The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-10-16

than before: "Wlll 1T take US much
longer to get there?'
She turned flushed but smiling
face toward him.
II fear you had no idea where we
lived" she said simply.
"No, l had none; but I'm no better
Informed now than in the beginning"
She seemed interested in the breaks
and levers at her feet, but she mur-
INJURED a little defiantly: "Well, III
promise to get you there. I can't do
more"
Hudson acknowledged the business
of this, and did not urge the point any
further; but as they slid along over
mountain roads and down steep valleys
his anxiety grew to fever heat. He
nervously consulted his watch and alb
sently viewed the landscape with
neither JOY nor interest. He even re-
piled to her remarks with apparent in
conference. They had been travelling
at the rate of fifteen or twenty miles
an hour, he estimated, and it was near
ly noon by his watch. Finally, in
desperation, he asked:
"How far are we from a railroad or
telegraph station?'
She looked innocently up at the blue
of the sky as she replied little hesi-
tatingly: "I'm not positive; but l think
not far from fifty miles,"
Hudson started and turned toward
her. A sudden revelation swept over
him. He had been entrapped-kid-
mapped. This beautiful woman of the
mine had thwarted his dream of fachiev-
ing reputation. For a moment he
regarded her with distrust and anger;
but the delicate profile and rich color
of cheeks and eyes were not of a nature
to inspire hatred. The half averted
face was flushed, and the eyes turned
persistently from him we're relentlessly
gazing across valleys and mountain
peaks.
"Since you have taken me away 50
far from the station will you be kind
enough to carry me back?" he said,
with an attempt of severity.
With an innocent expression and
voice she turned to him and asked:
"Why, l thought you wanted to go to
my uncle's?"
II did-but we never seem to get
there" be stammered.
"But we will in time"
They rode along in silence. The
sun mounted the heavens and passed
the noon meridian. Still the automo-
bile toiled up the mountain roads or
rushed down through valleys. 1t was
a machine built for rough climbing;
but the strain put in that memorable
trip presently brought the machinery
to sudden standstill.
"Oh, dear, something has happened"
Miss Borden said in fearful accents.
"Do you know anything about auto
mobiles, Mr.. Hudson!'
"Not a thing" he answered grimly.
eff it's a break down we'll have to foot
it so far as my repairing it is concerned. "
"But it's twenty five miles to the
nearest railroad station she answered,
in alarm. a" z.f'
"Well, I've covered that distance in
half day before.
"But l couldn't, and it's so lonely
and deserted here" she stammered.
"Never fear," he answered slowly.
81 won't desert you"
For some time they sat there, wait
ny for developments; but a happy
thought seemed to occur to the young
chauffeur.
II believe l know Low to fix it," she
exclaimed with animation. Il remem-
ber now, when it broke down before,
uncle told me what to do the next
time. But it will take time, and you
must help me-"
Hudson leaped from the machine
and offered his services. Under the
directions of his fair companion he
seemed to take apart nearly all the
machinery under the car, and then
put the wheels and gears back again
I'M place without making any repairs
Or readjustments.
"There; l believe it will go now,''
Miss Borden said, taking her posi-
tion in the car when the dirty job
was finished. She touched the lever
and the automobile puffed along easi.
ly.
"Thank you so much" she murmur
ed. "It would have been so awkward
to have been forced to walk twenty.
five miles" -,
Yes, very,' Hudson responded
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