Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1915-01-08
A Practical
Joke
By MARJORIE dOUCH

H.
Two young men sitting in a railway
car rolled out OF the station. They
were evidently very happy and chattet}'
gIeefuily.
III there isn't Dave Spooner in that
seat ahead on the right and he's with
Gwen Horbeson."
"What do you suppose they're do
ing on the train to:ether:'
Give II up. Dave h:is b.'en sweet Oh.
her for some time. l suppose she Is
going to visit somebody. and tie has
made an excuse to o. the journey With
her."
Maybe they are clipping"
How would it do'-after come
thought-"to give out to the passengers
that they are runaway coupler
1T would be bang up good joke"
When the conductor came through
the train for tickets the young men
chaffed him q bit to get him In good
humor. then told him a. great secret
that be had a runaway couple on his
train. pointing out tho young man and
woman mentioned. The conductor
looked back at them. winked and went
on taking tcketa.
At the next station tho scamps left
the car long enough to send telegram
ahead to the conductor to stop COD
pie who had run away to get married.
The young woman's father was after
them and would pay well for assist
ance In securing his daughter. When
the telegram was received the conduc-
tor showed it to the jokers and asked,
them what he had better do in the.
premises.
"wam them that they are pursued"
was the reply. j
So the conductor took the telegram
to the young couple and told them that.
being lovers, they had his sympathies~
He would do nothing to delay them
on the contrary. he would do anything
to help them. Both colored to the
roots of their hair and assured the cose
ductor that be was mistaken In the.
persons. whereupon he grinned and
said he guessed he was right, but he
! didn't blame them for not owning up.
The passengers sitting near caught
on to the fact that they had an clipping:
| couple among them and that the lady's-
| father was after them. Intense inter-
est was manifested, and In few min
utes every neck In the car was craned'
to catch sight Of the fugitives. Some
one suggested that IL there were o.
clergyman aboard the train he might
perform the ceremony. which would
give the couple every advantage over
!! their pursuer. !
! A gentleman with 4 waistcoat COW
ering his entire bosom and collar
buttoned at the back Of his neck was
| found and told there were a couple
on the train who wished to be married.
The clergyman went to the supposed
rnnaways and offered his services.
II assure you. sir" protested Spoon
or. THAT this IL an entire mistake:
We're not runaway couple at all"
Stick to it" said man In the seat
directly behind the couple. "'All's fair
in love and war; but you'd better get
spliced, for II the old man gets you
before you're married be can make 1t
bot tor you. The law gives you n
prior right to your wtfe.",
Still Dave protested. Gwen had BY
this time recovered from her surprise
and embarrassment, and the situation
seemed to amuse her. She sat with
smile on her pretty lips till Dave.
urged past endurance, exclaimed: I'VE
don't wish to be married. We haven't
the slightest idea of being married"
Then her expression changed to dts
satisfaction. She did not relish her
companion making 50 explicit state
ment upon what in her heart she hoped
for. And. to tell the truth. it was very
ungallant In Dave
Then Why did you persuade her to
run away with your" growIed a man
on the opposite side Of the car.
II didn't" ::
"Oh. l suppose It was she Who per-
suaded you"
mo. no. l mean this u all wrong.
We're Just friends. not Z runaway
couple at all"
'See here. young feller," said one OF
the iookers-on. you do the right thing
BY the young lady OF we'll make It:
; lively for you.''
"What has the girl to say about IT,
suggested a sharp faced lady tartly:
HAS this young man been triding
with your afectionsT'
NO." replied Gwen; ''dec1dedly not"
II don't believe it!'' sD0rted the sharp
faced lady.
! "COme. come" spoke up a voice.
We've had enough OF this. l move
that q marriage take place at once.
OF course the girl will shield the man
she loves"
At this juncture the two young men
| who had put up this nefarfons con-
spiracy. after consulting together. de-
cided that it had gone far enough an0,
the time had come to put a stop to It.
One of them moved forward as If to.
observe what was going on. Suddenly