The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-09
SKIPPER OFTHEMOTORLAUNCH
JOHNNY SEEMED TO BE IT. BUV
TEE GIRL WON OUT.
An Attempt TO Justify the Possession OF
Nautical Cap and Trousers -NIutiny
or the Gasoline EDgfne-rhe Girl Knew
Something About Autos b Helped.

VIZ N@oshNAO ~ ht SIh INV
Something About Autos That Helped.
He was Johnny of bis yacht-the sans
Johnny that got his Q yachting cap
and pants last season and informed his
acquaintance that his yacht wouldn't b.
finished for him until next season.
But he felt that he should do something
TO justify his possession of the cap ana
trousers. So he engaged a gasolene rGuns1
got the boatman who owned 1t to show
him how TO start and stop it and invited
a girl from one of the summer hotels to
| go out or the bay for a spin.
: At the appointed hour Johnny in the
launch. and also in his yachting cap and
trousers. ran up to the foat in front Of
J the hotel and made a landing that did
no further damage than making a dent
IN the cutwater of the boat. He CALAMITY
assisted the girl into the launch, hitched
up his trousers in true nautical fashion,
cranked the engine and was on.
Inc little machine was adjusted to run
all right, but Johnny wanted TO display
his command OF g~asolene engines. He
opened the cylinder relief cock and let the
! engine spit for a few revolutions before
closing 1t. Then he tried the petcock on
the water piping. nodded wisely and said
she was getting circulation all right.
linen ne ventured further and began
monSeying with the needle valve of the
carbuTetor. By this time the launch was
on the Point, and the tide was running sea-
ward about four miles on hour The clear
ring OF the exhaust changed to a mushy
sound and. the engine labored. Johnny
tried 10 turn bHck the needle valve TO the
position it was In before he disturbed Il.
The engine let out a violent pop. the after
part Of the boat was filed with blue smoke
and tho launch stopped.
Jobnny wasNfEbly disturbed. He opened
the needle valve and began cranking the
engine desperately. The boat was drifting
out on the tide. A little further out, where
the wind from around the Point swept
across the tide, there was a choppy sea.
Johnny had seen this. He put more
strength into his crankinG. and perspira-
ten aiTeamed from his forehead.
Another launch bound up the bay came
along. Her occupants had seen that Johnny
was in trouble. and when she was within
easy speaking distance S~be.Stopped and the
man AT the wheel cAlled out:
Want a tow"
Johnny was almost in a state of collapse
by this time, and seemed to be about TO
accept the Offer with profound gratitude,
when the girl replied:
81 hardly think it is necessary. sir, but
il you viii kindly stand by for a few minutes
you will do US q favor"
I BY this time the tide had brought the
TNO lluliGneS Close tOpSt0eT ana t1eY were
drifting ALONGSIDE each other. Johnny
sat helpless, looking at the engine. The
girl said to him
do YOU mind if | try II for a while. Mr..
SUMNER 10y. while YOU are resting7 I.
have had quite "A lot of experience with
our auto
Johnny moved ont Of the way and famed
his face with his yachting cap. At the
sacrifice of q pair of gloves, the girl opened
the relief cock, Prasped the rim of the fly
.-I-,N - ,~wAN Il Nw~Ar ,.,fs WAA- !.
BEGAN TO hlow.
II think she is flooded she said, az she
closed the needle valve. 'and Won are al
ready tired ont with turning the wheel.
But there is an easier way II there is a m VI
wrench in the boat
Johnny opened the too k9kerand handed
out a wrench. The girl looHened the
wire from the spark plug. removed the
, plug, frightened up the wire and grounded
the plug on the edge of the tap in the
cylinder head. Johnny was taking an in
terest in the doings and was looking over
her shoulders.
Look cut for your face said the girl.
Theu she closed the switch and turned
the wheel over to the sparkling point. With
the first Jump of current in the plug there
| came q puf from the cylinder that nearly
sent johnny over backward. and a burst ~
yellow flame shot out.
something dOingt" exclaimed Johnny,
as he moved back and seemed to be meHsur-
ing the distance to the other launch.
The girl watched the flame until il died
out. Then she gave the hywheel another
turn. and there w~as.anotber though smaller
puff and burst of fame. A third turn pro-
duced no Pyrptechnics. Replacing the plug
and giving the needle valve a half turn
open. the girl stepped back and said
Now, suppose YOU try her with the
crank. Mr.. SummeTboy."
Johnny Qbeyed. and the engine began 10
hum. Asthp bunch was getting headway
the girl said to those in the other boat
THANK you very much for waiting, va
might have greatly needed your help"