Cheyenne record., 1916-11-09
THE RuNAWAYs
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

John Hobson stopped in the shadow
of the hedge and put on his shoes.
Then, looking furtively back ut his
own darkened house and toward the
dim outlines of houses that belonged
that his flight was unnouced, he crept
cautiously down the gravel path to-
ward the street.
John Hobson was running away. He
could stand it no longer, and, having
been harassed, beyond endurance for
the last 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 was retreating
from trouble, it was only temporary.
He meant to come back. But not be-
fore he had given Henrietta the scare
Of her life. He had been too good to
her, he saw it all now.
Besides, Bostwick had written that
alumni week was going to be a big af-
fair and urged his attendance. So,
after all, he was only doing what he
had perfect right to do.
Just over the hedge, parallel to his
town path, ran the gravel walk Of the
Crinkles. And John, picking his way
gingerly to avoid disturbing the tiny
stones, suddenly heard a stealthy
movement that was not of his own
making. Instantly he OWNED it to be
on the Crinkles' walk. Who could be
sneaking around his neighbor's prop
erty at three o'clock in the morning?
Not Billy surely, for Billy had no
cause to resort to subterfuge SO far as
his wife was concerned. John sighed
us he thought of Mrs. Billy's perfec-
ton.
Crkl There it was again! John
tiptoed close to the hedge mad looked
over. Could he believe his eyes? Billy
Crinkle was certainly sneaking down
the path toward the street.
"Great guns! Billy's running away !!
Now what do you suppose he means 2"
"Bill's making for Marshalltown,
same as am, by Jove, and he's skip
ping on the AS, I'll bet doughnut."
Hello, there! That you, Billy?" he
called.
Billy stopped. "Hello, Johnl What
on earth are you doing here at this
hour of the night2"
Same as you, guess. Going east
on the 3:45T
"You guessed right"
Decided at the last minute to join
the boys" explained John finally.
$50 did l." laughed Billy nervously.
"Oh," returned John, II don't sup
retta insisted. She wouldn't give me
a minutes peace last night. And SO l
started packing at midnight and here
I am"
"Uh, hum" Billy acknowledged
doubtfully.
Billy Crinkle found it hard to ex-
plain his surrepdhous departure. for
he was only guilty of seeking sensa-
ton. He knew Maud would not only
have consented to his trip, but would
have driven him mad with affectonate
little attentions prior to his departure.
She would have packed his bag with
everything he needed just when and
where he wanted them. But as 1t was
he hefted his bag from one hand to
the other with a sort of savage Joy,
knowing that he had packed the con-
glomeration 1t contained in two min
utes and half by his stop watch and
got in everything he didn't need and
nothing that he did.
In plain words, Billy was tired Of
perfection and affection. He hoped by
a few days Of anxiety on Maud's part
to receive the thorough rating he de-
served when he came back-anything
but eternal, smiling affection.
"Well," he broke the silence, II
might as well tell you why came at
this hour Of the night. was afraid If
I'd suggest coming Maud would just
raise general bedlam. So, as I didn't
want to worry her, slid. See"
John stopped short in his tracks.
'Iook here, Bill, that's hard to swal-
low. I can't imagine Mrs. G. being any
thing but perpetual dyed-in-the-wool
angel. I don't believe she could get
madl"
"Madi Your Henrietta isn't one,
two, three to her when her tempers
up."
"Henriettal What do you mean?
She's the sweetest, most amiable girl
you can imagine, and II she hadn't
been the prize she is she'd have left
miserable hot-tempered scalawag like
me long ago. Humph r. snorted John.
Excuse mel" sighed Billy.
They turned q corner and the bright
light Of the station loomed ahead.
The two men entered the waiting
room just as the hands Of the big cleo
trio clock pointed to i've minutes Of
train time.