The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-05-10

- yesterday"
"Oh. yes; big touring car? That's
his old Buying ths one, renting it, sup
pose. He's developed acute motormania."
Il don't know how he had enough money!
We'll, it doesn't take all the money in the world,
nowadays. to buy auto. He's got chauffeur,
But though everyone doubted Perkins ability
to support tourng-car even larger than his fam
lily, doubted for a moment that he owned
the car in which he rode daily. Yet the fact was,
he didn't the spark-plug, for Perkins
"joy-rider the modern manifesto
ton of the dead beat
Perkins fell into this niquitous practice
through envy Of his neighbour Klocke. who was the
proud owner of 30-h.p., and the downward path
was smooth and simple asphalt grade
kocke had more money than Perkins, yet the
rivalry between the two families so great
that Mrs. Klocke never sported gorgeous
feather than Mrs. Perkins-for more than two
days; and therefore when Klocke bought an auto
mobile the Perkins family tempted and it fell.
1t night about week after Klocke made
his purchase that Mrs. Perkins sighed SO bitterly
that her husband looked up quickly his after
dinner newspaper.
What is it. love- he quered Kocke ad-
dressed his wife simply, dear.
Il wondering, Papa Perkins, tiff
coudn an automobile for a ride Sunday"
she ventured laying stress upon her pronunciation
OF automobilI'-after the manner of Mrs. Klocke.
why, why, love ln--ln our clrCumS tanCeS 1t
they charge twenty-five dollars a day." apologized
her husband, evading his wife's direct gaze
"You know, Papa Perkins, there are others in
no better circumstances than We who have auto
mobiles of their very own" emphasized Mrs. Per-
kins.
Il daresay; yes | daresay,'' he responded
ily, resuming his newspaper.
"WelI, then. why IN the name Of"
Bzzzzz- Bzzzzz-
BzzzzZ
IN answer It. love-" Interrupted the head Of
the and he a q han
giving for his sudden delivery, he took up the
receiver
ted hands. She was only in a way appeased.
Her husbands voice at the phone reused her
from her reVcre---she listened-she listened more
1ntenty; smile began to play about the cor
ners OF her mouth the nervous fingers Strengthened
"joW spread cCmplacently her countenance,
ing into smile that endured.
', hen Perkins hung up the receiver he turned
With triumphant laugh which was echoed by an
exclamation of delight from his wife, who rushed
to his side and shaking him by the shoulders
so shall have the ride, after all" she cried.
"Oh, won it be splendid to have an automobile
for whole day."
Yes, love, it will be great, beamed Perkins.
'Wder, the man who sold klocko his machine.
and far better machine than the he sold
1Nocke. Hehe took klockc out every day for
about three weeks before he finally sold him the
machine. Maybe he'll do the same with
"Oh-hhh, oh-hhh. wouldn't il be just-just
heavenly to have an automobile every day. said
l\pcke's. too"
1t won't be so bad" unused Mr.. Perkins Guess
my family can ride in auto we'll Klockes
And it won cost me cent either, that's the beau
ty OF the whole thing; it was Wilder's invitation
and : didn't even have to say that was thinking
pl buying
Sunday and so did Wilder; in a huge puff
ing touring Mrs Perkins swept out of the
house IN stunning auto veil, carrying long wrap
AM automobile coat and sprang magnificently in
to the machine. Her husband followed with the
three little Perkinses.
t wonderful ride They met everybody
they knew and Mrs. Perkins bowed to her Boule-
ward friends with the slight condesccnsion of the
E.oorist. But it was not until they were on their
way home that the full triumph of the day
realiz,d They met the Klocke family, whose
mouths simultaneously opened in amazement
the PcrkinsCs passed.
What a dinky little machine Klockes is" said
Mrs Perkins,
The following day Wilder sent the same ma
chine around to take Mr.. Perkins down the
office. His wife accompanied him and, after drop
ping Perkins. made tour of the shopping dis
triCt stopped every possible store although
she did not purchase anything
Before the week was over nearly every auto
dealer town mad noticed that Wilde" trying
TO sell a new customer, and every day different
the willing Perkins and his than willing wife
fact entered into the spirit of a
rea! "Jo%-rider with more enthusiasm than did
Mrs. Perkins.
Perkins. too intoxicated with the expert
ence ltc patrOnzed the various chaufeurs who
were around to him, and every night he dclil-
Grated in his office for ten minutes trying to decide
IN which OF the machines that stood by the curb
he should ride home.
For three weeks this state of affairs continued.
Several auto statesmen were disguised by Perkins
persstency in not making a choice, and departed
from the ranks. Others hung out forcing their
cars upon him. Among these was Wilder. who
succeeded in getting the prospective customer to
ride in his machine every day; and his too,
the preference of Mrs. Perkins-beng of the
make kloCke 's-Only larger.
1t the bulldog tenaCity in Wilder which
caused the neighbors to believe that Perkins had
really bought machine. and that the chauffeur
drew his pay from the recognized owner.
Indeed, it had all about easily that Per-
knS almost expected raise in salary in recOgni-
ton of his prominence in the motor world.
Let's take the N.oCkes out riding in Wilder's
machine" Mrs Perkins suggested day; they
think it ours and they know its better than their
own. 1t Will be such fun. You know, they just
can't refuse. for have often accepted invita-
tionS to ride in their car" The madness still
on Perkins. and ne greeted the idea with enthus-
ia2n Consequently the KloCkes were invited and
accepted and Wilder called up and requested
to send his machine and chauffeur the next da- -
wall party.