The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1906-10-30
THE GIRL IN THE CAR
By EILEEN FARLEY

ne renewed MS mind IN single eX
plosive word
Naughty, naughty" chided a voice
in his ear, and wickedly useless"
Dillingham; wheeled about and the
shadowy bundle perched on the fence
stirred and laughed. Then the bundle
shook itself and jumping to the ground
inquired trenchantly, Smashed"
Il beg your pardon" said Mr.. Dill
bingham, lifting his cap. Il took you
for wistaria vine"
Thank you,' said the girl, gravely.
Then, abruptly, is 1t fun to ride in an
automobile?"
He hesitated Then, viii you step
into my auto?'
Said the spider to the fly the
girl finished, as she put her hand into
his and stepped lightly up.
Ter face was indistinct in the thick
ening twilight, but he could see that
she was tall ana he liked the musical
huskiness of her voice and the tilt Of
her head.
The girl had been settling herself In
silence and now she began abruptly:
Its horrid to be first whe-- one has
date with man And | was five
minutes late on purpose," resentfully
Dillingham;, dumb with amazement,
gazed at her silently.
She turned suddenly and peered at
him through the dusk. Then:
Oh she cried, Il believe you're
sorry you come and you think I'm
horrid and silly. And if you do, why
did you come and why are you so
stupid - and - oh, I'm very much
ashamed"
Her voice faltered and Dillingham;
paled at the suspicion of tears in her
voice.
"Dont-that is-not ct all. Don't
mention it" He stopped suddenly
with the feeling that he was making
an ass of himself. Assuredly the girl
was laughing. What kind of con-
foundedly puzzling woman thing was
1t, he demanded Indignantly.
But, of course, you didn't know 1t
was a bet" she went on, Frightening
up, "and that makes a difference. You
know I'd have to come on bet, don't
you suppose you think school girls
silly things?"
"Awfully," said Dillingham;, with
conviction. The girl beside him
laughed suddenly, an odd, gurgling,
low chuckle, quite the kind of laugh
he thought to accompany the prettiest
voice he had ever heard.
You should be relieved that I'm
only school GIRL" she rebuked, mock
ingly. Il might be an escaped lady
lunatic, you know.
"Of course, you didn't have to come,
because | wrote you the note" she
went on, and injury had replaced tears
In her tones. And would never have
written it if Annabel Morris hadn't
bet me a five-pound box of chocolates
that you never even noticed me when
you tipped past If you knew Annabel
only you wouldn't want to, she's
know why simply had to take that
bet. And of course, you did see me
why, you smiled three times, so /
could almost count your teeth"
In the gloom the girl missed the
twinkle in Dillingham; eyes and he
could feel her start of dismay, as he
responded, grimly
and now what am l going to do
with you? Take you back to Madam
What's Her-Name, | suppose, and tell
her how found you straying from the
fold. Perhaps you can suggest some
delightful fiction for Madam that will
spare both our feelings"
why did you COM, then? You
needn't have she cried, in a quick
little flare of anger. She paused and
added in suddenly meek little voice,
And I'm so hungry"
Dillingham; smiled in silence at the
forlorn tone. But what should he do
with her? Suppose he did take her to
dinner--he was hungry himself-and
then a little fatherly advice-he had
sisters of his own.
We'll where shall it be?" he asked,
briskly, aloud "Ye Old Inn" is here
about, | fancy"
"Oh, that would be lovely" she
cred, and at the relieved brightness Of
her voice he laughed aloud,
In the subdued light of the vine
covered porch, he surveyed the girl
curiously. She was prettier than he
had thought, with her dead white skin
and black hair, and older than her
schoolgirl chatter sounded-20, per-
haps, he decided. Then as she sat
down hastily and propping her chin
on her hands closed her eyes, In seem
ingly sheer exhaustion, he hastily
summoned the waiter. In minute
he was at her elbow, holding glass
of wine to her lips. She slipped