Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-25


listen. Oh, but you have to wind up the box
you just turn that crank around as if it was &
phonograph. That's the only thing you have
to bother about" and she pointed, as she
spoke, to a piece of apparatus exactly like an
ordinary telegraph key, only about six times
as big.
Now we will 60 and have look at the
motor"
She suited the action to the word, and poor
Valentine, in worse daze than ever, followed
her into little room adjoining.
TT may be admitted that the average young
woman, no matter how completely abreast
OF this very. progressive twentieth century, nc
matter II she did possess motor car and q
license to run it herself,-even such young
woman this might well have experienced a
certain tlmdlty confronting the black
greasy looking engine which squatted in ar
oily pit in the middle of that room.
At first glance it bore slight resemblance te
the highly FURNISHED, four-cylinder motor that
operated so smoothly under the hood of he,
automobile. But Christabel had been blessed
FIRST with an 1nqu1rlng mind, and second witt
an indefatigabe instructor. She had never
been content to be told that she must pull this
know why, and before the indefatigable young
man got through with her she did know
why.
Also, when she had stood there the day be-
tore and watched this very motor run, she had
asked young Rogers few questions. 1t is
probable that II O'Brien had overheard those
questions he would not have regarded sending
the wireless operator to the other end of the
island and locking up the station as sufficient
precaution.
And then, no matter if she did feel some mis-
glvlngs, now that she contemplated the motor
IN state OF rest, young Valentine had done
nothing so far to entitle him to be confded in
regarding them.
She INDUCED IN no mere bTavado however
and approached the engine deliberately and
with evident respect She patted the cylinder
da1ntlly; but in friendly way as if to coax it
into making no unnecessary trouble. She
glanced into the cooling tank, bent over and
opened a small cock, then shut it, and walked
over to the wall, where she closed the
switch.
There, | think that's right" she said.
Now, MIR. Valentine, if you will just take hold
OF that handle and turn that wheel round
think it will go"
The operation involved stepping down into
the pit and graphing with the hywheel, which
dr1pped with cylinder oil; but having en-
barked on their reckless career, Valentine saw
no way to stop. So he did her bidding
Chr1sta bells con lecture that the engine would
begin to run on having its fiywheel turned
proved erroneous; it merely coughed, and
stood patiently waiting the next move. The
girl, however, was able to account for the
failure, and did what she now saw she should
have done earlier Then she urged Valentine
to try it again. The result was the same as
before.
oh" said Christabel, Il see Now try,
Mr.. Valentine"
With unimportant variations, this process
was repeated six times Then, with very
lame back and eyes full OF reproachful protest,
the secretary Strengthened up and looked at
her
Really. Miss Beaumont he said,-
" really"
"Oh, of course you are tired" she said con-
trltely. "Cranking up is no joke; but we
haven't begun yet. Let me try"
With something like groan Valentine bent
anew to his task.
THIS time, with a whir, the motor started,
and by further miracle did not grind up
Valentine IN the process. He staggered back
out OF the pit, very white, except for the cylin-
der oil, and rather shaky.
There" said Christabel. Nov we are all
right"
She started to lead the way out of the en-
CINE room, but stopped In the doorway and
held out her hand to him
You are being awfully good to me, Mr..
Valentine she said. "Oh, don't mind cy1in-
der oil. Shake hands!''
Valentine was no longer pale when he fol-
lowed her into the operators room. But her
manner had become brisk and businesslike
again.
That's good thick spark she said point
ing to a savage inch of white flame that was