The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-16

When the automobile craze struck
Templeton. Thad Stevens promptly
transferred his affections from steam
launch to a horseless vehicle. Actual
ly, neither the launch. or automobile
was represented by tangible property,
but through three long vacations Thad
had worked industriously toward saw
ing up enough money to purchase the
steam launch when he reached the ma
ture age of II. And of the $500 now
resting to his credit in the First Ma
tional Bank, of which his father was
cashier, fully three-fourths had been
earned in the local car shops. Thad
worried the wiseacres with which Tenn
pleton abounded.
Shaking their heads, they said ha-
bitually and regularly:
Henry Stevens II never see that boy
of his behind a counter. with a pen
over his ears"
Thad agreed with them in secret.
He hated a sedentary life, and most OF
all he hated figures and books. His
fingers, strong, 1.-THE and firm for one
of his years, fairly itched to handle
machinery, and the sound of buzz
saw or the 'rhythmical fall of sledge
hammer was music to his ears.
That was how it happened that he
spent his days working in the big car
shops on the hill and his nights
dreaming of automobiles. His father
chewed his cigar nervously when peo-
pie spoke of the lads fondness for
mechanics, and declared that his craze
for the machine shop would last no
longer than his former yearning for
steam launch.
1t was before young Van Alystine's
runabout broke down on the outskirts
of Templeton, when he was trying to
make record speed from Lenox to New
York. The car shops were near the
scene of the breakdown, and Van
Alystine sent over for some one to
make repairs. Thad Stevens was
among the first on the scene, inter-
ested in the efforts to get the ma
chine in running order. Van Alystine,
sore over the defeat of his ambitions
to make a record run, and angered by
the machinist's report of certain weak
spots in the runabout, vowed in forci-
BILE tones and language that he would
sell the machine to the first man who
was fool enough to buy it. He had
given some directions to his chauffeur
and was starting in the direction Of
the depot, when Thad reached a sud-
den determination.
He summoned all his courage and
ran after the young millionaire.
81 say, what will you take for your
machine?"
Van Alystine stared at the young
chap in his oil-stained overalls, and
then smiled.
what can you give?"
Thad's face crimsoned under the
amused gaze of the young New York
er, but he spoke quietly.
1.-TWO hundred and fiftV"
He figured that he would need the
rest of the $500 for repairs and an au-
tomobile outfit.
Van Alystine became interested.
you seem to be in earnest" he said.
"Do you understand just what condi-
ton that machine is imp
Eyes, sir, I know something Of ma
chinery, and I've been studying UP on
automobiles. And think the runabout
is worth every cent of the two hun
bred and fifty"
1T ought to be-" CALCULATED Van Ally
stine, grinly. ''It cost me fifteen hun
dred month ago.
Thad was getting anxious. Perhaps
the offer would be withdrawn. Per-
haps-
"If you'll go with me to the First
National Bank I'll get you the money.
My father is cashier" he added. hesi-
tatingly, as he noted the half-incred-
ulous expression on Van Alvstine's
face.
And so it happened that Thad Stew
ems became owner of an electric run
about and Van Alystine went back to
New York with wrath in his soul and
a good story of his odd trade to tell
at the club
Thad personally repaired the runa-
bout, buying some new equipment,
strengthening the weak places and re-
framing from using it until he felt that
1t was in first-class condition.
Then came a series of exhileratinP
trips over the beautiful roads. around
Templeton Every member of the fam
lily and all his friends took turns at his
side. The one drawback to his pleasure
was his fathers disapproval of his in
vestment. The thrifty Mr.. Stevens de-
clared that things were coming to a
pretty pass when 16-year-old BOYS
spent three hundred dollars for mere
self-indulgence. The fact that Thad
had earned the money and that he
shared his pleasure with boyish unset
f1shness and enthusiasm did not miti-
gate the offense.
One fine October night, with his
mother at his side. Thad sent his run
about flying along the level road from
Stockdale to Templeton. They were
just crossing Main street to turn into
the street leading to their home when
Thad caught sight of "a mass of fig
ures struggling in front of the First
National Bank. With sudden twist of
the steering rod ne swung the ma