Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-07-05
A REPORTERS RIDE.
ny JAMES

tomobile assignment. 1t would not do 70
a younger and more excitable man, reasoned
the city editor. Steady nerves, cool bea.
and tempered adjectives were required 70
that assignment. Even ii the automop,l
ran away, the paper mustn't.
They we're off at noon, sharp, from th,
curb in front Of the counting room. th.
young Millionaire lightly grasipng tn.
steering bar, the Oldest Reporter sitting OF
his rgtt, note book in land.
II want You to give this machine the best
send-ofi you know aow, said the millionaire
MS voice Sig ttiy tremuious already with
the vibrations Of the auto. Il want some
thing that viii be copied far and near-it wiI
be to your advantage, you understand. Men
ton my name not more tran twice IN tao
article, but leave no doubt as to the owner.
ship OF the machine. Fifty horse power
got it down. Speed limit, 10 miles an hour
got thatsY
Yes, sir.n Tae Oldest Reporters teeth
chartered a little. A cold sBiver ran up bis
back-then down again.
We'll taen, ven be of, said the Million.
ARE. They mad been gently bowling along
over the pavement at a speed OF not more
than - miles an hour, yet the Oldest Re-
porter had twice pulled MS hat down firmly
over his ears, and was disagreeably con-
seious OF a tickling sensation under his ribs,
such as one feels when a toboggan makes its
first leap into the chute.
The Millionaire pressed the lever a little
more. Wow" exclaimed the Oldest Re-
porter, Involuntary. Then he blushed like
a girl, and coughed. did you say any
thing inquired the Millionaire, blandly. i
No sir, " replied his companion, pulling
himself together with an effort.
The great machine was now bounding over
the cobblestones like an enormous cat chas-
ing a mouse. 1t seemed impossible. to
the oldest Reporter, that such frantic,
scrambling speed could be sustained for more
than a block or two. Pretty soon the mouse
would be caught, and then
"We are getting well out of the business
section now" remarked the Millionaire,
and may venture to quit this snails pace,
I think" He increased slightly the pres
sure on the lever, and the throbbing machine
darted forward like a horse touched by the
whip.
The Oldest Reporter caught his breath,
and, seized the railing OF the seat with a
convulsive grasp. His notebook and pen
Gil dropped at his feet. "Goc~ .-srdi' he
EiOdutu, SELhlhB uiS tNEln hdIu A-s~tltT.
Yes, a fair rate for a city 5 .s.y said
the Millionaire, coolly, quite asst as
the police will allow, | imagine. bus we will
soon be in the suburbs, and then | can begin
TO touch her up a little. Pardon me, you
have dropped your notebook"
With a great effort the Oldest Reporter
bent forward against the rushing wind and
gathered up his book and pencil. He slipped
them into the side pocket of his sack coat,
and buttoned the coat all the way down.
That made him feel a trihe better. He
seemed to have assembled himself a little
more compactly.
At almost every corner a policeman
stood, hourishing fist or club as they whizzed
by. Two or three Of them ventured part Of
the way out on the crossings, and then re-
treated as the auto bore down upon them.
The Millionaire smiled indulgently. 'They
are very judicious, those bluecoats,' he said.
"But they have to make some sort of a
demonstration, you know. All, we are off
the pavement now. Prepare for a suburban
spin. Hola, En- a%vant!"
The Oldest Reporter crouched forward.
He seemed to himself to wither before the
fierce rush of the wind. His ears roared like
those of a drowning man. His breath f1ut-
tered about his nostrils-was caught away
came back for an instant-then was shut off
altogether. Good heavensl was he suffocat-
ing? He could not draw a breath, 1t
was as if his ~nostrils were plugged with wax.
Blindly he turned his head sidewise. All,
blessed relief! He could breathe again.
He even ventured to peek out under the
brim of his crushed and disfigured hat, that
gripped his temples like a wise. The sub
urban houses were slipping like balls on a
wire. lie tried to count them, but when he
got as far as three they were all a-blur, a
whole street full OF them.
Suddenly there was a slight shock, ut is
nothing" shouted the Millionaire, calmly.
"Only a horse and buggy that could not get
out Of the way Ia time. | run them down
every day. The bills come in and | pay
them. 1t is a part Of the sport"
t'Heavensl" thought the Oldest Reporter,
show can the fellow talk in such a hurri-
cane. 1t is all that | can do to-"
His breath went off his lips again. They
were getting into the country, and there was
a long stretch of straight, clear roadway
ahead Of them. Here is where | wish you
to specially note the speed Of the machine,
yelled the millionaire IN the reporters
ears. Good Lord, man, what are You tly-
ing to do-say your prayers:
The h~alf-asphyxiated reporter, in a last
desperate effort to save his life had twisted
| himself around and collapsed, on his knees,
in the bottom OF the vehicle, with his back 70
the wind. His chest was heaving| frightfully,
mis- face was purple.
'Let-me-out,' he easped, family.
The rushing machine stopped within three
| times its length. They passed suddenly from
a polar gale to a dead calm in the tropics.
The Millionaire looked down at the Oldest
Reporter with contemptuous pity. Only
a 9O-mile clip" he said, sadly, "and it did you
up | must return for a man with a pair Of
lungs."-Detroit Free Press.