The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-02-09
THE COLD NUGGET,
Or Uncle Timothy's Automobile Ride.
 (By J. F. Barnes)

Talking about New Years resolu- tions." said Uncle Timothy, q can't say as ever took much stock in them. Every year there's a lot of poor jokes in the papers about New Years resolu- tions; how short lived they generally are and all that sort of thing. For my part don't see what they're begun for, since they so soon are done for, to fall back on old saying.
 Seems to me much better to keep along in a sort of even well balanced, middle-of-the-road sort of way; that a man should pay his bills regular, go to meeting regular. do what little good he can as he goes along, quit writing for the newspapers and all that sort of thing; just resolve once for all to do his level best and let yearly resolutions take care of themselves. At least that is what I did think till just the other day. Now know I've made one New Years resolution all myself. I'm going to try to keep it. too. It's just this way, to wit, namely, and as follows, that I'm going to be little careful how I improve the acquaintance of strangers that I happen to meet with in this vale of joy and tourists.
 "'Twas Tournament day that I met with an adventure that was some excl ting while it lasted, and I don't know, really don't, but what that policeman is looking for me yet; not that twas my fault in any way; of course twas the other fellow, it generally is, but I got pretty well mixed up some way, so much so that you might almost call me an accomplce, or perhaps an accessory after the fact.
 "'Twas this way: I came out from Los Angeles to see the Tournament of Roses parade, and liked it, too, now I tell you; went through it all; saw eve- rything there was to see; finished up with the show at the park and got pretty near finished up financially, for being rather hungry, I thought would lay in d few sandwiches and some cof- fee. had no idea that provisions cost so much in Paradena why, l owed the man a dollar before had fairly start ed in, and before I was through-well never mind, less said soonest mended; 'tis a painful subject to look back to.
 "Well, the show being over l thought had better be getting home again; but it seemed like everybody else had the same idea in their heads.
 Some cars went one way, some went another way, but they was all filled to overnowing; there wasn't even a chance to stand on the step as far as could sec So thought I'd wait lit tie while till some of the crowd was carried off. and was walking along looking for a good place to sit down out of the wind. when came across a fellow with an automobile that seemed to be out of fix some way.
 Not having anything to do, I asked him if I could be of any help to him He seemed a real nice chap, and he said yes, he's be very glad if I'd catch hold and help do some things he couldn't do alone very well. So I did so, and after while we got it in run ming order again and it seemed to work
 
 fine. 583 r
 Well, when he was ready to start he asked me where, was going, anc | couldn't he give one a lift, l said Los Angeles; he saidsi that was where he was aiming for,.and for me to get in and come along,
 Tt really seemed a good chance, fai better than any crowded, rattly car and was glad enough to get the invi- talion So I climbed in and we set forth. qt
 "Bu, my. my! my! how that fellow did drive: seemed to me faster thar any express train. I can't say just which way we went, but pretty quich we passed whole lot of vehicles and people. and a policeman he waved his hand at us, pulled out his watch ant seemed to be trying to get our number
 "But, rshawl he couldn't get oui number. looked over the back of the machine to see if twas on and coming; | twas there all right, but twas flying straight out behin5 just like the coat 1 tails of a man running for dear life; couldn't anybody on the side of the road see anything but just the edge of 1 it; you'd have to be up in a balloon to read that number.
 Well, we hummed along and was sorry enough that I ever come; wished I was out and safe and sound some where on dry land told the fellow so; tried to make him stop or anyways slow up SOS I could hop out. but he only laughed. said the 'commentatorr- | believe that's what he called it-was out of order and couldn't stop; said he would stop soon as he could but he guessed I'd have to hold on a spell longer.
 "Of course I didn't know what the commentator was; always s'posed a commentator was man who wrote things like Barnes Notes,' for in stance; never knew till some real good hard, high hill
 'But after that we went some slower and finally got down to quite a reason able jog Twas really beginning to be enjoyable even though twas not quite so strenuous as at first.
 Coming to the city we went slow and nice through the crowded streets and after a while we come to the gar. age where the fellow had hired the ma chine; we drove in and got out. thanked him kindly, told him I'd had q real nice time. Of course didn't wan to hurt his feelings by speaking of the trouble we'd had with that commenta- tor, and I was going away when he says:
 "Oh. I say, I wonder if you couldn't lend me ten dollars; that's the charge for the machine, and I reckon I must