Smyrna times., 1920-01-14
HER ESCAPADE
ey MILDRED WHITE.

rack, and pulled a velvet turban over
her wavy hair.
81 have an errand down the street.
she told the group around the hre-
place. 81 won't be gone more than
ten minutes" But the clock on the
mantel chimed seven, and still dinner
waited.
At Z 80 Aunt Millicent called her
guests for the evening meal.
81 don't see what has become Of
Mollie," she said, "she is always as
good as her word"
Perhaps" suggested MOllie's broth
er, 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-
ceive the later guests when they
come"
MOllie at that minute was flying
along a mOOnllt road in a SOft-rolling
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 eXhilarating.
1t 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, a 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 Millicent's party. She and Aunt
Millicent were anxious to make a sue
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, a nOiselesS automobile
rolled toward her like an apparition
of the night, and Immediately received
her into it's embrace.
A mans voice, Il pleasing though
commanding voice, had said peremp-
tOrily:
"Step in, please" and Mollie haG
stepped in"
AS the car went flying up the hill,
MOllie was not dismayed at her own
unquestiOning obedience; instead, a
sense of pleasurable adventure pos
sessed her.
''WhO sent you for me?" she asked
her silent companion, "and who are
yOu?"
The man, busy with the intricacies of
the narrow road, cast a glance at her,
but did not reply until he had brought
the machine to stop in a safely Sc
questered corner.
81 was asked to pick up Miss Hill
at the old folks hOme," he said. at
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.
81 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
suring. 1t was a frank, manly face
which regarded her wOnderingly. Mol
lie smiled, and Mollie's smile was
charming.
I'VE have both been mistaken" she
explained. II thought when you called
that my brother had sent one of hi,
friends to hurry me home. You car
drop me on your way back to the ole
folks home. BY this time Miss Hill
is probably waiting"
The man uttered a low exclamation
"And I've brought you on here, Ou
of your way" he said. "YOu must le
me take you safely home, before l cal
for Miss HILL" But MOllie objected.
81 couldn't think Of troubling you 81
far" she replied. you may let m,
out just where you found me-"
Regretfully, the man turned the ma
chine about.
"These hills are wonderful in tn
moonlight" he murmured. "WOul,
you mind" he added impulsively, 81
l rode on a bit farther to get a bette
view before taking you dOwn?"
1t was then that MOllie blamed tn
witchery of the night for the prompt
ness of her eager consent.
When the car halted at last befOr
the old folks home the man turned t
her.
Let me drive you home" he begged
"after l have found my charge"
The arrival at Aunt Millicent's wa
strangely confusing. Reverend Jane
rushed out to meet the car before
had barely stopped
$50 they found you, Miss HILL" h
greeted. "And you, John Burrows
late, as usual. But wherever did yo