Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-14

Il could hire a team at some farm
house"
But the delay. It's so late already
Undeniably late: 1 O'Clock at the
earliest. A thought longer Maitland hung
in lack Of purpose. then without a word
to wade out.
"What do you mean to do?" she cried.
surprised.
''See what's the trouble he called
back. II know bit about motors Per-
haps-''
'"Then-but why
She stopped, and Maitland forbore to
encourage her to round out her question.
1t was no difficult matter to supply the
missing words. Why had he not thought
of investigating the motor before insist
ing that he must carry her ashore?
The humiliating conviction forced it
self upon him that he was not figuring to
great advantage in this adventure Dis
tinctly a humiliating sensation to one
who ordinarily was by way Of having a
fine conceit of himself. 1t requires n
certain amount of egotism to enable one
to play the exquisite to ones personal
satisfaction: Maitland had enjoyed the
possession Of that certain amount: there
tofore his approval of self had been pass
ably entire. Now-he could not deny
the bOor had shown up through the polish
Of the beau.
Intolerable thought. Cad" exclaimed
hasty jumping at cOnclusionS-if he had
not chosen to believe a young and charm
ing girl identical with an-an adventures,
this thing had not happened and he had
still retained his own goodwill. For one
little moment he despised himself heart
fly-one little moment of clear insight into
self was his. And forthwith he began to
mediate apologies. formulating phrases
designed to prove adequate without
sounding exaggerated and instncere.
By this time he had reached the car,
and-thrOugh sheer laundering luck-at
once stumbled upon the seat of trouble, a
clQgged valve in the carbureter. No seri-
Gus matter; with the assistance OF re-
pair kit more than commonly complete.
he had the valve clear in jiffy.
News of this triumph he shouted to the
girl. receiving in reply an "Oh, thank
your so fervently grateful that he felt
more guilty than ever.
Illuminating unhappily on the cud of
contemplated abasement. he waded round
the car. satisfying himself that there was
nothing else out of gear. and appre-
hensively cranked up. Whereupon the
motor began to hum contentedly; all was
well. Flushed with this success. Matt
land climbed aboard and opened the
then. with swish. a gurgle and watery
whoosh. it surged forward. up, out Of the
river. calamity up the slope.
At the top the amateur chauffeur shut
down the throttle and jumped out. turn
ing to face the girl. She was by the step
almost before lie could offer a hand to
help her in, and as she paused to render
him his due need of thanks. it became
evident that she harbored little If any re-
sentiment: eyes shining, face aglow with
gratitude, she dropped him a drOll but
graceful little curtsey.
-"You are too good!" she declared with
spirit. How can 1 thank your
'You might" he suggested, looking
height. give me a bit of a lift-just a
couple Of miles up the road. Though. -
he supplemented. eagerly. 'if you'd really
prefer. I should be only too happy to
drive the car home for your
Two miles. did you say?"
He fancied something odd in her tone
besides. the question was superfluous
His eyes informed with puzzlement. he
replied: Why: yes-that much more OF
less. / live
give you the lift-only too glad But as
for your taking me home at this hour,
can't hear of that
Besides. what would people say?" she
countered. obstinately. ooh. no." she de-
cided. and he felt that from this deci-
sion there would be no appeal: 81
couldn't think of interfering with your
arrangements
Her eyes held his for a single instant,
wildering light from out a face schooled
to gravity. Maitland experienced a SEN
sation of having grasped after and
missed a subtlety of allusion; his wits,
keen as they were. recoiled, baffied by
her finesse And the more he OWNED
that she was playing with him. as an ex-
perienced swordsman might play with an
impertnent novice, the denser his confu-
sion grew.
But I have no arrangements-' he
stammered.
"Don't!' she insisted-as much as to
say that he was fabricating and she
knew 1t! 1--WE must hurry you know, be-
cause There. I've dropped my hand
kerchief! BY the tree. there. Do you
mind
"Of course not He set off swiftly to-
ward the point indicated, but on reaching
it cast about vainly for anything in the
nature of a handkerchief. In the midst
of which futile quest a change of tempo
in the motors impatient drumming sur
prised him.
Startled. he looked up. Too late: the
girl was in the seat, the car in motion
already some yards from the point at
which he had left it. Dismayed. he strobe
forward. raising his voice in perturbed
expostulatiOn.
Butt say"
Over the rear Of the seat a gray
gauntlet was waved at him, as tantaliz-
ing as the hooking laugh that came to
his ears.
this mOnStrosity of ingratitude.
The machine gathered impetus, draw
ing swiftly away. Yet in the stiffness
the farewell of the gray girl came to him
very clearly.
and good-bye-Handsome DAM
(To be continued tomorrow