Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-08-22
the talking I'll break your neckr' re-
piled Knowlton.

the thlklng II break your neck. to
piled Knowlton.
When the auto came up, the girl was
down on her feet inspecting damages.
IL was easy to see that the machine
must be got home by some motive
power beyond its own. There were too
many stony spots on the highway to
run II on the rim of the damaged
wheel. Mr.. Knowlton at once intro
duced himself and companion and ten
dered their services.
They found the young lady even bet
ter looking than they had given her
credit for. She was not at all embar-
raised over the meeting. She was
chatty and vivacious, and In FIVE min
utes' talk she made them realize that
she knew twice as much about an auto
as they did. One thing the boys for
got until afterward. They gave their
names to her, but she did not recipro-
cate. 1t was decided that, the dam
aged machine must be drawn to the
side OF the road and sent for later on,
while the auto was to convey the girl
to her home, a distance of fourteen or
fifteen miles. Why she had gone out
of her way she didn't explain. and the
boys didn't ask.
las | am used to autos / shall ask
the privilege of acting as chauffeur"
announced the young lady as she was
ready to get in.
This seemed like a reflection on the
abilities OF the young men, and they
were Ihesitating over it when Miss
Blank took the matter in hand. There
was room for one of them beside her.
and both jumped for the place at once.
There was a struggle, but shame soon
came to both and they humbly climbed
into the rear seat and glared at each
other and mentally threatened murder
at the first opportunity. They soon dis
covered that the young lady was no
vain boaster. She turned the machine
about with a whiz and started off at
speed that had not continued for FIVE
minutes when young Knowlton felt
compelled to lean forward and say:
This is certainly exhilarating, but
do you think 1t altogether safe"
This isn't twenty miles an hour"
was the reply as the machine sailed
around a curve on three wheels.
Three minutes later Mr.. Weaver,
whose face was growing as white as
chalk and his teeth clicking together,
managed to make the young lady I'M
derstand that he was troubled with
palpitation of the heart at times.
Best remedy for it in the world"
she replied as the machine struck
road rs level and hard as a floor, and
she increased the speed.
The young men instinctively clasped
hands and said farewell to each other.
They didn't dare reach over and twist
the wheel out Of the drivers hands,
and yet they realized that a calamity
must soon happen. \ word from her
might have prevented what followed,
but she was intent on the road ahead.
OF q sudden. as they came upon q long
strip of hazel bushes, both stood up and
jumped for it and landed among the
bushes with a crash.
The auto did not stop If the girl
missed them she was not concerned.
They picked themselves up after a
while and limped out to the road in
time to make inquiries Of Il passing
team. They walked two miles and
then hired a farmer to drive them six
more, always inqulring for an auto
driven by girl. At length. rs they
drew near manor house embosomed
in grove, young Weaver exclaimed:
Say. now. it's dollars to cents that
this is the house we were bound for
the Henderson place.
"And if that isn't the young lady we
have been chasing may l never eat
again" replied Knowlton as he nodded
at girl on the veranda.
In front of the house was an auto
tied to the fence with a rope. 1t was
their auto. Hung in a conspicuous
place was a sign reading, For Sale
Cheap The young men did not stop
to ask any questions. If their friend
Burt was home they did not want to
see him. If his sister Annette was
home they did not want to see her. All
they wanted was to get back to New
York by the shortest route.