The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-28
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
THE RUNAWAYS.
BY LOUISE v

E o1 F0SloC
xcopyright. 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.)
ToHN HoBsoN stopped In the
shadow OF the hedge and put on
his shoes. Then looking furtiyely
back at his own darkened house and
toward the dim outlines OF houses
that belonged to his neighbors, and
assuring himself that his flight was
~unnoticed. he crept cautiously down
the gravel path toward the street. An
eyewitness would have declared that
he was running away. and the eye
witness would have been correct.
John Hobson vas running away.
Hescould stand 1t no longer, and hav-
Ing been harrassed beyond endurance
for the past few days because his
wife had taken 1t into her head that
she must have an electric motor, he
had taken the count and quit.
But, although John a %retreating
from trouble, 1t was only temporary.
Hejmeant to come back. But not be-
fore he had given Herietta the scare
Of her life. He had been too good to
her, he saw 1t all now He had spoil
ed her when they were }arried by
giving in to her poutingsand curing
tears with new hats and gold mesh
bags. Now, deciding that the price
OF eternal peace came too high, he
determined to try another method OF
restoring her amiability.
4 Besides, Bostwick had written that
alumni week was going to be q big
affair and urged his attendance. So,
after all, he was only doing what he
had q perfect right to do, he argued
to himself, and French leave wasn't
such an awful crime. Anyway, Hen
rietta would have insisted had she
known, that his car fare and expenses
would pay weeks OF garage bills for
the new motor she wanted, so he had
not dared to cheep.
Just over the hedge, parallel to his
own path, a the gravel walk Of the
Crinkles. And John, picking his way
gingerly to avoid disturbing the
tiny stones, suddenly heard q stealthy
movement that was not OF his own
making. Instantly he OWNED it to
boz on the Crinkles' walk. Who could
be sneaking around his neighbours
property at three o'clock in the norm
tng2 Not Billy, surely, for Billy had
no cause to resort to subterfuge so
far as his wife was concerned. John
sighed as he thought Of Mrs. Billy's
perfection. If only Henrietta could
OF would cultivate her angelic dispo-
sition. In fact, he had suggested such
Q course once too often and he no
longer dared to mention the rara avis
netx door.
Crk! There 1t was again! John
tiptoed close to the hedge and looked
over Could he believe his eyes? Bill
W Crinkle was certainly sneaking
down the path toward the street and
the dim starlight was enough to as
sure his observer that the dark thing
hescarried was a travelling bag.
eGreat guns! Billy's running away!
Now. what do you suppose he means?
I'm; perfectly sure that II Maud Grim
kle knew what he was doing she
would only smile and say: 'Billy's
such an old dear! Let him alone.
What he does eve worries me-"
What Henrietta would have to con-
tribute he dared not think about.
He stopped for q minute to let Bill
" have the lead. Out on the street
he let his neighbor get a half block
ahead.
The night express did not stop at
their own station. The borough next
70 theirs was the stop, and a walk Of
b mile.
"Bill's making for Marshalltown,
name as I am, by Jove, and he's skip
ping on the .3:45, I'll bet a doughnut.
He walked a little faster and was