The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1908-07-24

Steam from several pipes enveloped II,
and black smoke followed in an in
slant, as naphtha from the tank leaked
to the woodwork and caught fire.
The victor surveyed the wreck
calmly. His honor was indicated.
And just then most unpleasant
sound made him turn his head. I'm
mistakably it was the buzz of a flying
bullet not ten feet from his ear. He
heard a report, and a second shot
whizzed over him. Coming full speed
down the road was another motor car,
lower and blacker than the first, and
every few seconds there was a fash
and a crack and a splash of water in
the lake. "Mein Colt, wer hab ich
geschlagen?" screamed Baumgarten
and jumped precipitately overheard
into the shallow water. Wildly he
foundered through the marsh grass,
toward the road, and as he went he
fumbled for his handkerchief and.
finding it, waved the white rag as a
flag of truce. At this spectacle, Des-
jardins pulled back the lever and
stopped short. Then he saw the col
umn OF smoke in the road ahead,
jumped down and ran as fast as he
could to the succor of the unfortunate
chauffeur. 1t did not occur to him that
he could get there more quickly by
riding.
When he was hundred yards away
and Baumgarten 200, the fuel tank
roar, and the whole roadway seemed
to be afire. Both men groaned with
horror, but kept on running. THE
man is now dead, whoever he may be-"
they said to themselves.
Then Desjardins fell sprawling, and
as he picked himself up, looked to see
what he had tripped over. 1t was a
foot, most diminutive foot in a tan
leather boot, and he saw that II be-
longed TO a young woman who was
lying with her head and shoulders in
the roadside ditch. Shouting wildly
to Baumgarten, he carried the pros
trate form TO the soft grass, and with
his cap began to dash water on the
already dripping face. the features of
which were concealed by a visor and
goggles which had not become dis
lodged even in the explosion.
Suddenly the Frenchman stopped
still, as a great idea took possession
of him. "Baumgarten, Baumgarten,"
he shouted. EFT ees re Lady Laura.
For love of me she hat taken my
place. She love me so mooch she take
herself re bullets Eat ware meant for
me. oh, my belofed!"
The rapturous kiss which the lieu
tenant Immediately bestowed upon his
"belofed' was more efficacious than
his previous efforts at resuscitation.
She gasped once or twice, and then
sat up suddenly and fumbled with
the fastenings of her cap. Baumgar-
ten stood by knee deep in the mud,
and looking as II the sky had fallen
on him. This person, at whom he had
been directing his cannonade, was
plastered with mud from head to foot,
and the face was disguised by the au-
tomobile toggery. but as far as height
and age and general proportions went,
IL might very well be-indeed it surely
was-the Lady Laura.
Il knew it would explode" said a
girls clear voice, at last. $50 | ran
as far as could. And then tripped
and fell into the ditch and tainted.
I'm all right now. | guess. But tell
me, do you always attack strangers
in this way? Don't you realize that
the war with America is over?"
"America!" exclaimed the men.
Certainly. I'm an American" said
the girl, still struggling to unfasten
her visor. II think you're likely to
hear about that through my father,
the consul. What on earth were you
trying to do, anyhow" This question
came as she saw the armed motor
car in the road, and the white launch,
with its cleaning cannon, aground at
the edge of the lake.
Didn't you fred at me too" said
Baumgarten, in a puzzled way, find
ing ii still necessary to talk English.
Il heard de shot at least vonce."
BLEW out a valve, that was ALL"
said the consul's daughter. looking
ruefully at the smoking ruin. And
now, won't you take me home In the
armed cruiser or the Juggernaut?"
Baumgarten, without being invited,
climbed into the rear seat of the unin-
jured automobile, and the three start
ed back to the city. Half way in,
messenger on horseback shouted to
them to stop. Lieut. Desjardins?" he
asked, with a courtly bow. And
Lieut.. Baumgarten? 1t was not my
hope to find you together From the
Lady Laura"
The two men tore open the little
envelopes he handed to them. After
reading the first four lines. Desjardins
started the machine with a vicious
jerk
Il might as veil tell you" said
Baumgarten solemnly. after a long
pause. dat dis letter is a invitation
to the Wedding of de lady we vos
fighting about. She is going to be
harriet to vun Spanish man.
'Zis one ees re same" said Des.