The silver messenger., 1907-03-12

rapturously. II can no longer
"AIr. Esl,ridgel" she cried. Don't
you see where we are going?"
"If Crandall wins, don't care where
we go. All, Nelly, Nelly, Nell"
LET me gol Are you going stark,
staring mad?"
Then it is Crandall," groaned
George, dropping hand and hope ap-
parently together. "Crandall and this
internal auto. wish he was in it and
we were out of it and it was taking
him where we seem to be going"
He gazed alphabetically at the sea
while Miss Hearst, seriously alarmed,
watched their progress towards the
kissing wavelets crawling up the
sands Right and left the broad beach
opened grandly out, with here and
there cottage along the dunes and a
distant hotel fronting long iron pier
outlined against the horizon. There
were sundry sails far out at sea;
few bathers and an occasional prom
enader dotted the sands here and
there.
why don't you help me?" urged
Helen, imploringly.
What's the use? Call on Gran
dali"
IF he were here he would help.
Something must be wrong"
Everything is wrong" This gloom
lily. "If Crandall really were here now
would you-er-"
''No, wouldn't. Help me to stop it,
pl-e-a-s-e dol"
The last low sand ridge had been
passed and they were gliding over the
smooth, hard, wet beach toward the
water. IIskridge furtively did some
thing with his foot, unseen by Helen,
and the auto stopped.
Have | really no hope?" he asked,
lugubriously, as she sighed in relief.
after all my months of devotion"
"Months!" Her rosy lips curled in
credulously. "Six weeks ago 1 hardly
knew you-oh, George!-why don't it
turn as well as stop?"
Perhaps it needs Crandall, being a
Crandall machine"
you're just dreadful to-day" Hell
en-, indignant, was about to leap out
when Eskridge again made a furtive
move and the auto again started for
ward like thing of life.
She was thrown back into his arms
and her eyes sparkled angrily; but
fear once more became dominant, for
the machine sped toward the sea as
if determined to drown them both.
I'm going to jump" she cried
nervously.
And break your pretty neck? No;
let's drown. It's easier"
Eskridge folded his arms as if tc
await the inevitable. "Crandall will
hypnotize another girl, and"
Il wish he was here to manage this
auto"
II don't. If you won't have me, yor
shall not have him" The hiss of tn,
incoming tide mingled with his tones
1--WE will die together"
Miss Hearst shuddered; vet, had she
been afoot, clad in her latest love o.
bathing gown, she might have en-
joyed the liquid swirl that now licked
the pneumatic tires. Why she did no
boldly leap out she hardly knew. Die
fear restrain her-or George?
As the water deepened the mobiI,
moved more slowly, yet it neithe
stopped nor turned. An incoming
wave, curling upward in a greenish
graceful, menacing way, made he
breathe quickly and she looked a
Eslridge. Ye gods! He was, O.
seemed to be, preparing to light
cigarette. Was this despair. idiocy o
sheer brayado? Handsome he Ger
CHI ho., Il !, 4 L.,
sidered him so before. Perhaps hi
indomitable composure at such
crisis forced sudden admiration
upon her and banished the image o
Crandall forever.
At any rate, as the whitening roare
in front poised itself over the dash
board, Helen uttered a faint shriel
and threw her arms around George
scattering his cigarettes.
Save mel" she implored.
'rhen you do love me, even thoug
l don't run an auto?"
"Y-ye-s!" The shower bath was de
scending and she closed her eye:
"Ugh-ow!"
"And you don't care for CrandaIl? +?
pursued George, inexorably.
"No-ohl Isn't this horrible?"
ITS blissful, ecstatic. One kis:
dear. Now-open your eyes"
The auto was turning, the wave wa
receding, and Eskridge, with hand an
foot deftly employed, was guiding he
back to dry. land and safety.
'Why-you do know how?" sh
screamed, whereat the impudent do
actually grinned; yet she could nc
again grow angry, try as she might.
George, somehow, seemed better i
spite of it all, though they were hall
drenched and had doubtless shocke
more than one distant onlooker b
these proceedings. AS they scorehe
back up the avenue, whom should the
see but Crandall himself on his wa
from the railroad depot. Geore
looked at her inquiringly.
Don't STOP" she whispered. :
know I'm sight to behold"
II believe you were expecting him
said Eskridge, as Crandall looked af
er them obviously.
She pinched his arm and the
laughed like children laugh.