Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-12-24
Last Rum Of the Green
Pea Desperate.

PROV after trips Bits Of little things
he'd hit, you know. He admitted that
he was sentimental cuss, did Bug
gles
We went up the West Drive like an
express making up time and with
about as much noise. Around the
corner saw the Van Doutzers coming
in victoria. They are one Of the
families that + really like to bow to,
and so, abolishing as much of MY fear
for my life as could, l got ready to
take off my hat, hoping, must con-
fess. that they'd take me for the owner
of the Desperate, instead Of Buggles.
To carry out the idea I just rested
my hand on the wheel thing that You
steer by. bowed, but I discovered,
to my horror, that 1 was bowling to
park policeman-the Van Doutzers
must have been whisked by about
three blocks back by the time l got
my hat off.
All at once there was frlghtful
rush of profanity from Buggies, and I
noticed that We were rlchotting On
wonderful angle up an incline covered
with tulip beds. I peered wildly be-
hind me-the road was just disappear
ing in the distance between trees and
the tracks Of the automobile among
the flowers looked like the first dig
gings for q canal. Suddenly We divcd
into a shady grove Oh the summit.
There was tremendous, shiverlng jar,
and I shot head first into prickly
sort Of bush. The Pea Green Desrer-
ado was trembling and gurgling, head
on, against tree trunk. AS for Bug
giles, he had Travelled some feet further
than had, and landed in q sort Of rus
tic summer house through the window,
cn the laps Of two persons already
there. They wore very angry, both OF
them, and vanished down the hill
threatening to have the law OH us.
1 told Bugglcs that didn't blame
them, either-that 1 had been young
myself. He got mad at that and said
it was all because I'd put my bally
hand on the steering gear and switched
the machine off the road, and that
he'd like to have been killed" in con-
sequence. He wanted to know why
the deuce I should switch him up on
this hill-did 1 like the scenery SO
much, and would I pay the fine?
What's the use Of arguing with fell
low like Buggles when he's mad, any
way? I just kept quiet and got into
the machine and sat still, while he
climbed in and backed her up and
turned her around and tried to start
her. But she wouldn't start He pulled
all Of the levers and things in sight
but she Just stood still and shook. Then
he got out and crawled in underneath
among the works, to see what was the
matter. sat in the waist effect, that
was all red and oily.
Presently heard him say from the
bowels of the machine, as 1t were:
care you touchin' anything:" 1 said.
"No" Buggles said: "There's chunk
of wood in the chain-I'm a-goin' to
pull it out"
"Pull away" said I, and I heard him
give grunt. Gee whiz! The Desper-
ado leaped like the arrow from the
bow; I heard wall Of horror from
Buggles, and the next thing I knew,
he and the hill were gone. and I was
ripping across the sheepfold like the
front of a cavalry charge.
I don't. remember rightly the rest
Of the trip 1 made through the Park
in the Desperate; It's more Of bad
dream than anything else. Thce2 We're
crowds that dashed UP on walls, yell
ing, and mounted police that gailoped
after, yelling, and horses that sat down
on carriage shafts or tried to climb
up with the coachman on the box-the
coachmen yelling, too. I pulled all
the movable bits of brassware that I
saw, but there was no stopping her.
Then I grabbed the wheel and fiddled
about trying to- get the hang of how to
steer the blooming thing-plunging for
ward all the while, mind you, like
runaway engine. Finally, after
couple of wild runs onto walks and one
complete circle, got that straight, and
started on, with q splintered park
bench hanging over the Prov, but
happy, for at least 1 could put it to
right and left. By this time it was
dusk.
AS the Desperate thundered around
another curve, the lake unfolded away
| down below, on my left. Suddenly
got an idea. I twisted the wheels, put
the machines nose down the dusty
slope and scrambled from my seat.
| Figuratively, had washed my hands
of all works. I slid over the back Of
the machine on my waistcoat, and
dropped. My lapel caught on n hook.
I was jerked in the air, sailed like
bird for twenty feet, broke loose sud-
denly, and struck the ground hard, but
happily. Down below, N the growing
twilight, I saw the Pea Green Desper-
ado swaying toward the water at light
ming speed. A splash, muffled con-
cussion-and q column Of water shot
into the air. -. -.
Silence fell.
After dinner I got on my hand
painted smoking coat that Miss Guinnes
gave me last Christmas-I always put
it on when Pm in chastened mood
and smoked a pipe by the fire, waiting
for Buggles. knew he would come if
be was allr->-------.--.-------------4-