The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-07-07

In that terrible moment Of real
ization, the despised warning of
her Stepfather came back to her
clearly, and his ultimatum that she
had defied. There's to be no go
ing out with this Gerald Bruton.
There's never been scandal in
our family. +. I owe it to your dead
mother to see there never will be
one!"
Insane susceptibility and mad
vanity and recklessneSS had car
ried her away.
She was married to a jail-bird!
He had planned to get across the
border into Mexico, beyond the
grip Of the law, taking her with
him, dragging her to his own
leVell
They would arrest him-and her
too, for completely. Her life was
finished.
Suddenly her heart stood still,
then seemed to turn right over in
her chest. For she had heard the
quick step of Gerald in the passage
outside. She had an instinct to
scream to warn him Of the pres
ence of these men and of his dan
ger, but not a sound escaped her
dry throat.
He flung the door open. For one
second he stood in the aperture,
staring at the four of them.
Then he stepped back, Slammlng
the door and locking it from the
outside. She could hear his foot
steps flying down the corridor.
"McGraw, use your pass-key!
Jones, telephone the desk!"
In flash they were out in the
passage, running like hounds after
the quarry. Elizabeth, shaken to
the core of her being, felt she
could have died Of the shame OF it.
They brought him back in hand
cuffs to her. She felt sick. She
thought she would faint.
Gerald" she whispered, "Say
it isn't true. Please say it isn't
true!" Her wet eyes beseeched
him.
His lips twisted in the same wry,
hard smile she remembered on the
train, when she had exclaimed:
Chow terrible to be shut away
from the world!" and he had
agreed with her.
81 guess we're out of luck,
thanks to your overwhelming wish
for repoSe! But we have to yield to
the ladies, don't we?" he said Sar"
castically. He bowed to Elizabeth.
Looks as if our honeymoon will
have to be postponed.
She was staring at a stranger!
It seemed as though she were sleep
walking. This thing couldn't have
happened!
The bruSque voice of the senior
detective crashed into the appalling
silence. It'll be postponed for a
matter Of 10 to IS years, buddy.
Sorry, sister, but you'll have to
come along. too.
Col. James Mccarthy, late of
the United States Cavalry, aWoke
on the morning of the day fol-
lowing Elizabeth's elopement in a
very bad temper.
That Yuma, AriZ., was cele-
brated principally for its runa-
way marriages he knew.
But he had no definite proof
that Elizabeth was married. Nor,
in his anger with her, had he
tried to find out anything further
about her doingS. She was I'M
grateful and disobedient and he
was through with her, he told
himself.
But he couldn't shut out worry.
Worry had nagged him all day
yesterday. He had slept badly for
two nights in succession. He knew
he would go right on sleeping
badly, and feeling iverish in the
morning, until he had further def
mite news Of his stepdaughter.
AS for old Martha, she walked
about the house as though there
had been a funeral, the old fool!
where's the morning paper?
Don't stand there Staring!" he
barked at her from the breakfast
table. He was annoyed that his
hands shook as he opened it, for
he would have been the last per-
son to admit that he was seeking
news Of Elizabeth in its pages.
Only old Martha knew.
She had made kedgeree for him
this morning. peppery concoc-
ton of fish and rice and hard
boiled egg that is a favorite in
the Orient. He was attacking it
half-heartedly.
Elizabeth was headstrong.
Doubtless she was angry that he