The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-12-25
FATE

ment, shut up in coal cellar. and no
ways Of escape. for they could not
reach the manhole.
She felt heartily sorry for her COM
panion for she knew the alarm that
would be felt when he did not appear
at the wedding.
As for herself, she would not be
missed, except at the boarding house
and she remembered that she had
told her landlady but yesterday that
she expected to leave the city soon
| for two weeks stay in the country
John looked at his companion and
for the first time since their fall he
seemed to realize that she was to be
taken into consideration, and that II
was possible that she might have
some feeling of uneasiness, at least
that she was not enjoying her COM
pulsory detention in the coal cellar
He noted the distress in her eyes and
the downward droop of the lips.
Swiftly he reproached himself for
his selfish rudeness.
Il beg your pardon, lady, for hav-
ing in my selfishness forgotten the
amenities. Allow me to introduce
a
Perhaps you cannot see to read it in
this dim light. l am John Eskridge"
This with courtly bow
L am Grace Seward" and John
took note of the sweetly modulated
voice.
Miss Seward peered anxiously
through the window and turning to
her companion she said, Rap on this
window, be quick, there is the night
Waterman, he can let us out"
John obeyed the urgent request with
many vigorous raps, with his knuckles
he tattooed on the window and with
his flashlight he pounded on the win
| dow sill
JOY! The Waterman FASTENED to the
door,
Who's there and what you want"
| he growled
A few words from the man captiye
and the door was opened, but the care
| ful Waterman was not to be caught
mapping, so before he released them
he made them go back with him to
the manhole. After examining II he
turned to them, saying with a grin.
Well, you're in the middle of a had
fix, but I'll get you out of it," and he
led them through the basement up to
the first floor.
I want to use the telephone" and
stepping into the booth John soon
eased the anxiety of his friends nv
telling the groom that an unavoidable
| delay had occurred and that it would
| not be possible for him to be present
expressing his regret he left the booth,
The Waterman opened the front door
and released the captives.
John escorted Miss Seward to her
boarding house and then went to his
nome and after hot soapy bath he
donned dressing gown and slippers
and ordered supper sent to his room
Great Scott!" he muttered, "she is
a plucky young lady and one with a
keen sense of humor." Then he leaned
back in his chair and laughed uproar-
iously, laughed as he had not laughed
In many a day.
The whole scene passed before him
his plunge downward, and her sudden
descent pinning him down, then as he
recalled her merry laugh he broke out
in renewed merriment.
II think she is a girl worth know
ing"
L A-AO AOAlOWAnS 0dy lIl0 Hld1Q at MISS
Stewards boarding house took a card
to that lady's room. Grace Seward
glanced at the card and pushing back
paper and pencil she closed her type
writer case and went down the stairs.
John Eskridge came forward with
outstretched hand, saying: Miss
Seward, feel that owe you an apol-
ogy for my selfish rudeness when we
first met"
You are excusable, Mr.. Eskridge,
under the circumstances" and the
dimples deepened. Il think we were
very fortunate to escape so quickly
and with so little damage"
The call was not a short one and
was often repeated, and last week the
cards announcing the marriage OF
John E. Eskridge, a well known law
yer, and Miss Grace Seward. a writer
of note, were sent to friends
They are both very careful never to
step on manhole when walking out
after dusk