The Topeka state journal., 1906-06-13
TIE EVENING STORY
For sale Cheap


down here to see me The old folks
viii make you welcome. and my sister
Annette, of whom you have heard me
speak, is home now. Arrange to stay
over Sunday with u.s. Wen have q
bully time
Young Henderson was still living
with his parents at their country house
on Long Island, and had been chummy
with the two men during his days in
college. The invitation was alluring-
Each of the sophs had taken lessons
in running an auto, the Long Island
roads were known to be good, and at
the end of the run was a handsome
girl, as they knew by photograph
they had seen.
1t was a rare chance to get out of
town and do a lot of other things be-
sides, and on a certain Saturday
morning of a certain June an auto
might have been seen speeding two
rather hilarious young men up. the
been particular when they went to hire
the machine. They confessed to being
timid about speed, but felt perfectly
confident on all other points, and after
teal way he had placed them in
charge.
The destination was thirty miles
from Brooklyn, but at a steady jog
this might have been covered by noon
had not something happened to pre-
vent.
AS they were passing through ia
maica, the journey only just begun,
handsome young lady emerged from
house, stepped into a steam runabout,
and acting as her own chauffeur,
started off at a fast clip.
''By George. but did you ever see
anything to compare with her!
gasped young Weaver, who was noted
as impressionable.
"Handsonest girl I ever saw was
HGnIW
Did you notice that look she threw
at me?"
1T was meant for me-"
''You go on. Say, I'd give all ex-
estate to know that girl What eyesi
What hair! As her eyes looked into
mine for an instant +
"She was looking into mine, and
there was a roguish, defiant look in
them as il she dared US to follow her.
''By George, but come to think Of it,
we ought to follow her anyhow. No
woman has any business driving a ma
chine. Suppose tire comes off or any
thing breaks. She may meet train at
a crossing, run into a ditch or have
something else happen If we are on
hand we can assist
More speed was put on to decrease
the distance, and the young lady looked
back she heard the chugging of the
big machine.
"she's surely flirting with mer' CUR
gled young Weaver as he clasped his
hands.
You dolt!" replied young Knowlton.
"She doesn't know that you are on
earth Isn't she skimming along pretty
fast?'
"seems to me she's let out a link This
is faster than we ever drove before, but
We've got to take chances or lose that
girl
The girl in the runabout had several
4 Of IN C1T7e &
that the two young men behind her
were new to the sport. Another was
that they had left the direct road in
order to follow her. The third was that
she would be revenged on them. She
ratified along at a high speed for a
mile. and could see without turning her
head too much that the big machine
was Wobbling badly and being driven
by a trembling hand. On coming to
where the highway separated to unite
a quarter of a mile further on, she chose
the toughest way. The lightweight
runabout seemed to sail over the humps
and ruts and washouts, while the larger
machine had to slow down and bump
its way along.
IF we lose her I'll commit suicide!"
said young Weaver, as he hung on for
dear life and grew paler every minute
Don't you fear that will lose her.
grimly replied Knowlton. This is
rather bumpy, but I'll stand ten miles
of it for another look from those blue
eyes"
Her bIeck eyes, you mean"
Il mean blue. If I ever take you out
into the country again. may I be
hanged
Ditto. Because a handsome girl takes
it into her head to hirt with me
bit"
Put the rest was lost in the bump
ing. The girl could have dropped them
on that bit Of road, but she made no
effort. When they debouched into the
mainroad she was in sight and jogging
along at an easy pace. She had led
them seven or eight miles out OF their
road before they realized it. Each was
Wishing the other would throw out a
hint about abandoning the chase when
the runabout turned into a highway
that was not macadamized. It was
heavy with sand, and the auto groaned
and complained as it made the steep
hills.
III she wasn't the best looking girl
If she hadn't dared us to follow
her" replied Weaver.
Then there was a scream ahead of
them and a tire was seen to leave one
of the wheels Of the runabout and the
machine to come to a standstill.
.'Ye gods. but what luck for mel
whispered Weaver.
SAY, now, If you don't let me do all
the talking I'll break your neckl" re-
piled Knowlton.
When the auto came up the girl was
down on her feet inspecting damages.
It 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 it 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-
rassed 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 forgot
until afterwards. They gave their
names to her, but she did not recipro-
cate. 1t was decided that the damaged
machine must be drawn to the side of