The Press., 1920-02-05
HER ESCAPADE
Bv MILDRED WHITE.

COCOCNCOCNCNCN NCNCNC SC W W SC S Copyright. 1919. Western Newspaper Union)
 Mollie caught her cloak from the hall rack, and pulled a velvet turban over her waNy hair.
 q have an errand down the street, she told the group around the ire place. Il won't be gone more than ten minutes" Bu: the clock on the mantel chimed seven, and still dinner waited.
 At 7:3O Aunt Millicent called her guests for the evening meal.
 q don't see what has become of Mollie," she said. 'she is always as good as her word."
 'Perhaps," suggested MOllie's broth CT, Reverend James, "her errand may have been to see a sick person who needs help"
 "You don't think an accident--' be- gan Aunt Marie, from the city.
 "If anything had happened, l should have heard by this time," Aunt Milli- cent decided comfortably. Lets en- joy our dinner and be ready to re-
  come"
 MOlie at that minute was flying along a moonlit. road in soft-rolllng car, driven by a strange man whom MOllie had never seen. She was enjoy ing herself immensely; the crisp breeze of autumn famed her rosy cheeks, and the pace she and her unknown com- paniOn were travelling was eXhilaratlng. It was all part of the Witchery of the night, she told herself eXcusingly, borne of cracking leaves in the road way and shadows tall and beckoning, from the moonlit hills.
 MOllie had been, during the course of her useful life, well-disciplined young woman. Tonight the errand which urged her forth was to carry glass of jelly to a prOtege of hers in the old folks home.
 The old folks home was set back from the road, and Mollie expected to leave the jelly and return at once to Aunt Millcent's party. She and Aunt Millicent were anxious to make suc- cess of the little party, that Mollie's brother, Reverend James, might feel proud in thus entertaining his friends.
 Suddenly, as MOllie stepped out from the entrance of the old folks home, and stood revealed in the brilliancy of the October moon, nOiSeieSS automobile rolled toward her like an apparitiOn of the night, and immediately received her into it's embrace.
 A mans voice, a pleasing though commanding voice, had said peremp- torily:
 "step in, please" and Molle had stepped in.'
 As the car went flying up the hill, Molie was not dismayed at her own unquestioning obedience; instead, a sense of pleasurable adventure pos Sessed her.
 "Who sent you for mel" she asked her silent companion, "and who are you?"
 The man, busy with the intricaces of the narrow road, cast a glance at her, but did not reply until he had brought the machine to a stop in a safely se- queStered corner.
 "I was asked to pick up a Miss Hill at the old folks home," he said. "It seemed she was visiting there, and a friend telephoned her that I would drive her farther on to her destination.
 "You are-Miss Hill?"
 Mollie sat up very straight.
 q am not" she answered shortly.
 The man looked suddenly into Mol lies face and she gazed back at him, wide-eyed.
 Her long gaze proved strangely reas- surfing. It was a frank, manly face which regarded her wonderingly. Mol lie smiled, and MOllie's smile was charming.
 eve have both been mistaken" she explained. "I thought when you called, that my brother had sent one of his friends to hurry me home. You can drop me on your way hack to the old folks home. By this time Miss Hill is probably waiting."
 The man uttered low exclamation.
 And I've brought you on here, out of your way" he said. "You must let me take you safely home, before l call
 
 q couldn't think of troubling you so far," she replied. "You may let me out just where you found me-"
 Regretfully, the man turned the ma chine about.
 "These hills are wonderful in the moonlight" he murmured. "Would you mind," he added impulsively, "if I rode on bit farther to get a better view before taking you down?"
 It was then that Mollie blamed the witchery of the night for the prompt ness of her eager consent.
 When the car halted at last before the old folks home the man turned to her.
 ,Let me drive you home" he begged, after I have found my charge"
 The arrival at Aunt Millicents was strangely confusing. Reverend James rushed out to meet the car before it had barely stopped.
 'So they found you, Miss Hill." he greeted. And you, John Burrows: late, as usual. But wherever did you find my little sister?'
 "Joln Burrows" How often she had heard James refer to his friend in the city.
 q knew you at once from your pie tureS," John Burrows was whispering shamcleSSIy in her ear.
 Then. happily, they followed the oth- CTS into the fire-liyhted room.
 The F oonent