The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-09-27
Selett story.
TARRY.
BY HELEN MATHERS.

BY HELEN MATHERs.
I could see nothing, hear nothing, as !
waited in the appalling stiffness for them
to come-for come this way they must.
Before me stretched the long, white
road, perfectly straight line ruled be-
tween strips of green, and empty of living
creature or obstacle Of any kind. What a
road for racing; how impossible to come up
with anything that had got the start
Suddenly came low droning like that of
| a humble bee close at hand, tinny speck
appeared over the edge of the world, and
in the same instant as it seemed to me)
Napier car went roaring by in whirl OF
dust, and I caught lightning glimpse OF
it's two crouching occupants, their white
overalIs grotesque and distended by the
tearing wind.
Like an apparition, it had come, it had
gone I could almost have doubted If 1t
had ever been there had it not left on my
mind an impression at once amazing and
intoxicaling-intoxicating, as illustrates
human possibilities applied to locomotion;
amazing, that a man should have the nerve
and skill to control so enormous projec-
tile.
But Major Collingwood had nerve
enough for anything, even to running away
with my sweetheart, for it was larry who
sat beside him, and whose attitude, as she
flashed past, gave me the impression Of
fear.
Yet they were guests in the same house.
What was there out of the way in their
having trip before breakfast in the new
car, of which the man was so proud, and
that had only Just arrived? Well enough
[ knew how women with diseased nerves,
living only for excitement, found fierce
JOY in these mad rides, courting danger as
FLIP to their jaded senses; but Tarry was
not one of that sort, or she had not been
so dear to me and-others. That Major
Collingwood had abducted her, was NOR
ally certain, yet there stood I like clod
and fool by the dusty hedge, not know
ing what should do next, and knowing
well enough that whatever I did I could
not come up with motor car that was
going at the rate of eighty miles an hour.
Across the fields showed the gables of
the house at which I was staying, and to
which, at s O clock that morning, had
come wire which had planted me here in
the high road, to see what I should see
and [ had seen it.
"Not breakfast = cried a voice from
the other side of the hedge, "and all to see
your beloved flash by which Dolf Colling-
wood Fastest pace l ever saw-but the
roads about here heavens for mo-
tors
elbow could you possibly tell who the
woman wasp inquired, jealous for her
honor
''Because larry is so pretty you know
her in the dark, said my host, equally,
as he lit cigar. "She is almost the last
survival of the old delightful type of wo-
man that has not lost its femininity by
over-indulgence in outdoor pursuits and
masculine vices. Lord, you may walk the
London streets for days and see tons of
well grown, aggressive women, and not
one really pretty girl like larry among
'em all! But what's the trouble? They
are merely out for a morning scamper. "
'Look here" [ said, and gave him the
wire I had received that morning.
He muttered over its contents halt
aloud.
"Collingwood. taking Miss Wellborn
out on racing car tomorrow between 8 and
8. Means mischief. Look out for them.
London road, d,-Toby.'
cup to his tricks again, said Bob,
frowning. "He forgot you were staying
here; also reckoned without Toby. But
"arry's as straight as die, and it S broad
daylight, man. He can't drag her by her
bonny brown locks to his lair without some
body seeing him.
ssTarry is rich,' said briefly. "Col-
lingwood is poor and-desperate. Toby
is no fool. Depend upon it, he did not
warn me without reason. Will you lend
me horse?'
"With which to catch Napier doing
its eighty miles an hour?'
"Accidents happen-they must slow
down at the villages. Tarry may be able
to attract attention to her plight-ffty
things may happen. Now will you tell
them to saddle horse, and I'll get Elsa
to give me some breakfast?'
Bob went off to the stables, and Elsa
poured out my tea, and blamed me fol
leaving Tarry alone in house where Ma
for Collingwood also was a guest.
"Didn't you and Bob beg me to come
over for couple of days?' | began, in
dignantly, "and amt I assure of larry as
she is of me?'
She looked comical at that, and told me
never to be sure of woman, and thought
it was awfully smart of Toby to wire me,
and wondered how he got the tip.
"Collingwood let out something in his
cups, expect; it's the only time he is
ever known to speak the truth. y
She nodded.
serhat is the secret of his influence ovel
us women,'' she said, "that he never lets
us see ourselves as we really are, only as
we think we are-and he is genuinely in
love with Tarry, quite apart from hei
money. You don't think y She put
her impertinent head on one side, and
L V,ck