Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1909 — A RISKY EXPERIMENT. [ARTICLE]

A RISKY EXPERIMENT.

In the city of New York the throng of carriages on Fifth avenue is often so' gTe&t that mounted policemen are stationed at intervals to keep them in line and extricate them when blocked. One afternoon as It was growing dark a gentleman threaded his way to a stalled carriage and mounted to the box beside the liveried coactiman. Astonishment kept the latter silent for a moment; then when he was about to speak the gentleman stopped him. “James,” he said in a low voice, "you know me?” “Certainly, Mr. Townsend.’’ ' “You also know that I am a friend of your mistress. Now, I wish you to relinquish the reins to me. Get off the box and disappear in the throng. Come to my office tomorrow and you will receive five years’ wages." There was little hesitancy in accepting such a tempting offer. Now there had been for some time a desperate love game between Mr. Townsend and Miss Annette Van Deveer, the occupant of the carriage. The lady would encourage her lover for a brief season, when she would suddenly treat him with the most studied indifference. This blowing hot and cold on the heart alternately sets the blood coursing wildly and makes a man do very reckless things. But Frank Townsend was as much of a genius at the game of love as Paul Murphy was at the game of chess. He made up his mind to a campaign wljich if unsuccessful would marie him for a fool, but, if he knew Miss Van Deveer correctly, would win her. The lady wondered why she was so long in reaching her home. When the carriage stopped it was under a porte cochere. The man on the box gave a call, which was answered by a maid, who came out of the house and received whispered instructions from the coachman.” She opened the coach door. The lady stepped out, looking about her in surprise, hut before she could collect her senses was hurried into the house. She became alarmed and turned to go back through the door by which she had come. It was locked. “What does this mean?” she cried, both indignant and terrified. “That you are a prisoner.” “A prisoner?” "Yes. but don’t distress yourself. You will come to no harm. You will be treated with every respect.” Beyond this Miss Van Deveeer could get up satisfaction. She at last consented to go to her room, where she was locked in. She had not been there long before the door was opened and a note was thrown in. It read: Your treatment of me has made me desperate. I have kidnaped you and shall hold you till you have promised to be my wife. If ys». wish to see me, ring, and I will send for you. F. TOWNSEND. It was but a few minutes before a ring was heard downstairs. Then a maid threw open the door and conducted Miss Van Deveer to the drawing room, where Mr. Townsend awaited her. “What crozy freak is this?" she demanded haughtily. “If I am crazy I have been made so by love for you.” “I demand to be sen! home immediately. They will be frightened at my absence. It is not proper that I should be here in your house.” “As to the first I care nothing. As to the second, you shall he treated as becomes the lady you are.’’

“DO JOU realize that when my being here is known, as it will he if I do not leave immediately, I shall be severely criticised?” “All the more reason for you to comply with the terms of ransom and go at once." The lady was talking excitedly, the gentleman as coolly as if he were an Italian bandit ready to cut off her ear and send it to her relatives. “I supposed, Frank Townsend, that you were reckless, but I never took you for a fool.” “A fool will pull the house down over his head and the woman he loves.” ‘‘Do you mean to say that you will permit this act to be known among your friends and be cut by every one of them? As soon as they hear all they will exonerate me.” “If I can’t win you I am ready to be cut by the whole world.” There was no prqmlse of relenting. Miss Van Deveer stood looking at her captor with a curious expression. Through all her blowing hot and cold she had intended to marry him. Indeed, Bhe was desperately In love with him. If she allowed this unheard of affair to proceed it meant ruin to all concerned. There was no alternative except capitulation. “Order the carriage,” she said. "It is at the door, and my coachman is on the box. Come. I can get you home before the dinner hour.” Mr. Townsend and Miss Van Deveer got into the carriage together, and the .former’s coachman drove them to their home which they reached just as the family were sitting down to dinner. He did not receive an Invitation to dine. Indeed, it was a month before the lady would receive him. but he was patient and in time was rewarded by being forgiven. When the wedding occurred, at which many of New York’s nabobs were present and the bride promised to love, honor and obey, no ons suspected how her consent had been won.—Merrick Augur.