A RUNAWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 301, 21 December 1907, Page 3

A RUNAWAY.

(By Armiger Barclay.) "Won't you get in while you're waiting, miss?'' asked the luutor-mun, opening the door of the tonneau. "Perhaps 1 had better. It will look more as if the car belongs to me," laughed the girl. "I won't be long, miss," said the chauffeur gratefully. Then he touched his cap, hurried up the deserted road, and was soon out of sight. iris, in the course of a walk, had come upon the man vainly endeavoring to remedy some deftfct that had brought the car to a standstill. lie lacked something in the way of tools, was due within an hour at a town twenty miles oil", had so pathetically expressed 'his need for help that she had not only directed him to the nearest blacksmith, but had volunteered to look after the handsome automobile in his absence.

She sank back on the luxuriously yielding seat with a novel sense of comfort. Her experience of motoring had hitherto been liomoepatlietis; now, for the first time, she felt she could appreciate something of the delights of the favored few whom se had so often regarded with envy as they flashed past her. Though the sense of motion was lacking to complete her satisfaction, she was so occupied with it in imagination that she failed to notice the hum of an oncoming car. and liefore she was aware of it, it hail pulled up, and one of its occupants was addressing her. "Can we he of any assistance?" asked a pleasant voice. Iris started. "Thank you very much. I hardly know " she hesitated. Tom Palmer, the owner of the pleasant voice, laughed genially. ''You take it philosophically,'* he said. "Have you broken down?" "I—l suppose so," admitted Iris helplessly. "You're not alone, surely?" "Oh. no. The man has gone to tlx. blacksmith's for some tools. I'm waiting." '•('an we do anything? It may save time." With that. Palmer nnd his friend Kennedy descended and began to investigate tin- derelict car. Iris left her seat. and. with an air of proprietary interest, looked on while ihev inquired into things lxnealh (lie bonnet. Presently one of them went to the starting handle, and gave it a couple of turns. The (lv-wheel responded. "That's all right, I think," cjiservel Tom. "It was only a choked petrol feed. We'll try her." He got into the driving seat, and Tris. with newly-awakened interest in the proccdings, mounted beside him. "Shall 1 take you as far as the blacksmith's anil pick up your man?" asked Tom. "Oh. if you would." she returned. "It will save him walking back, poor fellow." He let in the clutch, and, preceded by the other car. they started. For a minlutc or two Tom was occupied bv (he peculiarities of the unfamiliar engine, then lie turned his attention to Iris. "T say." he began entliusiatically. "this I is a clinker of a ear! The road's clear, do you mind if T let her out?"

''l've done very little motoring" she | hesitated: "and T don't quite know i whether 1 ought *' "Oli. that's all right." he assured her with confidence that was stimulated l»v her attractive presence. "This is vnly a crawl, and .your motorV ?. tip-iopper!' With that lie pressed the acceVrat r. and tin - i r shot forward. ft had qualities of fliixil'iltfy. silence and ease of running, and neither was rons-iotis of the pace it was making. A* for Trr-, i inspirited by the rapid movemeni IhrniiL'h the «of( evening air. she abandoned herself to the pleasure and the

.invelty of the moment. The ear in front had a good «tarl. and 4 h<» road wound if occasionally disappeared from vio » *Vh<n rin«p in«)'-» hi 1 a strri £.'■■ run. = nd Ton ,<\>i;-id tW was in siglii no longer, he went still fa«ter in the hope of eatehing u|i with i'.

'ris finite forgot the objeel of their rlr've. • n 1 failed to appreciate that they Ind 11• i", r -inee passed the turning that lr>d to lhe forge. Without knowing it. her mind wa« alworbod by the seductive charm of rapid motion,

ll Wl.'e.; 11-. ... "1 wonder where lie's got to?" pondered Tom. "I would have bet anything he couldn't go at this pace. We must catch him."

"Oh, but what about the man!" exclaimed Iris suddenly. ''l'd forgotten all about him." "Good Lord! So had 1!" He looked at her with a laugh of frank contrition. "(.111, bother the man!'' he went oil. "After all, what does it matter?" "But it does matter. Whatever will he think'!"'

"You don't pay him to think, dp you?" asked Tom with amusement. "I—l pay him! He's not my man!" she exclaimed. "Not your man?" lie echoed blankly. "Xo. He—he's the car's man." "What do you mean?" asked the young fellow in bewilderment. "Why," confessed Iris with a sudden rosy Hush of shame, "1 forgot I was only minding it!" He stared at her open-mouthed while

she faltered out a hurried explanation of the situation. The story appealed to his sense of humor, and, perhaps, an innate appetite for adventure. "Well I'm—blest!" was his comment. "It's too funny for words!"

"it may be funny to you,' reorted Iris miserably; "but what will he think when he comes back for his car? It's—it's stealing!" The thought unnerved her. "Suppose I were had up for it?" "Oh, come!" he laughed. "1 wish you wouldn't laugh," she chilled. "I think it's very serious."

Her dismay sobered him. "I didn't mean to chaff," he said penitently, 'besides, you know, it's only a question of turning and driving back. I don't suppose the nian will be really anxious. It's a hundred to one he's enjoying himself over a glass of beer somewhere. Look! there's a town of some kind ahead. My friend hour. Ito be waiting there for me. 1) 1 you mind if Igo on? It only, llicans another few minutes."

"Very well," assented Iris dubiously, "In for a penny, in for a pound, I suppose."

"IJy Jove, you are a sportsman!"he declared with admiration, and added a little tenderly. "You're not afraid to trust yourself with me?" "Xo," she admitted, Hushing. Her heightened color stirred lilm.

"I'm glad of thai," he saiil gravely. A little further on they Hashed past a sign-post bearing the words "High Clieston. I mile." Tom, thinking to reassure the girl, repeated the information.

"High Clieston!" she cried in a tone of stupefaction. "Then we're twenty miles from home! You must turn back! At once!"

Without mure ado lie steered tile ear into ;i field gateway, stopped and reversed. His head was turned as he prepared to back, and lie was accordingly unaware of the approach of two policemen who were coining towards him at a run. As his hand went to the clutch lever they were upon him. One of them held a telegram and, as he barred the way, he glanced from it to the car's identification plate. "One moment, please," he said in a tone of authority. "Have you come from Klsworth, miss?"

"Yes: why?" answered Iris witli surprise.

"And we're just on our way back there," supplemented Tom.

"Very likely," returned the man drily; "but I'll trouble you to come to the police station first." "What the—what do you mean?" demanded Torn with asperity. "My instructions are to detain a young lady in a green ear nnmliered A 07433. I suppose you admit tills is it?"

"Who gave you such instructions?' asked Tom with a touch of hateur.

"I ain't under any obligation to anjver questions," replied the constable, resenting Tom's tone. "And the young lad.v don't need no telling." "Yon don't mean that I'm taken—in charge?" cried Iris aghast. "That's about it. We'll trouble you to come to the station."

The man's tone was uncompromising. Without another word he got into the ear while his colleague mounted the footboard by Tom's side. "If you let 111 c explain " began the latter in a fume. "You can do that to the Chief Constable." interrupted the man behind him. "This car's bepn stolen, and that's all I've got to say." Tom began a heated altercation, but the constable, impatient to be off, was impervious to hit- arguments and Iris's tears; aud there was nothing for it but to yield to force majeure.

Iris was too scared to say much to the man whom she regarded as responsible lor the predicament she was placed in: hut lie was none the less aware of the poignancy of her feelings, and thongl: on the way to the police station he made repeated attempts to reassure her, he saw that they afforded her 116 Velief. Accompanied as they were,-their progress through the town was a hitter trial, and when on entering the police station they wer£ confronted with a charge of robbei.v, their discomfiture was complete. Tom did his host to ridicule the accusation, accepted all responsibility, and protested against their detention. Hut the grim person of authority cut him short. As far as ho was concerned the facts wore clear. He

had information to the effect that the car was stolen, and they "were in possession of it. That was all. Tom felt impotent. He could not refute the charge; they knew no one'in the town. To the girl it meant disgrace, to himself humiliation. He began to lose his presence of mind, and the rest was like a troubled dream in which the only reality was the girl's choking sobs. He was barely conscious of hearing a short order, of feeling a tap upon hi* shoulder. He found himself walking along a stone-flagged, echoing corridor. There wan a jingle of keys, the rasp of

shooting bolts: facing him was a row of cells. He had just time to see Iris disappear in one of them, when he was into the semi-darkness, and a heavy

door closed upon him with a clang. Tris stared, appalled, at the four bar? walls of the cell. Her thoughtlessness had not only brought her into trouble but had involved an innocent stranger in undeserved disgrace. She was assailed by a thousand doubts. What assurance had she that he did not think lier the despicable criminal the police, deemed her? Suppose he had formed that opinion of her? The very thought was torture! lie had been so considerate. so chivalrous, and now Selfcomiseration merged in pity for the man who was thus generously hearing the burden of her fault. Her own troubles

cra*ed to absorb her; her thoughts of him grew tender. Momentarily she forgot her prison walls. The oppressive silence was abruptly broken. The cell door was flung open bv a constable, and behind him stood the subject of her thoughts. He strode in and seized her two hands in his. "You poor little girl!" he exclaimed. Half dragging her into the comparative freedom of the corridor, where stood the missing Kennedy, he impetuously explained the hitter's belated arrival. It was a story of a wrong turning, a chapter of but he was now here and had bailed them out. Temporarily, they were at liberty. Tom tucked her arm under his. and led the way out of the hateful building. She was too overjoyed at her release to resent its appropriation, and accompanied him meekly. Outside in the street there was a hurried consultation. The motormaii was expected, and they still had to answer his charge. Their dilemma still remained unsolved. "What can we do?" lamented Iris. "Must we stop here?" The two men grew seriously reflective. ''Why shouldn't we go and meet him?" asked Tom with inspiration after a pause. "He must come along the TClswortli road "

"By .love, yes!' - exclaimed Kennedy. "We'll bail the beggar up and give him—bring him to reason, T mean." Tris exhibited nervousness at the idea of being brought face to face with hcv accuser. "Must we?" she asked plaintively.

'•Don't be afraid. T'll look after you,' said Tom reassuringly, as he helped hoi into the car.

II was anodyne to two of the three to feel the fresh air in their faces once more as they dashed off; the clash of ■roars was like music to them. Tom drove with Tris beside him. They talked little, but she, with confidence restored. regarded him with a new interest. Kennedy, in the bark seal, might have been a thousand miles away. They were suddenly recalled to them-

selves by finding the road blocked. Tt had grown dusk, and a little way ahead was a trap drawn across it. and in the Iran a standing figure in a peaked cap. At? Tom shut off power the man in the {•art jumped to the ground. "Hi! Slop!" lie called, and came toward* them aggressively. Tt was the inolorman, and Tris knew that he recognised her. ''Two more in it, or?" he

said cuttingly. "Miglit have guessed it was a reglar gang! Now, then!"

''So," returned Tom promptly, "you're the disreputable scoundrel who leaves his employer's ear to look after itself while you go and bemuse yourself with beer!"

It was a random shot, but it hit the mark. The motorman looked startled.

"You absolutely reck of beer!" Tom went on, seizing the advantage. "What have you to say for yourself?" The man's confidence completely left him; lie murmured something inaudibly..

"And so, with the object of excusing your unjustifiable and disgraceful con-

duct, yon have the impertinence to bring a vile charge against a lady who " , Tom paused as though unable to express j feelings adequate to the occasion. "I want your name and address," he continued loftily. "This matter is not going to end here." To add to the man's embarrassment, Kennedy got out and stood over him menacingly. "C'an't you speak?" thundered Tom.

His disconcerted victim began stammering. "I—l only did " "Ye gods!" interrupted Tom. "And this is the sort of man people trust with valuable properly!" lie turned to Kennedy. "Which had we better do, give him in charge, or communicate with his employer?" The threat galvanised the man to speech. Whether it was ilie beer he had llown to for consolation in his loss, or a fiar of tliose in authority over him for his delay, he pleaded abjectly for indu! gence. From Iris there came a murmur of "Poor fellow!" and Tom, affecting to be influenced by her compassion, seemed to relent. He read the man a short homily on his transgressions, and then, in curt tones, ordered Kennedy t.i convey him to High Clieston, ami there see that he immediately withdrew his obnoxious charge. The relief the man exhibited at this apparent lenity was comical, lie scrambled into his cart, and with Kennedy mounting guard over him, whipped up his horse in his hurry to be gone. There was an embarrassed Isiloiufe

when 'Tom and Iris found themselves alone. Both were conscious of a desire to prolong the little while they had together. Tom suddenly realised that it was quite possible to grow fond of a person under certain circumstances in a remarkably short space of time. "I suppose you'll never forgive me for landing von in this mess?" he said a little

awkwardly. "You haven't," she declared. "You've got 1110 out of it!" "And got myself into one!" sighed Tom. There was interrogation ill lier upturned face. "I wouldn't have forgone it for worlds," lie went on. Something in his tone warned her against showing 'curiosity at the statement. "It was al! my fault." she murmured. "T let you run away with me—at least—--1 mean- " She stopped in confusion. "f wouldn't lmve forgone that either," lie put in quickly.

"You know I couldn't help if," alio protested. "Neither could T. Tl was Fate." "But the same tiling might have happened even if you hadn't turned up." "Not the same thing," he debate:!. "I'm glad it wasn't somebody else," he added with a thankful note iii lii.s voice. "So am I," she said softly.

"Do you moan that?" he asked eagerly. He searched her face, but it was to dark for him to see what he wanted to read there. They had been moving all the time, and now they sighted lights a little way ahead. "

"Why, we're home!" cried Iris. "How quickly we've come."

"Were not there yet," lie said desperately, throttling down. Iris lauglicd a little nervously. "Am I still a prisoner?" "Yes. For stealing—a heart!" "Is that a crime?" she asked mischievous! v.

"It depends. Do you plead guilty?" _ "'No," she gurgled. "Extenuating circumstances!"

"Then you admit the charge?' 'T don't admit anything. Besides," she whispered, "exchange is 110 robbery!" Then she went 011 hastily: "It must* be almost dinner time! They'll wonder what <yin have become of me. I really think you had better come in—to explain to my aunt about—the motor car!"

"And other things," supplemented Tom, as lie took her lmnd in his,