The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-02-07
The Cross
Country Ride
A Story of an Automobile.
By GEORGE E. WALSH.

.raso dosolotn waste around, the nearest
town ten miles as the crow lies. Inc
ynads werewolf, my muddy tires would
not Recommend them.
"Broke DOWN. | asked with that evil
dent concern a man always feels 1or TWO
shelnless ladies stranded by the wayside
4, ~ automobile. OF course | had anticl-
natal nv answer before the question was
asked for it was self evident.
.seaYes. The electricity or something mas
given out"
:, Ill was sweet, girish voice, which l
admired, and the face harmonized with
ii. The other occupant of the vehicle was
The mother. and not quite so attractive.
s1AA bad place to break down" l sug-
rested, dismounting. "See what can do
for you" t.|
'sIt's very kind of YOU" -t. 4-s.
awe wouldn't like to detain you,
though" added the mother, looking at me
as if She thought was highwayman.
Bill fsNo particular hurry" l replied. Il
was out for pleasant spin and got lost
on this abominable road"
Gl"And we, too, thought we would have
aride all alone. Papa never likes to have
me 20 alone, but John was away, and
told mamma l knew how to run the ma
chine. And | do!'
ShACertainly. But repairing it is another
thing"
eyes. John had no business to let 1t
get out of order" --..-...+..
ssIfy you will dismount," l said, Il might
I make an investigation"
70 OF hnr Inf hnr
mother protested. .-..-.
rs it necessary? The roads are so
muddy
'sNo, not necessary for both" l added,
already holding the arm of her daughter.
She stood by my side and watched me
open the box giving advice and directions
about the location of the tools, which
Appreciated. -.... .4..
"The electricity has not given out" 1
announced later, 'but there is something
wrong with the battery. There's power
enough in it to carry you fifty miles or
kill.a dozen men"
sMercy. Stella, is there any danger?"
queried the woman in the automobile.
.'No, mamma"
/ "Not any, madam" / added reassuring-
{ ". .However, must get at the board
under your feet. If you will kindly hold
them up moment
Swat! will get ont with Stella"
HNot ut all necessary"
But she climbed down in a hurry, and
1 .proceeded to lift the board. 1t was a
common enough battery and motor, but a
little knly in its actid~ at times. Be-
+ ing somewhat of an electrician, promis-
ed to repair the injury in a short time.
Its fortunate we met you" said Stel-
Z la laushfngly, "or we might have had to
walk back to town."
SIZES, it is very fortunate for me-"
replied, without looking up but through
the machinery | could see looks of disap-
proval on the mothers face. That pro-
voked me to work in silence for some
minutes. Then, jumping into the auto
mobile, 1 said:
7 Now I think the thing will go. Which
I lever do you use?
.SaFThis one" ...
She sprang lightly into the vehicle and
touched the handle, giving it a sudden
twist Then the machinery did 90. There
were whirring and buzzing that made us
turn in alarm. The wheels dug into the
mud so fast that they flung a handful
straight at the mother, who stood directly
back of us The vehicle darted forward
like "a race horse
s FShut off the powerr' / said quickly.
Stella looked at me with a peculiar
smile and said:
n IT can't
"Why not? Let me try"
ss took the lever from her hand and
turned it clear around, but there was no
diminution in the speed of the automo-
bile. If anything, it seemed to gallon
faster. We were now hundred yards
from our starting point. turned to see
the mother running after us, shouting:
Stop. thief! Stop, stop! III have you
arrestedw a4G .a... ...,
But l was helpless. We were running
too fast to jump. 1t was sure death to
ATTEMPT it. So tried to collect myself
and Said: f.saua VII r.
il, YThis is serious. We must keep our
heads
Eyes, very serious. But I'm not afraid
A-not yet" ~tt ar4@
sNor am I, out here in the country.
Its like cross country ride"
Yes; but we can't tell where it will
end.p
We We're making twenty miles an hour
then, unless my calculations were wrong,
and / had difficulty in holding the ma
chine straight in its course.
I've been in runaways before" gasp
ed as the wind nearly blew my breath
away, but never in an automobile"
Nor have l." she answered, grasping
her loosened hair, which streamed behind
her But I've always wanted to be in
one.v
Il When you'll have all you want before
weSget through with this. think we are
increasing our speed
We passed team, which SHE'D at our
vehicle and nearly upset the carriage in
the gutter.
We must be creating sensation"
suggested grimly, trying again to shut off
the power.
shouldn't WONDER" she replied. Then
eagerly, "But it's fun
i 'fYes, lots of fun" assented not wish
ing to be beaten by girl
I'm glad you're not afraid" she add
ed, for if you were think might be.".
.tlh, I'm not bit afraid | replied.
trying to keep a tremor from spelling INV
VOICE. $50 long as we keep the thing
going we are all rights' 5Nt
NE bumped over cat that tried to
run across our path and scattered hairs
and screeches around that vanished al
most as soon as we noticed them.
Are you going through the yillage?"
she asked moment later.
wouldn't if | could help it. like
the country much better. ISlt there are
no forks in the road and at this speed I'm
AFRAID | could not turn around gracefully
44<