dis
tance."
Dick. We mustn't They're sure to
catch us if We stop over night. l
don't mind sleeping this way. truly
don't"
Dick smothered her protests in his
own way until they drew up before
the little mountain hotel 1t was evil
IDENTIFY open. He had been half afraid
they would find 1t boarded up for the
winter. He lifted Florence out In
her long fur cloak. and carried her
up TO the veranda where II was dry.
Inside the long quiet hall It was abb
sOlutely silent except for the slow
ticking OF a hall clock on the wall.
A log fire smoldered in the gray rock
fireplace. In an armchair before il
iozed the proprietor, his spectacles
pushed back on his forehead. and a
black and white kitten curled up on
his knee, But Dick never noticed
hem. He looked at the two figures
seated at the long, narrow table in
the little adjoining dining room. They
we're Rollingson Robb and old Colonel
Damer De Voux had said there we're
tire tracks in the roadway before the
Did inn.
Florence had seen them at the
same instant, and they must surely
have heard the machine, she thought,
standing back in the shadows near the
door. All her fatigue and weariness
seemed to drop off like magic. She
had her hand on the door knob with
a wild impulse to get away without
being seen, but the colonel had discov-
cred her. He said something to Robb,
aud came out into the hall.
Its all right, Rathburn." he told
the startled proprietor. These are
the people we were looking for. Flor
rie, will you just step into the par
lor there. and close the door, like a
good child?"
But Florence never stirred from the
side Of the tall. boyish figure in the
long coat. Instead. she slipped her
hand in his. and waited
So said the colonel thoughtfuliy.
You have made progress in disobe- |
dience." He turned to Dick we
have a warrant out for you. sir. Mr.. |
Robb here has been sworn In as a dep |
uty sheriff, and is ready to serve
IT,"
I'm nineteen, dad" Florence broke
n.
What's your object, colonel, in all 4
ihis?" asked Dick suddenly. You've
be : down on me ever since / came
home from South America last spring.
and told you I wanted to marry Flor
rie. If you'd been halfway decent TO
Us we'd never have gone away.
can take good care OF her"
Il believe Mr.. Robb has a prior
claim" said the colonel dryly. He
has had my fun consent to marry my
daughter for two years"
I'm mighty sorry. colonel you feel
that way about It. We never thought
Of this trip until Florrie told me that
you and Mr.. Robb here were making
preparations gradually for the wed
ding"
You're an unmitigated young
lcamp," sputtered Robb. digging down
N an inside pocket after the warrant.
Colonel, viii you telephone to the
nearest town for their local sher-
NJ"
Just minute" said Dick Il have
! paper here that beats that one,
sobb. Take of your gloves. grille. 1
md show dad the nice. new. shiny
ing" He spread the white marriage
certificate out on the old table.
BY George. the boys right" mur-
nured the colonel, after a minutes
Inspection Of the paper. Robinson,
our warrants got is back broke. j
'ou can't arrest q man for running