The Elbert County tribune., 1905-11-02


chine up with a luiver of brakes.
~What do You mean:" asked the man
at the wheel. angrily I'VE might
have smashed tina. rail IL l hadn't
stopped
II calculated ye'd stop" said the o.d
man, cooIly. That's what | put the
rail there for
''Well, you must be crazy said the
man. lifting up his big goggles. What
in the world did you want us to stop
/ forg-
"Exceedin' the speed limit replied
Tod, sententiously. Coin Eastern
ten mile an hour. I'm delegated by
tn town marshal to rest ye," he went
on, simply. Hank Wright; mebbe We
know him.
NO. DON'T rejoned the chauffeur,
Grossly.
.'I'm s'prised." reioined Tod. "well.
II don't matter He's delegated me To
look after such peoples you. ridin'
Eastern the law allows"
Have you badger" asked the
chauffeur. suddenly.
Tod hesitated for an instant Hc
thought of Hank Wrlght's big shining
nickel star. the emblem Of his author
| ity as town marshal. and his face fell
Il amt got any badge" he said at
last There amt but one bndge in
town. and Hank Wright wears that.
He's the town marshal. But he's give
me the authority to arrest We. and so
I'd advise We 10 submit peaceably.
-Ie see,'' he continued. feeling that
some explanation was necessary. II
amt been long at this business. / live
over Mt the poorhouse. an this is my
own idea for raisn' funds for gcttin'
Thanksgivin' dinner"
-What in the world has stopping our
automobile got TO do with Thanks
giving dinner:" asked the man with
the goggles.
WHY. there's ten dollars fine for
goin' Eastern the law allows" ex-
planned Tod. "Half goes to the town.
an the other half is divided tween
me an Squire Bascomh So ye'd better
come long peaceable and pear in
court for / represent the law. that's
what do and his wrinkled and
scanned old face, kindly Ms It always
was. took on queer, stern look
There was brief whispering among
the occupants of the automobile
~ might add that all we was goin'
TO have for Thanksgivir' dinner" said
Tod. was lamb stew I've ms good as
earned two dollars and half now. and
I'm goin' to stay here till get enough
for good turkey dinner. BE ye ready
to 20 to the Justices ofiice?"
Yes. we'll 20 along peaceably" said
the man with the goggles. won't you
get in and ride with us:"
'lf yen promise not to 20 faster'n
the law allows" agreed the old man.
We'll go slowly" said the chauffeur.
Thereupon Tod removed the fence
rail, and gngerly climbed into the au-
tomobile. There was little furry of
excitement when the big, putting ma
chine drew up in the village before the
office of Squire Bascomb, although the
fining of drivers of the machines was
not infrequent in the town.
II rested EN-" said Tod. proudly.
to the gaping crowd of villagers. II
rested 'em, squire. with my patent
utomobile-stopper' and lie chuckled
at the remembrance.
Squire Bascomb opened court grave
ly.
Are you sure they We're exceedin'
the speed limit? he asked Tod
well" began the old man. slowly.
for he had not counted ON having TO
give evidence, technical evidence at
that.
"Oh. yes, we We're going rather fast"
admitted the driver OF the machine. in
response TO a nudge from one of the
women. Il think we will plead guilty"
and he pulled ont his pocketbook and
laid ten dollars on the squires desk.
Don't do it again." cautioned the
magistrate. severely, as he took the
money and handed Tod his share The
old mans fingers trembled so that he
almost dropped the money.
Where are you going now?" asked
one of the ladies in the automobile
party.
I'm goin' back for more game.v re-
piled Tod. I've got to have bout
five dollars more before I'll have
enough TO buy turkey for all of us up
TO the poorhouse."
Get in and we'll take you back
said the chauffeur. softly. and he
seemed to have suddenly taken cold.
Once more Tod rode in the .bIg red
machine. This time Il went straight
up to the door of the almshouse, and
when the man at the steering wheel
helped the old man down he pressed
something that was crisp and crinkly
into Tod's hand.
"It's for Thanksgiving he said. as
Tod gazed at the generous bill: and the
man in goggles wrapped his coat about
him. for it was quite chilly
Such dinner as they had at the
Morrisville poorhouse three days later.
Never such plump, brown turkeys.
never such rich gravy and dressing.