The Republican journal., 1907-09-05
A MOTOR GAR EL0PfMfNI

1t was not nice thing to do, but Mr..
Basing of Basing's old bank, Stanni-
thorpe, head of the London financial
firm of Basing & Smart, doubtless
thought he was justified, and, indeed,
he had never been prescriptions.
So when his only daughter. in extri-
eating handkerchief from the ridicu-
lous little bag which served her as a
pocket, unwittingly drew forth an i'm.
portant letter, which. unperceived by
her, futtered to the carpet, he prompt
ly placed his foot upon it.
"It's not bit of use pleading for
him." he said. you don't marry that
idle spendthrift if l can help it,
Frank Mayhem is not that" she re-
piled. "You are always saying he can't
do anything, but he can drive motor
car better than anybody l know; he
plays football cricket and golf splen-
didly, and
Mr.. Basing interrupted with snort.
plays. that's just it. Your husband
must know how to work"
The girl left the room without an
other word.
Mr.. Basing smiled grimly and picked
up the letter, which he had no scruple
hUOuI IedulIS. IL Was WEllleu lii d
bold hand and ran as follows:
''My Darling Bessie have got the
license, also your travelling trunk and
At nine o'clock, sharp, I'll be at the
corner of Dean road with the new car
and baggage. l have fixed up every
thing. Well reach Northleigh by ten
and be married by half past. Yours
ever, FRANK.
Mr. Basing thought moment, made
mp his mind with his usual decision and
looked at his watch. 1t was eight
forty-tive o'clock. He could get to the
corner of Dean road in ten minutes.
The car was there, big twenty
horse power, moving slowly, Mayhem
saw him instantly, hesitated moment,
then drove up to the curb and stopped.
Good morning." he said, as cheer
fully as if nothing untoward had hap
pened. Just trying my new car. She's
a beauty, isn't she?"
Looks all right" said Mr.. Basing,
''but I'm no judge. No time for motor
rides as rule, but don't mind if l
have spin this morning.
Mayhem took him aboard remarklng
helplessly:-"Cars are like some peo-
ple-all right when you know them,
but Jolly dangerous when you don't"
$50 l suppose. But my daughter
tells me that you are fine driver, and
if that's the case the risk won't be
great. It's pity she's not going with
u.s. Mr.. Basing added, artfully.
The remark gave Mayhem an idea.
Il wish she were,' he said. "But
you can't go for spin dressed like
that, sir. You want a warmer over
coat, and your tall hat will be picture
before we have covered ten miles"
And he moved the lever
This coat will do we'll and so will
the hat" Mr.. Basing rejoined.
"steady-steady, Mayhew.' he shout
ed. ''If you are going at this rate I'd
sooner get down.
Crouching over the steering wheel,
watching the road narrowly, Mayhem
had been handling or pretending to
handle the levers for at least five minu-
ties. lie took his eyes off the road for
an instant.
Il told you l didn't know the car,
he said, ''and that it was dangerous.
''Why-what's the natter"
Don't talk, please. The car won't
stop
4 load of hay doomed up in the road,
seeming to fill it from side to side. In
an instant the great machine was close
upon it, swerved round it on two
wheels, missing cyclist by four inches
and careened along.
Mr.. Basing groaned. well both be
killed." he cried. whats to be done?
Is 1t safer behind? Can't climb over"
NO, no! Sit still" Mayhem shout
ed back. The rear of the car was pack
ed with baggage-Miss BaSing's trunk,
bearing her initials in four-inch letters,
her dressing case and her own largest
kit bag. There's apparently nothing
for it but to let her go until all the
stop then, right enough. Don't do any
pull you through"
Presently Mayhem spoke again.
"By the way, have you any idea
where we ares"
"Close to Stannithorpe, my native
place Mr.. Basing answered gloomily.
But Mayhem remembered that his
companion was chief proprietor at the
old bank at Stannithrope, and, think
ing his revenge had gone far enough,
he had resolved to bring the car to a
stop at the bank door.
Past few struggling houses they
whizZed at thirty miles an hour, and
soon entered the market street, where
Mayhem made another great show of
slackening speed, this time with sue
cess, for the street was full of people,
excited, clamorous, surging about big
stone building, whose front bore in
large gilt letters the words, "Basing' S
Old Bank"
There's something wrong" Mr..
Basing cried, as soon as he saw the
crowd. eff you could only manage to
pull up you might do me a great ser
vice"
Mayhem nodded and after another
well-simulated struggle with the levers
contrived to bring the car that wouldn't
1top-of its own accord-to stand as
close to the bank as the crowd would
permit.
Mr.. Basing sprang to the ground and
almost into the arms of a venerable
but wildly excited gentleman, who was
flourishing sheaf of kilograms.
Thank goodness you've come, sirv'
he cried breathlessly. GIVE wired your
office dozen times this morning and
got no answer from you or MI. Smart.
Your chief clerk telegraphed that
neither of you was at business and he
could do nothing"
''Tell me in a word what's the mat
ter" he said,