Ripley County democrat., 1917-04-27
THE RuNAHAYs
~ LOUISE OLIVER.

Of the hedge and put on his shoes
Then, looking furtively back at bis
own dnrkened 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 to-
ward the street.
John Hobson was running away. HS
could stand 1t no longer. and, having
been harassed beyond endurance for
the last few days because his wife Ind
taken It into her head that she must
have an electric motor, he had taken
the count and quit
But, although John was retreatins
from trouble. It was only temporary.
He meant to come back. But not be.
fore he had given Henrietta the scare
Of her life. Ho had been too good to
her, he saw 1t all now.
Besides, Bostwick had written that
alumni week was going to be big af-
fair and urged his attendance. So,
after oil, 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 uny
stones, suddenly heard a stealthy
movement that was not Of his own
making. Instantly he OWNED 1t to be
on the Crinlxles' walk. Who could be
snealSing around his neighbor's prop
erty at three O'Clock In the morningi
Not Billy surely, for Billy had no
cause to resort to subterfuge 30 far as
his wife was concerned. John sighed
as he thought of Mrs. Billy's perfec
tion.
Crki There 1t was againi John
tiptoed close to the hedge mad looked
over. Could he believe his eyes7 Billy
Crinkle was certainly sneaking down
the path toward the street.
"Great gunsi Bllly's running away J
Now what do you suppose he meansT'
"Bilrs making for Marshalltown,
same as am. by Jove, and he's skip
ping on the 3;45, I'll bet doughnut-"
"Hello, therei That you, BillyT he
called.
Billy stopped. "Hello. joint What
on earth are you doing here at this
hour Of the night?"
aSame as you, guess. Going east
: on the 8:45Y'
"You guessed right"
n decided at the last minute to joir
the boys,n explained John finally.
$50 did l." laughed Billy nervously.
"Oh," returned John. ~ don't sup
pose I'd have given In at all only Hen
/. rietta insisted. She wouldn't give nj
a minutes peace last night. And so
started packing at midnight and herr
am."
"Uh, hum" Billy acknowledge
doubtfully.
Q Billy Crinkle found It hard to OK
n plain his surreptitious departure, TO
A he was only guilty of seeking sensa
ton. He knew Maud would not onl,
have consented to his trip, but woul
have driven him mad with affectionat
. little attentions prior to his departure
: She would have packed his bag wit
n everything he needed just when an
as where he wanted them. But as It wa
ct be hefted his bag from one hand
A. the other with q sort of savage 20!
a knowing that he had packed the col
: glomeration 1t contained In two mil
= utes and half BY his stop watch On
got In everything he didn't need an
or nothing that he did.
ry In plain words, Billy was tired
d. perfection and affection. He hoped
le q few days Of anxiety on Maud's pa
AZ to receive the thorough rating ne d
served when he came back--anythir
:. but eternal. smiling affection.
"weIl," he broke the silence,
IN might as well tell you why came
\ this hour Of the night / was afraid
ira I'd suggest coming Maud would ju
lis raise xeneral bedlam. 30, as ] ddii
by want to worry her, slid. seer
ps John stopped short In his tract
c- aLook here, Bill. that's hard to sw'
~ low. can't imagine Mrs. Q. being al
thing but q perpetual dyedin-the-wt
angel. don't believe shs could
madt'
.Madl Your Henrietta isn't d