The Wrangell sentinel., 1917-01-11
IheFugitiive
 Witness
Queer Way He Broke Out
 of Custody.
By WILLIAM H. HAMBY

such things ln stories, but he never had believed that real people en- countered anything like it in real life-much less that he would.
 It was new enough to him in two respects without being uncommon in real life. In the first place, he never had been within twenty hours of his own wedding before; in the second place, no other sman had been engaged to a girl half so sweet and charming and altogether lovely as Macy Torrey, and then, in the third place, came the uncommon and almost unbelievable situation what other innocent man in real life had ever been violently possess ed by sheriff at such a critical time?
 But it had all happened simply enough. Wahoo county had an inn portant case against the C., Q. and l. railroad. Mason was agent for the road at Belltown and was wanted as an important witness.
 He had been subpoenaed for the next day, Thursday, but to avoid unnecessary risk he had planned to take the 5 o'clock train for Layton, where his bride to be lived. The relief agent had just been checked in, the boys had shaken hands with him, the dispatcher had clicked him "Good luck, Charley" and he had turned away to go to his room to dress when the sheriff stepped up and took him by the arm.
 "Why-why-rcally," he began, when he saw it was not joke, q just can't go. You'll have to ex- cuse me. You see"--he blushed- q am to be married at 8 o'clock in the morning."
 The sheriff grinned knowingly. He had heard all sorts of excuses before.
 'It won't go," he said. Nothing will go except your body"
 As the captured witness was led away to the officers buggy pie turc stood vividlv before his mind of the happy wedding party grow ing little restless, then nervous and then uneasy as the clock hands tripped along toward 8. He saw the face of his lovely, happy bride as she waited, and then saw the modification, the agony, the scorn in her face when the hour came and no bridegroom.
 "And she is just the sort of girl D he reflected bitterly, "who would never forgive fellow for being ab- sent on his wedding day. Good in tentions don't count with her; she believes in men who do not believe in impossibilities.''
 "Say, MT. Sheriff." said Mason affably as they reached the buggy, q acknowledge service all right, and you just leave me here to fix up things, and I'll be over in the morning in time for court"
 Not much" The sheriff grin ned again. ''The judge is wrathy. You lodged one subpoena, yon know, and he said for me to hold on to you this time-and if you make an effort to dodge this time he'll throw you into jail for contempt of court. See ?''
 "Oh, yes, l see," answered the young man. The case did not seem hopeless yet, but mighty annoying Doubtless the judge would let him off when he heard the circum- stances, but it would make it a case of mad hurry to get back to Bell town in time for the 4 o'clock train next morning. It was seventeen miles overland to the county seat.
 For several miles Mason argued and begged, but the sheriff only grinned. Very well, but he would wait until he saw the judge. But when they reached the county scat the judge was in bad humor and refused to listen to the agents ex- ,cusc. Instead he turned to the sheriff with a peremptory Officer, I hold you strictly responsible for the appearance of this witness il. the morning; commit him to jail il necessary
 ''He'll be in court in the morn ing. your honor," said the sheriff with his exaspcrating grin.
 The officer took him to the hotel and engaged a room on the top floor ---a room with but one window and ono door.
 q will leave you here a littl' while by yourself" said the sheriff after he had inspected the window T don't think you want to get mar ried badly enough to break you: meek iud,Dinp cut of that" If wa.