Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-08-31

found himself. To remain In the sani-
tarium might be TO lose all chance of
escape: but to leave without trous-
ers-! The thought OF fleeing in pa
jamas with charming young lady
whom one does not acknowledge to be
ones sister is t Osay the least, en-
barrassing.
He put on his remaining clothes,
buttoned up the coat, examined his
appearance in the waning moonlight.
and blushed. Considerable of his feel
ings. the moon went down. and the
merciful darkness cloaked him about.
In the obscurity. his courage rallied.
So dark night. no one would see.
With burglarious stealth he crept to
the bed and pulled off the coverlet
and sheets. To knot them end to end
was the work Of only few moments.
He stole across to the window, low
cred the upper sash, and tied one end
Of his line to the two window cords
on one side. He did not open the
screen. but stepped down to crouch in
corner and look at his watch by the
light of vesta. 1t was five to twelve.
He had not completed his preparations
any too sooa.
saw the light of passing automobile.
He sprang up on the window-seat and
opened the top screen to peer out. The
automobile slackened speed and
stopped at the first house across the
alley from the sanitarium. 1t seemed
to be coupe. AT once he swung him
self out over the window sashes, peered
down to make certain that the window
below was unlighted, and cautiously
began to lower himself from the sill.
When he put his weight on the sheet
line it stretched with the Tightening
of the knots, but held. He slowly let
himself down. hand under hand. Be
fore he came TO the lower end, his
stockinged feet touched the ground.
He turned out toward the vague
blot under the overshadowing tree.
The outlines of coupe became dimly
visible, then the white form of an out
peering face.
"All aboard he whispered, slipping
into the seat beside the excited girl.
The coupe glided out of the gutter
and started up the street at quickly
accelerated speed. As they swept
across the lighted intersection Gin
ton crouched forward with his hands
on his knees Amy did not observe
the embarrassed movement. She was
peering ahead into the darkness be-
yond the intersection She ran the
next block, swerved around the cor
ner, and turned on the coupe lights.
You're little trump" he ex-
claimed
That's nice of you, you poor dear
| boyl Isn't 1t fun? Isn't it romantic?
was shivering with fear that they
might pop out and Lean back till
we pass the crossing
Involuntarily he obeyed. She glanced
at him to make sure, and perceived his
costume.
"Oht" she gasped- "Oh! Didn't
you have time? Where are your
| trousers?"
"T-no-that-" he stammered-
that confounded attendant stole
| them"
"StoleY
Claimed the rules required him to
| take my clothes TO be pressed"
$50 that was it That must be one
way they keep patients from running
off. But it didn't stop you, you brave
boyw
Amy burst into gurgle of irrepres-
sible mirth.
"See here he admonished. Even
if am"
Indeed no, not even If you are my
brother. mustn't see. lists real
~ too sh-shockingw This time she
startled the silence of midnight with
burst of ringing laughter.
Miss Lowriet" he reproved in a
fed dignity.
Though bubbling with repressed
merriment the girl had paid close at
tention to the driving of the coupe.
She kept to the smoothest OF the more
secluded streets, and slackened speed
while passing through the radius of
light at the intersections, that the
coupe might not attract the unwel-
come observation of a chance police
man. But between intersections she
threw on the high gear
I'VE must get home before they
learn of your escape" she explained
when, Clinton suggested a more mod
crate speed. They may telephone
about it. and IL they should find / am
not at home--don't you see?-that
would let the cat out of the bag. They
would come for you atNOnce."
you've ventured to do all this abso-
Iutely alone?"
"Of course. Keep quiet. Here's our
block. S-s-shi Keep still now. No
zone must see US go in
She turned off the coupe lights and
drove slowly toward the other end OF
the long block. The light from the
nearest intersection was just sufficient
to show her clear young eyes where to
turn into the yard Under the pergoIa
the darkness was so dense that she
entered it At snail's pace, one hand
on the steering lever and the other
thrust out of the side window to touch
the grape leaves with the tips Of her
fingers.
THE porte-coehere door is un
locked" she whispered slip out
now, and creep up to your room. I'm
} afraid to STOP
IF you insist" he acquiesced.
I; The stairway and upper hall Offered
him the relief of a clear passage. He
stole up to his room. The door was
ajar. After pausing TO listen, he ven
tured to light vesta. The little fiart
: lasted long enough for him to make
>, rho Il