The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-01-17
THE NAMING OF
A MOTOR-CAR
BY EDGAR TURNER AND REcI-
MAID HOLDER


, Z
what to call her? that's the ques.
ton, said Branson, the director OF
the Geological gardens as he walked
round his new IL horsepower motor,
car at the gate, admiring her build
and indicating her strong points here
and there.
"Call her Rattiesnake. or Eagle or
Bison suggested. Regard her as
another strange creature added to
your collection
None OF those names exactly de-
scribes l6 horsepower he objected.
Indeed, | walked through the gardens
this morning, from the ostriches to the
tortoses, without finding just the
thing wanted"
DIR. Branson's house, where | was
spending a short holiday was on the
outskirts OF the gardens, facing the
enclrcling road, and from behind the
| heavy banks OF foliage AT the back we
could hear the growing chorus OF the
! denizens of the zoo, A lion roared ma
! jes tically. jackals bayed at the full
moon rising above the tree-tops; and
the hyaenas laughed again With the
sound of the primeyal forest in our
ears, the motor throbbing with pent
energy seemed strangely unreal.
no, I'm hanged if know what to
call her" said Branson after BRIEF,
reflective silence. Here, let's take
spin round the circle at high speed,
There's no one about, and so miles
an hour might inspire us with
name"
Sorry. Afraid | can't come" re-
piled. 81 want to catch the late mail,
and have only quarter of an hour 10
do it in"
"All right" he said, getting in, see
you later And the car started round
the circle in search of name.
ran up to the house and in a few
minutes finished my letter. Then,
wheeling out my bicycle. | mounted
and set off for the post office AS |
passed along the outer wall Of the gar
dens, | heard a connection among the
ducks, accompanied by loud shouts.
What was the matter? Possibly, /
thought, some keepers chasing q pred
atory dog that had no right in the
zoo And, as the shouting soon ceased,
/ assumed that they had successfully
scared the marauder away from the
duck ponds.
As | drew near a large acacia shad-
owing the path outside the wall, /
concluded that n.y. guess was correct,
for / saw huge dog leap over on 10
the roadside and stand in the shadow
watching my approach. He appeared
to be one of those massive Great Dane
brutes, but could not see him very
distinctly.
When | drew level with the acacia,
| clicked my fingers and said gary
t.IIalln hnyl After the ducks, Ell
For a moment | thought he liked my
pleasant greeting. But only for a mo-
ment. Then my heart stood still and
my hair rose on my head for mighty
roar came from the animals throat,
and with a tremendous bound he
launched himself in the air at me.
InyountariIy / made sudden squirt
TO escape the spring, and glanclng
over my shoulder. saw the huge beast
descending. groaned as J heard the
heavy fall of his feet a little way be- |
hind my back wheel. That momentary
glance showed me that it was say.
age lion, and not a dog that was at |
my heels.
While he pulled himself together |
after his spring, put on speed and /
gained a few yaros. But he followed /
swiftly And presently there was an.
other roar, and l knew he was in the |
air a second time Thinking that in a
second his sharp claws would be in
my shoulders. nearly rolled off the
bicycle with terror Again, however
he fell short, and again [ sprinted for
dear life.
He followed at = gallop and then
spraug once more. The moments
while he was in the air seemed hours.
and when his four paws thudded on
the road again, | felt to my horror |
that ne had alighted little nearer 10
ne than before. ! bent over the handle
bars and strOve 20 increase my speed
but my legs were weak and trembling !
and could not ! heard his angry
growls and quick breath as he gal /
lnped again. and ! expected presently
10 hear bis roar before his next spring.
And a, that roar felt ] should col
lapse. T. is an awful sound when it is
hard on your heels.
Again he sprang-this time with q
short smart Cold thrills shot down
my bach a. ! spur.cd forward. The
snap of his jaws sounded not two
yards OF my back wheel and a growi
.f bamed rage spoke Of his disap
eotamc1t
Hu. : was now beginning to collect
uF wits. aud my legs were getting
--u again / rc solvcl that az the
selt grinz { would sHc1e from thc
.el-e- OF The road ~ The righthaPs
iLe and So possibly cvadc him.
-auc. fels him rnzaiag through tho
els 1rhlad nae. and swe.red sharply
Sc sooner had { done 30 than hg ]
cited almost abrc85t oi mo ca the
-seE D had just isu. His bara a1ci
aarl we're terrible I'D near.
Keeping ca The e. lc-s ris1 --hsnl :
fde 0f the road 6 Increased Joy pace I
he ion foll--t # q rails1 less thar f
.aIfadczen wards beaI1I Suddenly q
szv fights M a ....i1. 81. iounI I