Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1921-01-01


tarium might be TO lose all chance of
escape: but TO leave without trous-
ers-. The thought Of fleeing in pa
iamas with a charming Young lady
whom one docs 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 cl0aked him about.
In the Obscurity. his courage rallied.
So dark Il night, no one would see.
With burglariOuS stealth he crept to
the bed and pulled off the coverlet
and sheets. To knot them end 70 end
was the work of only II 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
He had not completed his preparations
any too soon.
As he returned to the window he
saw the light oc Il rI~Sin" automobile.
He sprang up on the wind0W-Seat ana
oI,cucd the top screen To peer out. The
automobile Slackencd speed and
stopped nj 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
lire 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 q coupe became dimiy
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 Clin-
ton crouched forward with his hands
on his knees. Amy did not observe
tho aroho ccod rnoyamopt Sha 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 hes ex..
claimed.
That's nice of you, you poor dear
boy! Isn't it fun? Isn't it romantic?
| was shvering 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.
"Oh!" she gasped- "Oh! Didn't
you have time? Where are your
trOusers?"
"I-n0-that-" he stammered-
that COMPOUNDED attendant stole
them"
"Stole?"
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-
sibIe mirth.
"See here" he admonished. Even
! if j am
Indeed no, not even if you are my
brother. | mustn't see. It's-it's real
ly too sh-shocking" This time she
startled the silence of midnight with
burst of ringing laughter.
Miss Lowrie!" he reproved in a
tone that left no doubt as to his ruff
fled 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 more mod
crate speed. They may telephone
about 1t, and If they should find I am
not at home-don't you see?-that
would let the cat out of the bag. They
would come for you at once"
You've ventured t. do all this abso-
luteiv alone?"
"Of course. Keep quiet. Here's our
block. S-S-Sh! Keep still now. no
one 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
Ia show her clear young eyes where 70
turn into the yard. Under the pergola
/ the darkness was so dense that sba
| entered ii NJ SnaiI's pace. one hand
on the steering lever and the OTHER
I thrust out of the side window In ,opcb
the crane leaves with tbo A.;