Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-24
COPYRIGHT BY j. 3. LtPPtNco7r co

to think that she could not remain away from
him for long.
Outside the dining room she discovered two
pairs of stairs descending at right angles. She
could not remember which way she had come
up, but descending few steps and seeing an
automobile in front Of the door, she concluded
that she had the right stairway and ran down.
Jim was nowhere TO be seen, and she climbed
into the machine bit crestfallen, for she had
expected TO find him waiting for her.
Meanwhile McCirath and Janet ate their sup.
per hurriedly and discussed the chance of reach.
ing Raleigh in time for the lecture.
The night is clear and it will be a glorious
ride, but we can't run fast after dark" said
McGrath. "To save time" he added, rising
TN pay for the supper, crank up, and come
back for You. You've almost finished, haven't
you?"
az shall have by the time you get back re.
piled Janet.
McGrath paid his reckoning in the little office
and went outside to get his machine ready for
the start. As he emerged from the main door
he the owner Of the other automobile bent
over his crank.
"IIe's off. too" thought McGrath "I wish
we were going the same way. I'd like to race
him"
AS he turned the corner he saw be-duster-
ed be-veiled, and begoggled figure sitting in his
machine.
''By love- YOU were ouick!" he exclaimed. with
didn't expect you down for another five min
utes."
He adjusted the gasoline tester, eranked up,
and had the machine speeding as fast as
he dared within town limits along the Raleigh
road
Ethel Carter made no reply to his comment
Her feelings were already hurt by having been
kept waiting. and not TO be expected for an
other five minutes added insult to injury. Be
sides, Jim knew how she hated to have him
speak to her with his cigar in his mouth. It
such bad manners, and then it mufhed his
voice oddly. She did not speak for long
time, and her companion, lost in pleasant rev.
cry, did not observe the silence. i
Janet awaited Mc(iraths return to the dining
room in mpatience.
'T wonder what is keeping him." she thought
apprehensvely. II hope nothing has gone wrong
with the automobile, / do hope we'll get there
in time"
She put on her gloves and goggles and button
ed her duster. just as she had determined to |
go and investigate the of her cousins |
delay, waiter appeared at the door and said:
"The gentleman down in the auto says he's
afraid if you don't hurry you won't get there in
time"
well. | thought he was to come back for
me. I was waiting here" exclaimed Janet, Won
dering how she could have misunderstood
She ran downstairs. The motor car at the
door was humping restlessly. the man in the
drivers seat lingering his levers impatently.
Janet sprang up beside him and they set off at
a speed which would have brought them promptly
under arrest had Amsterdam been properly po-
Iced.
Her cousin being seemingly absorbed in his own
thoughts, Janet plunged her mind into her lee
ture, which she hoped to deliver without notes.
Her companion addressed occasional remark
to her, to which she responded with an alb
strated "M-m."
"Ah, there is the moon.' exclaimed the man
at length, pointing to the luminous disk just
appearing above the Eastern horizon. ut is
lovely, isn't it, Ethe?"
Janet broke into merry, banterng laugh.
'You certainly have got it bad, dear. This is
the third time in succession you've called me
Ethel"
'VNell, why shouldn't II" demanded the man
N utter astonishment.
Janet turned and faced him. She had thought
McGrath's voice bit unnatural, but had been
90 busy with her mental review to speculate
Ipon the circumstance. He faced her, too
With presence of mind enough to slow down the
Machine They realized at one and the same
moment that they complete strangers to
ZACH other.
''Who in the world are you, and where are
,ou taking me?" demanded Janet as soon as she
ould speak.
Il am James Carter, on my honeymoon" he |
eplied meekly. "Where do you suppose my
,ride is?"
'She is probably in the automobile with my