Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-04-04
The Woman
Or the Car
BY EIIiof Waller
Copyright, 1905, by Homer sprague


commodate people here, not automo-
biles. First, no shelter for the ma
chine; second, l won't have one round
since my dog was run over; third,
there's no use of talking. Better 60
along
In the sudden darkness Of the sum
mer twilight came a binding fash,
disclosing more clearly the occupants
Of the big touring car-the chauffeur,
gesticulating angrily; two other scowi-
ing men, a woman and a child.
With rush of wind the storm broke.
A deafening thunderclap shook the
earth. The rain, almost horizontal In
the flying air, drove deluge of great
drops under the hastily arranged Gov
ers.
I'm going to get outr' shrilled q
small scared voice. Il want to be in
house! Mamma, conner
A tall figure leaped from the piazza
Of the little hotel showed Laid aside
and held out a pair of shirt sleeyed
arms.
you shall, babyl' he shouted. *its
a COMPOUNDED shamei You. too, mad
am! Let the men take care Of them
selves. Hurry, or you'll be drenchedP'
.Look outr' cried the mother sharply,
for the child had jumped recklessly.
ssThank you, sir. feared she would
fall. Yes, I think it is best. I'll be
right In
She fumbled for bag, spoke rapid
" to one of her companions and sprang
from the step unassisted to run up the
short path after the uncoated figure,
striding swiftly, with the little girl
clinging to his neck.
Ladd's loud voice came to her ears
above the din.
you're all welcome, / say. I'll bed
and feed the crowd, but that pesky ma
chine can't lodge at my place. No.
gents. Sorry, but I've sworn to pass
'em along"
"a fine specimen you are to run
hotel" scolded the man by the driver.
sTt's my house, retorted Laid.
"Well, keep it and be hanged! l
wouldn't put my head under such a
roof. Wen be here In the morning, old
curmudgeon. Take care of Mrs. Dix
on. Push her along, Henri. Never
mind speed limits
A few rattles, a dozen snorting gasps
and the car dashed away through the
mud.
Mr.. Laid, bareheaded and dripping
gazed after it with a satisfied grin.
s1Too bad to break up party" he
grunted. This storm will last good
hour. They'll get nice twenty mile
trip to Jepworth, splashing soft dirt.
Well, I've got two guests, anyhow, and
tomorrow make my third nick on old
Hanks tombstone"
He chuckIed his way into the barn.
Lois Dixon sat in the dining room,
a small apartment largely given over
to social usage other than the delights
of the table. A high chair had been
found for Dot, who was assaulting
bread and milk Seraph Laid, corpu-
lent and apologize. talked from the ad.
jacent Kitchen
"Oh, no, my dear" she was saying.
'The Tamaracks isn't much of a hotel.
Folks stay here for meals, and we take
in a few transients and occasionally a
regular. The regulars are mostly men
who come to fish and kill time. There
are good trout In the tamarack swamp
brook, but it's a pesky hole. That man
you saw is a regular. He has been
here week"
II can hardly say saw him. Every
thing was done SO quickly. I'm quite
dry now, and so is Dot. Your husband
doesn't appear to approve of automo-
biles," this last sentence with an ag-
grieved intonation.
"He doesn'tvs exclaimed Mrs. Laid
rather warmly. Jason is good natur
ed about most other things, but after
our dog was knocked across the fence
| (poor old thing: he was only gnawine
1 a bone In the road Jason swOre ar
oath never to let car stop overnight
again. So he boarded up the shed
My, the way some Of these people
whiz along a country road is fearful
Your supper is most ready, Mrs. Dix
on. | take it you are a widow woman
because
eyes, I've been widowed for fvt
years. Lois interrupted eve wer'
simply taking short pleasure drive
A slight accident delayed US for al
hour, else we should be at home b.
this time We were making for Jep
worth, where / have sister"
II see" Mrs. Ladd began to plac'
4 dishes. II sort Of wondered"
1 "a friend Of mine and his brother
besides the chauffeur" explained Lois
blushing a tride ut did seem quee
that was left so unceremoniously t
the care Of strangers, but can lool
out for myself. and always go pre-
pared for emergencies. Still | SHOULD
have thought
ooh, its the machine every time
laughed the old woman. Men seem t