The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-08-18

Mr.. Eskridgel" she cried. Don't
you see where we are going?"
IF Crandall wins, ] don't care where
we 20. All, Nelly, Nelly, Nell"
let me gol Are You going stark,
staring mad?"
Then 1t is Crandall," groaned
George, dropping hand and hope APP
parently together. "Crandall and this
internal auto. wish he was in it and
we were out of it and it was taking
him where we seem to be going"
He gazed alphabetically at the sea
while Miss Hearst, seriously alarmed,
watched their progress towards the
kissing wavelets crawling up the
sands. Right and left the broad beach
opened grandiy out, with, here and
there a cottage along the dunes and a
distant hotel fronSing a long iron pier
outlined against the horizon. There
were sundry sails far out at sea; a
few bathers and an occasional prom
enader dotted the sands here and
there.
Why don't you help me?" urged
Helen, imploringly.
WHAT'S the use? Call on Gran
dali"
If he were here he would help.
Something must be wrong"
Everything is wrong This gloom
lily. IF Crandall really were here now
would you-er-"
"No, 1 wouldn't. Help me to stop it,
please dol"
The last low sand ridge had been
passed and they were gliding over the
smooth, hard. wet beach toward the
water. Eskridge furtively did some
thing with his foot, unseen by Helen,
and the auto stopped.
Have l really no hope?" he asked,
lugubriously, as she sighed in relief.
After all my months of devotion"
Months" Her rosy lips curIed in
credulously. six weeks ago 1 hardly
knew you-oh, George!-why don't it
turn as well as stop?"
Perhaps it needs Crandall, being a
Crandall machine"
You're just dreadful to-day" Hell
en-, indignant, was about to leap out
when Eskridge again made a furtiye
move and the auto again started for
ward like a thing of life.
She was thrown back into his arms
and her eyes sparkled angrily; but
fear once more became dominant, for
the machine sped toward the sea as
IL determined 10 drown them both.
I'm going to jump" she cried,
%nervously.
And break your pretty neck7 No;
let's drown. It's easier"
Eskridge folded his arms as if To
await the inevitable. "Crandan will
hypnotic another girl, and"
Il wish he was here to manage this
auto"
Il don't. If you won't have me, you
shall not have him" The hiss of the
incoming tide mingled with his tones.
"We viii die together"
Miss Hearst s~huddered; yet, had she
been afoot. clad in her latest love of
a bathing gown, she might have en-
joyed the liquid swirl tina now licked
the pneumatic tires. Why she did not
boldly leap out she hardly knew. Did
fear restrain her-or George?
As the water deepened the mobile
moved o slowly, yet it neither
stopped nor turned. An incoming
wave, curling upward in a greenish.
graceful, menacing way, made her
breathe quickly and she looked at
E~skridge. Ye godsl He was, OF
seemed to be, preparing to light a
cigarette. Was this despair. idiocy OF
sheer bravado? Handsome he GER
tainly was, though she had hardly con
sidered him so before. Perhaps his
indomitable composure at such a
crisis forced a sudden admiration
upon her and banished the image OF
Crandal forever.
At any rate, as the whitening roarer
in front poised itself over the dash
board, Helen uttered a faint shriel
and threw her arms around George
scattering his cigarettes.
Save mel" she implored.
Then you do love me. even though
1 don't run an auto?"
"Y-ye-si" The shower bath was de.
scending and she closed her eyes
"Ugh-owi"
"And you don't care for Crandan?'
pursued George, i~nexorably.
"No-ohl Isn't this horrible? p"
"It's blissful, ecstatic. One kiss
dear. Now-open your eyes"
t The auto was turning. the wave wa,
receding, and Eskridge, with hand and
! foot deity employed, IA guiding hel
back to dry land and safety.
r "Why-you do know how?" sh,
! screamed, whereat the impudent dos
actually grinned; yet she could no
again grow angry, try as she might.
George, somehow, seemed better ii
spite of it all, though they we're half
drenched and had doubtless shocked
t more than one distant onlooker b.
: these proceedings. As they scorche,
e back up the avenue. whom should the,
see but Crandan himself on his wa,
f from the railroad depot. Georg,
looked at her inquiringly.
Don't stop" she whispered. Sc
/, know I'm a sight to behold"
II believe you were expecting him,
said Eskridge, as CrandaIl looked aft
er them obviously.
{ She pinched his arm and they
laughed like children laugh.