The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-01-01


and I've often heard you speak Of the
importance Of economizing time"
You don't economic time with
thing that won't go when You want it
to, breaks down In the wrong place
and like as not turns over on you,
smashing you to Jelly"
That made Bunker mad. He said
nothing, but did lot Of thinking as to
how he could best ram the old mans
words back into his throat
II have it," he said at last "Ill take
his daughter into the auto and run
away with her. There's nothing can
do that would put the old curmudgeon
in such fume. What fun to wave a
hand with ''Ta, tar at the stern par
ent and sail away. Talk Of stories of
lovers fleeing on horseback, in chaises,
yachts and that sort O thing, why, an
auto can go as fast as railroad train.
And hasn't mine been warranted to
make seventy miles an hour?"
Susie was persuaded. She thought it
would be fine to elope as no other girl
had ever clopcd. The affair came off
rather prematureiy, for old Mathews.
mistrusting that something was in the
wind, ordered his daughter to make
ready for trip TO Europe, the start to
be made within three days.
The day before the intended depar-
ture Bunker called and sent up an in
vltation to Susie to ride in the new au-
tomobile. Susie came down in travel
ing costume, while suit case and two
satchAls were struggled out to the auto.
"Are you sure, Simeon, that you are
sufficiently familiar with the working
of the thing?"
Il think 60, darling. l took my last
lesson this morning and got on very
! well-that Is. with an experienced man
sitting beside me-
We'll" replied Susie. I'm afraid
It'll go wrong, but hope not
| With quick beating hearts they left
the house and got into the auto. Mr..
Mathews was downtown and did not
usually return till g. This afternoon
he inopportunely came home Mt 3, just
i'll time to see the couple starting.
Susie" he called, come back! 1
didn't give You permission to 60 out in
that body crushcr."
Here was Bunker's chance for tri-
umph. and. losing his prudence, he
availed himself Of it. AS he-moved Off
he turned to his enemy and cried:
TIA, ia. Mr. Mathews. When you
sec your daughter again she'll be Mrs.
Bunker"
You rascal. Come backr'
The old man made rush for the ma
chine. which with defiant putTs rolled
of briskly. Mr. Mathews followed, u.s.
ing his legs for conveyance. The auto
turned up and down streets till it.
reached a straight piece of road. Mr..
Mathews, arriving at the beginning of
this stretch. saw tho machine a mile
away. followed by dust. little cloud
of steam and Il smell Of old lamps. He
stood and looked and gave mp hope.
But suddenly the auto came to halt.
Something seemed to be the matter.
Possibly he might come up with 1t be-
fore 1t could he started. He walked
briskly toward it, but in few mo
mcnts 1t started on. Then 1t stoppeG
again. Bunker was wildly pulling at
cranks and turning wheels. Presently
he got 1t started second time; but,
great heavens, it was moving back
ward.
"Now," exclaimed the old man. 1--WE
got him, and I'll make mince meat OF
him."
Back came the auto. swaying from
one side of the road to the other, for I.
was n wonder that it could be steered
Mt all in reverse, till 1t came near the
pursuing father, when Susie cried out
frantically:
Papa, get out Of the way. You'll be
killed"
The passing vision of anger. alarm,
modification, on Bunker's face almost
recompensed Mr.. Mathews for the trou-
bic and irritation he had been put to.
AS the machine pulled by he shook his
fist at his would be son-in-law and
tried out:
Il told you the things were no use.
I'll get even with you on foot"
Finally the amateur chauffeur sue
ceeded in stopping the machine but the
father was advancing. and there was
nothing to do but turn and 90 the other
way. Bunker now saw that he had
made mistake in stopping at ali. With
frantic effort he started the machine,
made a short turn. and the great COM
eination Of metal. wood. leather. fire
ana Oil went over in ditch. fortunate.
~ landing the clippers in soft mud.
This ended the 'elopement. The IA
ther was so rejoiced that Susie was nos
Killed that he forgot to scold her. and
n compromise was effected by which
Bunker gave up his machine and Mr.:
Mathews gave up his daughter.
HELEN NJ. WOOD.