The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-14
3 An Automobile Lobe Story
CS'O"C'o'3'

, feel more unsomfortable-and for some strange reason I liked him for it. "Very," 1 answered. biting my lip with annoyance T assure you. though, that this is not a ride for the fun of it.'
 "No?" he remarked in civil inquiry. Not at all" | replied sharply. "1 should not capture strange man in this way unless 1 had a very important mo- tive for it"
 q was aware of that" he answered se- riously. Therefore I am the more cu- rious.
 i At that moment we narrowly missed an overthrow from a pile of stones. You appear to be in haste,' he said. q am" I replied. "There is something else. though which makes it impossible for me to slow down. "What?'
 i've got to go fast so that you cannot 1 get out"
 He appeared to consider the matter for moment. As he pondered we skinned past a peddler's cart with hardly a foot 1 to spare.
 For the safety of the public" he said. q might agree not to attempt any es- cape'
 will you" I asked, give me your word of honor not to try to leave the | automobile?"
 "Yes," he answered after an instant's thought q give my parole" I decreased our rate of speed. The fence no longer seemed a ribbon border ing the road. The landscape was no longer blurr in our eyes. like a photo- graph with too quick exposure 1 Now" he said, while with one hand l adjusted my hat and veil, s''If l might be allowed to ask how long the excnr- sion may last. l have an engagement for dinner at eight" You probably will be able to keep {. that" l informed him grimly. '"fhe hour is now half-past four, he said, looking at his watch However, if I am late I can truthfully say that l was unexpectedly and unavoidably de- 1 tained." I comprehended that he was laughing at me and I did not like it.
 You can say to yourself. at least" exclaimed, with asperity, that all that l is happening to you came from your own 1 stupidity and obstinacy and pride. l l thought he appeared even more as- l tonished than he had been when l had l swept down on him like n goddess on a Homers hero and borne him off, if not in l a cloud. at least in an automobile and 1 cloud of dust. q am somewhat bewildered--' ho stammered, startled by my sudden at l tack.
 was delighted. I saw that I had at l last disconeerted this imperturbable per son. 1 felt reinstated in my own opinion. If you had not been so foolish as you l have been and done as you have done 1 there wouldn't have been any trouble.
 What do you know about what I have done or about me?'' he inquired shortly
 "I know all about you
 That" he said, lis certainly more than l know about you"
 Tn this" 1 retorted. q do not matter I am mere intermediary-a means of fate-a simple intermedder, if you 1 like
 Might I ask-'' he inquired.
 No" l continued. q will not listen You have got to hear me. l am going to give you a piece of my mind
 That is very kind,' he murmured
 You have no right to behave as you have. It's outrageous. Because Sally was a little exacting-and perhaps un- reasonable-you should not complain" "Sally?' he said.
 He did not look stupid but the complete absence of understanding which at times l he appeared to have was most eXtraor- 1 dinary.
 "Oh, Miss Sally Osborne" he cried, a 1 gleam of intelligence appearing at last It's her affairs you have taken in hand Aren't you afraid. perhaps-just perhaps you know-afraid of getting them and yourself into muddle?'
 "I can take care of myself" I replied reliantly.
 But if you are making a mistake?"
 You need not think that you can sei me right" l answered abrubtly.
 ''You do not want me to try to do what I can?"
 No" I answered. q take all respon- | sibility on myself"
 "Oh. very well,' he replied with the air of one dismissing a doubt from his mind.
 "I think she was very foolish to say