A Honeymoon Tragedy

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8, 23 February 1907, Page 31

A Honeymoon Tragedy

By

HOWARD R. GARIS

Put up with your friends, for you can never tell what you will get from strangers.

NOW when we—er —when we are married, Lawrenee,” said Mabel Harrison, with just a little hesitation over the word, as becomes a .prospective bride, "I do hope we can get* away from file 'house without haying a lot of old shoes ami riee thrown at us and the carriage, decorated with silly things.” I do hope we can escape without. any fuss.” “Of course we can, my dear,” replied Seldon, looking very nice and "wise. “I’ve got it all planned out.” “That’s just like a man,”- exclaimed Mabel, pretending to frown. "You want to do it all, and you don’t consider your—your wife can do anything.” “Nothing of the sort,” protested Lawrence.' “You will have to do your share. I’ll merely plan it. We’ll fool ’em, and they'll feel mighty cheap when there’s no departing bride and groom for them to make fun of.” . "How are you going to manage?” asked Mabel. I "Easiest thing in the world.” - “Oh, how lovely!” cried tlite girl, who was naturally enthusiastic. *■ "Wait until you hear it,* went o«f Lawrence; \ "After the ceremony we’ll pretend we’re’ going to put up with foolishness at your house after the reception. We’ll even beg them not to make us look too silly. Then, when I give you the signal, you’ll slip ajyay, go -up to the little room on the top door, up the Bcuttle-ladder, and out on the roof.” “On the roof ?” •• “Wily, yes. It’s easy enough: the roof is Hat, and if y-pu keep toward the front of tfie house, there are no air-shafts. "Tile whole v block, of which your house is the middle one, is practically one roof.” - "On”, I neveK»eould do it!”. protested the girl. “Oil, yes, you can. Once you get on the roof just walk along until you come to the end house, where Mr. Jenkins lives! I’ve arranged with him,’and lie’ll leave his scuttle open, so you can go down. , . ,■ “ "Walk through his house, and out of the side gate. In the street will be a carriage. You get in it. In the meanwhile, I will have slipped put of the house and have gone to Mr. Smith's, next door. “Once jn .there,”, went on Lawrence, waxing enthusiastic over his scheme, “I’ll slip up to the roof, run along to Mr.- Jenkins’ scuttle, hurry down -to where you are waiting in the carriage, and away we go!” -■ “How romantic!” exclaimed Mabel.

it was destined to be even more so than she or Lawrence anticipated. “And the best of it is, we’ll fool ’em,” said Lawrence.

"it’s perfectly lovely,” commented the girk ’ ’-■ ‘ • “I think it’s a pretty good scheme iny.self,’’ went on the young groom. , “And what will be the signal for me to slip away?” asked his prospective bride. “I’ll go over to the mantel and move the small brass vase’on it from one end to tlie other. Have your valise and a dark .cloak up in the little top room. I’ll have your regular travelling-wrap in the carriage beforehand, and you can slip it on as soon as you get in.” "It’s, fine!’. exclaimed tlie girl, and then they began discussing a few of the many thousand other things that were on,their minds. , , , ; Everyone said Mabel Harrison made a most eharming Stride. As for the groom, little was said about lum, which is the fate ot all grooms’ so It doesn’t was pl wed right onruime, and thertjTwas n<jf a hUslLin eerenioijjv*-' * Then followed a reception at the Harrison liqme,*, where-scores of the yojing couple’s friends gathered to welcome them. The Conspirators were plotting early. Led by Kate Hanson ami Jack Dalrymple,, a crowd of youths and maidens;had gathered a quantity of old shoes, riee, and various other good-luck tokens to east after the departing ones. “I’ve, got his travelling-bag filled with enough rice to make a dozen puddings,” said Jadk. • — - "Her parasol is full, and so is her hat,” said Kate, “and I’ve' a ’dozen old shoes. How about decorating the car“Tom Dustan is attending to that. Lawrence thinks he is going to fool us by having a carriage around the corner in the next street, but I found it out from the livery-stable man, and- when Lawrenee sees that four-wheeler he’ll have a. fit.” , ’ , : • • ■ . • “Good!” laughed Kate and the’others. “Now, we mustn’t let ’em get away from us.” ’ "Trust me for that,” said Jack. "The moment we see ’em start off' together to get ready, that’s the signal for iis to get busy.” . In due time a carriage drove up and stopped round in the. side - streel. It drew up in the shadow,- and no -sooner had it arrive:! than a small boy, whom Jack had engaged for the purpose, hurried from his post of: watching ami

brought a note to the worthy who was arranging the send-off. Thereupon Tom Dustan and his cohorts sallied forth and fearfully ami wonderfully decorated the carriage, 4o tlie edification of the driver and a small crowdHhat gathered to sec the fun. Ten minutes after the first carriage had taken its position a second drew up in the side street at the other cud of the block. A dark fignru slipped out to it and deposited a bundle, of white in one corner.

‘ls the other coach there?” asked the dark figure. ‘‘Sure,’’ replied the driver of the second vehicle. “It’s decorated fit to kill!”

“1 guess we'll fool 'em after all.” the voice went on. “Here's something for vourself.”

“Thanks,” murmured the coachman, as he slipped a crisp bill into his pocket. • The crowd at the reception grew more jolly. The bride and groom were congratulated on every side, and there was much talk about the futility of trying to get away without the usual send-off. True to his plan, pretended to accept it all. He asked that some regard be had for his feelings ami those of his wife. His answer was a general round *of laughter. Shortly after midnight. Lawrence carelessly went to the mantel ami moved a brass vase from one end to the other.

Mabel, who had been watching ami waiting for the signal, slipped away shortly afterward. “We’ll wait until you come down,” said Kate, with a wink at her confederates. Once in the little room near the top of the house, Mabel slipped a long dark cloak over her travelling-dress, took her valise, and then, with a heart that beat somewhat rapidly at the prosp<»ct of her adventure, silently climbed up the ladder leading to the scuttle. A few seconds later she was out on the tin roof of the long block of houses. At first she was somewhat afraid. It was quite dark, and she shivered slightly in the midnight air. She had visions of falling into some air-shaft and remaining there, for days before her body would be discovered,. And in the meanwhile Lawrence would probably go crazy over her unexplained absence and there would be a terrible tragedy. She shuddered as she thought of it. Then she remembered wluit Lawrence had told her about Keeping toward the front of the houses, where there were no air-shaft openings, and felt a little more secure.

Carefully she walked along the roof to the last I .case. It .seemed quite b distance, and she remarked to hersvll that she never before realised wlvat a long block it was. She longed to reach the scuttle leading into .Fenkins’ house, so that she could get under cover. Then she and Lawrence woitfd hasten off on their honeymoon. Scuttle after scuttle she passed, and at last she came to the Jenkins’. It w;ls open according to arrangements. She descended cautiously, feeling he; way, for there was only a dim illumination from a lamp somewhere below, until she reached the floor and walked toward the stairway loading downstairs. The gas was dimly burning in the hall, and. with a sense of relief that her escapade was so nearly over, Mabel started down toward the first floor. Ae she passed the dining-room, the door o' which was ojn*n. she glanced in. And there, standing .near the side hoard, was a young man. in his shirt sleeves, calmly putting the silver from various drawers into a valise at his side. Mabel .stifled a scream. The min looked up as he lu?ard_.the rustic of skirts, ami, as the,glare froqt the hall light fell on Mabel elail in her long dark cloak, he gave a start and exclaimed: “Well?” It flashed a ?ross the girl's mind that she had surprised a burglar at work, faking advantage of the excitement in the neighbourhood caused by the wedding, the fellow had presumed to rob the Jenkins’ louse. A sense that it was her fault, in a measure, since the Jenkinses were at her reception, stilled her first fears, ajul she resohed to try to capture tin* intrudin'. “Well?” questioned the young man again, “what do y.»u want?’’ “I—l was looking for my husband/* stammered Mabel. “Well. I ha\en't got him,” replied th young man. “He—l—er —that is, wo—are going on our u eilding t rip,” Mabel went on, stumbling over the words, her heart fluttering wildly, "and we're trying to escape, so *’ “I guess I vnderstand.” interrupted the man with a laugh that sounded distinctly unpleasant. “You might as well own up and tell what you came for.’’ “What do you me.in?” she asked indignant ly. • Xevrr mind now,” went jou the man, as he dropped a dozen silver spoons in the valise. “I know what you <‘ame for, but I happened to be ahead of you. Too bail, isn’t it?

“Lucky I happened to come in when i did, or there would have been nothing left. Have you got anything in that Valise’” he demanded suddenly, catching night of the small hand bag Mabel was Carrying.

He made a grab for it, but the girl thrust it behind her back. “Cotne! P.et me look! Shell out!” be said sternly. “You needn’t think liecause you’re a woman you can fool with me! I know your kind! Let me see that bag!” “I shall do nothing of the kind,” said the girl, The idea of a mere man presuming to want to look into a bride’s valise, where she had all sorts of feminine finery. The very idea! And the man a burglar into the bargain! “Are you going to let me see?” “Certainly not!” “Then I’ll take it away from you. How do I know but what you have some of the silver there already?” “Silver?” “Of course. I know your game. Give me that valise!” “I will not!.’ ‘'Then let me see what you’ve in it.” ‘"Never! There are only some —some > Oh, can’t you understand that I’ve just been married and I’m looking for my husband? I ean’t let you see what 1 have here!” “So you will stick to that husband story, eh? Well, you can give up the valise quietly, or I’ll take it from you, and then call the police’’ “The police? Would you dare call the police?” ‘"Would I dare? Well, I like your nerve. Of course, I dare. You needn’t think because you’re good-looking, I may say even handsome”-—the young fellow’s look rested on her face in a way that made Mabel blush—“you needn’t think that because you’re so pretty I’ll let you go!” “Call the police, then!” the girl exclaimed. “I wish you would! I dare you to!” She knew that would be the very thing the burglar would not dare do. “Well, you are a cool one,” the young fellow said. “They don’t come much ■licker. I must say, you’re an old hand

at the business. Here I am, in peaceful jiossession, and you come along, ready to clean the whole place out. Where's your partner?” “You mean my husband?” “Oh, well, I suppose you call him that for the looks of it.” “Sir! You insult me! I was married to him not two hours ago!” “There you go again. Keep up the delusion, if it suits you. But I’m tired of fooling. Either you give up the valise and what you have in it or take the consequences and lie arrested!” He made a quick motion toward the girl. She stepped back, holding the valise behind her: The man made a grab for it, caught the handle, and yanked it from her hand. Then suddenly he thrust the now thoroughly frightened girl backward, and the next instant she found herself shut in a dark room and heard the lock click. Whereupon she fainted, overcome at the thought of being alone in the house with a desperate burglar. While the bevy of girls were keeping guard outside the room into which Mabel had entered Lawrence was preparing for his part on the programme. He started several of the young men singing college songs with a pretty girl at the piano, and telling Tom Dustan that he was going next door to bid goodbye to some friends, walked out of the house. “You can go,” said Tom to himself, “but we’ll take care that you don’t get away without the send-off we’ve prepared for you. I’d like to see your face when you behold that deeorated carriage.” Lawrence, in accordance with the arrangements he had made with Mr. femitli, went through that gentleman’s house, up the scuttle, and out on the roof. He lost no time in descending by way of the scuttle in the Jenkins’ house, and then hurried out into the side street. “Rather neat trick, that, of mine, in having two coaches wait for us,” he complimented himself. “I purposely let them find out where the one I didn’t intend to take was to wait. I guess we’ve fooled ’em good and proper.”

He saw the carriage waiting, and, with a word to the driver to make good speed, he opened the door and stretched out his arms to enfold the bundle of white in one corner. “At last we are alone, my darling!” he exclaimed. Then he gave a gasp of astonishment, for instead of clasping Mabel his hands encountered only her white travellingcloak that he had placed in the eoach some time previous. “What!” he cried. “Mabel, where are you?” He even looked under the seat, thinking the girl might be trying to fool him. He was out of the carriage in an instant. “Didn’t a lady come and get in here?” lie asked the coachman. “Not a person’s been near me, sir, savin’ yourself an’ th’ polisman on th.’ beat,” was the answer. “Th’ officer says there’s a coach all tied up with white ribtons an’ streamers in th’ next street, like it was fer some bridal party.” “Great Scott! What can have happened to her!” cried Lawrence, his heart beating wildly. “I wonder if she has fainted on the roof! Wait here until I come back!” he called to the driver, and dashed toward the Harrison home. In the meanwhile, the young fellow who had thrust Mabel into the small dark room, which happened to be the butler’s pantry, was doing some hard thinking. That he had to do something was obvious, for he had a pretty fainting girl on his hands and he hadn’t an idea of what to do when a woman swooned.

“I’m in a pretty pickle,” he mused. “I wonder if she’ll come to if I open the door. But then she may scream. Whew! What in the world ” He paused, gazing irresolutely toward the locked door. By this time Mabel had come out of her fainting fit. Keeping a strong hold over her desire to scream and swoon away again, she rose to her feet and peered out through the glass into the lighted dining-room. She saw the young fellow gazing at her, though he, of course, since it was dark in the pantry, could not see her.

“I wonder if he’ll shoot," thought the girl. ‘"Oh, if I could only do something to capture him. I wish "

Then her hand came in contact with something cold. She gave a start, then joyfully she realised that it was a portable telephone. “The very thing!” she exclaimed softly. She raised the receiver from the hook and she heard Central ask: “Number please?” “Give me 1145 North,” whispered Mabel, giving the telephone number of her father's house. In a few moments she heard the voice of the maid servant asking: “Who is it?” “It’s me! Mabel! Mrs. Seldon. Tell papa or Mr. Seldon or somebody—quick • —that I’m all alone in the house with a burglar! Come and bring the police!” At the other end of the telephone the maid dropped the receiver, frightened to death, and went hurrying to find Mr. Harrison. At that instant there was a commotion at the front door. Lawrence came in, pale as a sheet and breath panting from tile run. “Where is she? Where’s Mabel?” he burst out. “Why? What? Where ” Everyone talked at once. The guest* gathered - about. “Where’s Mabel ?” demanded Lawrence. “Isn’t she with you?” asked Mr. Harrison. “No! She went up to the roof! We were going to escape that way! I have the carriage waiting in the next street, but she didn’t come down through Mr. Jenkins’ house, as I arranged! Where is she?” By this time Kate appeared. “Mabel is in the little room at the top of the house,” she explained. In half a dozen big jumps Lawrence was at the door and had burst the lock. Mabel was nowhere in sight. A sickening dread overcame him. “Mr. Harrison! Mr. Harrison,” cried the maid who had been at the telephone. “Miss Mabel is ketched by a burglar. She just called me on the wire!”

r “Quick t Let me talk to her!” ex■laimed Lawrence, and the next instant tie was firing questions into the instrument. “Yes! Yes! Mabel! Yes! This is Lawrence! Oh, my darling! Where are you? Burglar? Yes! We’ll get him! But where are you?” “.What? Jenkins’ house? No! You must have made a mistake! What’s that? End house! Great Scott! I See it now! You went in the wrong (direction, and are at the other end of the block! In the Riker house! We’ll be right there!” He dropped the receiver and dashed away, calling back that his bride was in the house at the south end of the long block. “Come on, everybody!” he yelled. “We’ll nab the burglar!” With her heart beating from a sense of relief and with rescue coming, Mabel hung up the receiver, jest as the young man opened the door of the butler’s pantry, having decided to see what state his captive was in. He saw at once jvhat the girl had been doing. “So that’s your game, is it? ’Phoning to your pals, eh? Well, I guess I’ll do a little talking now. But just to make sure you play no tricks, I’ll tie your hands.” “Don’t you dare!” screamed the girl, and then, as she saw the young fellow advancing resolutely toward her, she Screamed until the house echoed. Crash! came a resounding thump at the front door. “So your friends are coming!” exclaimed the young man. “I thought so. Well, I’m ready,” and he drew a revolver. The next instant the front portal swung inward with a bang and the tramp of many feet sounded i*i the hall. “Lawrence! Lawrence! Here I am!” cried Mabel. “You* scoundrel!” exclaimed the young husband, as, disregarding the levelled revolver, he sprang at Mabel’s captor. “I’ll kill you!” “Look out!” cried Tom. “He has a gun!” “I don't care if he has forty guns J” yelled Lawrenee. Lawrence shot out Iris fist, straight at the jaw of the young man, who, with a curious look on his face, seemed irresolute whether to pull the trigger of his gun or not. He stepped quickly to one side and Lawrence’s blow fell short. A second later Tom Destan had grabbed the young husband about the body and pulled him to one side, while someone snatched the revolver from the young man. “Let me get at him!” panted Lawrence. “Easy, easy, old man,” said Tom. “We have him safe.” “I’d like to know what you mean by forcing your way into my house?” demanded the young man. “Your house?” asked Tom. “Certainly! That is, my sister’s.” “Rattlesnakes and centipedes ! If it isn’t Keith Gordon!” exclaimed Billy Martin, making his way trom the fringe of wedding-guests to the centre of the excited, group. “How in the world did you get here, Keith?” “I might ask you the same,” inquired the young man. “We took you for a burglar.” “I’ve got the only burglar there is to get,” said Keith, pointing to Mabel. “Her?” “Yes, she came down through the scuttle!” For an instant no one knew what to say. There was a moment of tense silence, broken at length by Billy’s laugh. “Well, if this isn’t rich!” lie said, when he had controlled his shouts of merriment. “First of all, allow me to introduce you two burglar suspects. Mrs. Seldon, allow me to present to you my old friend, Keith Gordon, whose sister, Mrs. Charles Riker, lives here. Mr. Gordon, Mrs. Seldon. Now, Keith, it’s up to you! ” “First let me apologise to Mrs. Seldon for having mistaken her calling, and also for having locked her in the butler’s pantry,” sairl the young man. “Worse and worse!” exclaimed Billy. “Go on, Keith!” “My sister happened to want some of her silver, as she is giving a supper at her country house to-morrow night," Maid Keith, “and as I happened tp bo doming into the city she asked me to •top at the house, here, and take it out to tier.

“I was later than I expected, and When I got here it was past midnight. I made up my mind to stay here all night, but first decided to pack the silver, so

I wouldn't forget it in the morning. I was doing this when I was interrepted by—er—by this young lady looking, as she said, for her husband. She came down the scuttle, which I had opened to air the house, as it was very hot. “And the long and short of it is, I took her for a burglar!” “And that’s why you wanted my valise!” exclaimed Mabel. “Of course,” replied Keith. “Who did you think I was?” “A burglar, to be sure, making off with the Jenkins’ silver, for, of course, I thought I was in their house,” said Mabel. “All’s well that ends well,” quoted Kate. “Now, since the plans of you people have gone awry you’ll have to take all that’s coming to you, to make up for the fright you’ve given us in trying to escape.” And a little later, as Lawrenee and Mabel departed on their honeymoon trip, their carriage was pelted with rice and old shoes until the street was fairly littered.