The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-10-11
The WOMAN OR THE CAR.
ny ELLIOTT WALKER.

Ladd. the proprietor Of THE Hama
racks shook his head with discour-
aging hrmness.
commodate people here. not automo-
biles. First. no shelter for the ma
chine: second, I won't have one round
since my dog was run over; third.
there's no use of talking. Better go
along"
In the sudden darkness Of the sum-
mer twilight came binding nash. dis
closing more clearly the occupants Of
the big touring car-the chauffeur. ges-
ticulatfng angrily; two other scowling
men, woman and a child.
With a rush of wind the storm broke.
deafening thunderclap shook the
the flying air. drove a deluge Of great
drop under the hastily arranged COW
ers.
Tn going to get out!" shriiled a
small. scared voice. Il want to be in
house. Mamma, comet"
A tall figure leaped from the piazza
Of the little hotel. showed Ladd aside
| arms.
You shall, baby" he shouted. ITS
a COMPOUNDED shame! You. too, madam!
Let the men take care OF themselves.
Hurry, or you'll be drenched!"
Look out" cried the mother sharply,
| ~. 'he cHho ndu jumped FeckieSsly.
Thank you, sir feared she would
fall Yes. I think It 10 best. I'll be
right in"
She fumbled for a bag. spoke rapidly
to one Of her companions, and spranR
from the steps unassistedf tn run up
the short path after the uncoated fig
ure. strldins swiftly with the little girl
clinglng to his neck.
Ladds loud voice came to her ears
above the din
You're all welcome, I say. I'll he'd
ana reed tie crowd, but that peshy ma :
chine can't lodge at my place. No.
EN- along" '''
Zine specimen you are to run a
MOTEL. sco1ded the man by, the driver.
ITS my house." retorted Ladd.
Wen, Keep 1t and be hanged!
wouldn't put my head under such q
roof. Well be here in the morning,
old curmudgeon. Take care Of Mrs
Dixon. Push her along, Henri! Never
mind speed limits.
A few rattles. a dozen snorting gasps,
and the car dashed away through the
| mud.
Mr.. Ladd. bareheaded and dripping.
gazed after 1t with a satisfied grin.
TOO bad to break up a party" he
xrunted. This storm will last a good
hour. They'll get nice twenty-mile
trip to Jepworth. splashing soft dirt
Well I've got two guests. anyhow. and
tomorrow 1 make my third nick on
old Hanks tombstone
He chuckled his way into the barn.
Lois Dixon sat in the diningroom.
small apartment largely given over to
social usage other than the delights
of the table. A high chair had been
found for Dot. who was assaulting
bread and milk. Seraph Ladd. corpul-
ent aud apologize. talked from the ad-
jaceht kitchen
"Oh, no. my dear" she was saying.
The Tamaracks isn't much of no.
tel Folks stay here for meals. anu
! we take in a few transients and occa-
sionally a regular. The regulars are
mostly men who come to fish and Kill
time. There are good trout In the
tamarack swamp brook, but it's
pesky hole. That man you saw IS q
regular. He has been here week
Il can hardly say / saw him. Every
thing was done SO quickly. I'm quite
dry now, and so Is Dot. Your nus
band doesn't appear to approve Of an'
tomobiles." this last sentence with AN
| aggrieved intonation.
"He doesn't" exclaimed Mrs. Laid
rather warmly. Jason is good-natured
about most other things, but AFTER our
dog was knocked across the renee
(poor old thing, he was only gra"'hs
a bone in the road. Jason swore an
oath never to let a car stop overniEht
again So he boarded UP the shed. Ny!
the way some of these people whis
along a country road IL fearful! your
supper is most ready. Mrs. DIXON, !
take it you are widow woman "e-
| cause A..
yes, I've been widowed for hve
YEARS" Lois interruption we were
simply taking a short pleasure drive.
A slight accident delayed US for an
hour. else we should be at home by
this time. We were making for Jep-
worth. where l have sister
II see." Mrs. Ladd began to place
dishes. 81 sort of wondered.
"A friend of mine and his orothei;
Lois. blushing a tribe. 1T did seem
queer that / was left so unceremonl.
ousIy to the care of strangers pu'
can look out for myself. and l al
ways go prepared for emergencies
StiiL have thought .,.
"Oh. it's the machine. every time.
laughed the old woman Men seem to
fareet What with their wrangling
and hurry for cover. you ana 'o''S
were better out of It..
"Apparently," Mrs. Dixon's tone
WAS Sarcastic. However. to let me
come in. unattended and to leave all
explanation to me when ne knew
| was upset ana tryins " hor
she paused Seraph was eyeing hee
Confederate, 1 must say" observ,
| "a the hostess. Well draw up ana
eat" o, for
Mercy you have cooked enough 'o'
three" Lois laughed outright.
.Its not all for you. my dear. Our
regular hasn't had his supper; He
turned up only a few minutes before
you did I'll tinkle the belt tor MN;
You don't mind company. 90 you
He's real nice man. put y,
mat This trim. Acts sort OF impa-
tient and nervous, too. which isn't MS
- must ask you to introduce me.
then. I'll be glad to thank MIN LOT
rho hell rang softly ir the hall.
ois busying herself with her nap
kin and with Dot. did not glance at
the entering figure. ,,.