The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-10-22
Force Of
Example
A Race After Elopers That Wa.
Not a Failure.
sy KENYON SANDS.

VNS O~SS
wheels and brought up at the steps
with an abruptness that all but sent
him headlong through the wind
4 On the wide veranda Colonel
Thornton was pacing agitatedly to
and fro, his lips set tight and his
keen old eyes flashing fire.
Y cts come at last, just as I ex-
pected," he raved as the car came
to its spectacular stop. "Mabel has
gone with that young upstart Nixon
-gone-gone-eloped! Do you un-
derstand? That's why 1 sent for
you. I'd 60 with you myself if rid
ing in the wind didn't bring on my
asthma SO. I'd 60 with you and
make it hot for him, I swear l
would. As it is, you'll have to take
Nell. She'll know what to do. Ho,
Nell, NELLY" he called suddenly
through the open front door.
"Here's Jimmy in the racer! Hurry
up! You haven't a minute to lose!'
Light footsteps battered on the
stairs. On to the veranda came
Nell Thornton.
"They've gone across the state.
line to Worthwhile, of course" the
colonel declared. "You can get EN-
if you hurry. Let out that car,
Jimmy. Don't let 'em make it
ahead Of you.~%
Jimmy opened up the car, and
down the drive they. went at a reck-
less pace, swung into the road and
went whirling toward Worthwhile,
leaving in their wake a cloud of
dust that rose. even above the tree
tops.
Once they reached a straight
stretch of road .Brice leaned toward
the girl beside him..
We'll overtake 'em if they
haven't too much of a start" he de-
clared. GLOW long have they been
gomez" .
"Half an hour" she answered.
"Then we've got 'em,' said he en-
couragingly. "Of course we've got
to head this thing off"
"Of course" she agreed, but
somehow Jimmy was impressed with
the idea that she was not overen-
thusiastic about it.
81 almost wish we could let 'em
CO." said he. "She's desperately in
love with him, and Nixon isn't a
half bad chap"
"That's impossible" said she.
"She's nothing but a child. I al
most think if she had been firm with
papa he would have consented, but
to try to take the matter in her
own hands this way has sent him
into a frightful rage"
They reached a fork in the road.
One branch led to Worthwhile, the
other to Standish.
Jimmy swung the a into the left
hand branch Of the road and gave
it full speed again.
"What are you going to do when
you catch them?". he asked.
II shall be very firm, and you
must back me up"
Cali right" he agreed cheerfully.
"Of course I will; but, honestly,
Nell, 1 hate like fury to butt in"
"You're not going to desert me
at the critical moment, are you?"
she questioned anxiously.
"Sure I'm not! Watch me-" he
laughed.
The soft May dusk was coming
on. They shot past houses in which
the lights were already beginning
to twinkle.
"seems to me we ought to be get
ting a squirt at them pretty soon,"
said he.
"There's a car ahead!!" she cried
suddenly. "Hurry-oh, hurry"
The road car seemed fairly to
lift itself from the ground. They
sped up to the car ahead, but its oc-
cupants we're a middle aged couple
who looked up in mild reproof as
they tore past. Jimmy Brice laugh
ed. "Foiled againw he Knocked. Il
believe they're going to make it, aft
er ALL"
'They mustn't; they mustn't
said the, girl. Cant we go any
faster?"
Jimmy shook his head. "This is
her best speed" he declared.
Now they had reached the out
skirts of Worthwhile. With honking
horn and undiminished speed they
tore along the elm lined streets.
They've got here ahead Of us,
all right" said Jimmy. "Our only
hope is to interrupt the ceremony
before it's too late. Wherell they
90? Have you. any idea ...
"The parsonage Of the brick
church" the girl explained. 'That
is where all such couples head for, !
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