Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-26
copyrisht 1908 by Thomas H. Mckee.
Copyright 1908 by Thomas H. Mckee
HAT machine? Why. that's the Per-
. ~ knses .
'But | saw him out in a different
- yesterday"


"oh. yes; big touring car? That's
his old one Buying this one. renting it, l sup
pose He's developed acute motormania."
Il don't know how he had enough money"
We'll 1t doesn't take all the money in the world.
nowadays, to buy an auto. He's gct chauffeur,
too"
But though everyone doubted Perkins ability
to support touring-car larger than his FAM
lily, no one doubted for moment that he owned
the in which he rode daily Yet the fact was,
he didn't even own the spark-plug, for Perkins
was a "joy-rider"--the most modern manifesto
tion of the dead beat''
Perkins fell into this inquitous practice
through envy of his neighbor, Klocke, who was the
proud owner Of 3 3n-h. p. and the downward path
smooth and simple asphalt grade.
Klocke had no more money than Perkins, yet the
rivalry between the two families great
that Mrs. Klocke sported more gorgeous
feather than Mrs. Perkins-for than two
days; and therefore when Klocke bought auto
mobile the Perkins family was tempted and it fell.
1t was one night about week after Klocke made
his purchase that Mrs. Perkins sighed so bitterly
that her husband looked up quickly from his after
dinner newspaper.
What is it, lover" he queried :--Klocke ad-
dressed his wife simply, dear"
Il was wondering Papa Perkins, if-if
couldn't rent automobile for a ride Sunday
she ventured, laying stress upon her pronunciation
why, why, love, in--in circumstances it
would--er-rather tend to cripple You know.
they charge twenty-five dollars day." apologized
her husband, evading his wife's direct gaze
You know, Papa Perkins, there are others in
better circumstances than we who have auto
mobiles of their very own," emphasized Mrs. Per-
kins.-
> 81 daresay; yes daresay,' he responded uneas-
lily, resuming his newspaper.
We'll, then why in the name Of"
BzzZzz-Bzzzzz-
Bzzzzz
"Ill answer it. love-" interrupted the head of
the house; and he muttered prayer of thanks
giving for his sudden delivery, he took up the
receiver.
Mrs. Perkins sat with knitted brow and knot
ted hands. She only in way appeased
Her husbands voice at the phone reused her
from her reverie-she listened--she listened more
intently. A smile began to play about the cor
of her mouth, the nervous fingers Strengthened
out, she smoothed out her puckered forehead and
glow spread complacently over her countenance,
growing into smile that endured.
When 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
in her enthusiasm.
$50 we shall have the ride after ALL she cried.
'oh, won't it be splendid to have an automobile
for whole day?"
''Yes love- it will be great" beamed Perkins
wilder, the man who sold Kocke his machine.
says he's got in a new Shipment later model
and far better machine than the he sold
Elocke. He1-he took Klocke out every day for
about three weeks before he finally sold him the
machine. Maybe he'll do the same with u.s."
'On-n1h, On-nnn, WOulQn'L IL De JuSL--JuSL
heavenly to have automobile every day." said
Mrs. Perkins. And better one than the
Klocle's tool"
1t won't be so bad" mused Mr. Perkins "Guess
my family can ride in an auto as well as Klockes.
And it won't cost cent, either, that's the beau
ty Of the whole thing 1t was Wiiders invitation
of buying car"
Sunday came and so did Wilder; in a huge, puff
ing touring Mrs. Perkins swept out of the
house in stunning auto veil, carrying long wrap
and automobile coat. and sprang magnfcently in
to the machine. Her husband followed with the
three little Perkinses
It was wonderful ride! They met everybody
they knew, and Mrs. Perkins bowed to her Boule-
ward friends with the slight condescension of the
motorst. But 1t not until they were on their
way home that the full triumph of the day was
realized. They met the Klocke family, whose
mouths simultaneously opened in amazement as
the Perkinses passed.
What dinky little machine Klockes is" said
Mrs. Perkins.
The following day Wilder sent the same ma
chine around to take Mr. Perkins down to the
Office. His wife accompanied him and, after drop
ping Perkins, made tour of the shopping dis
trct and stopped at every possible store, although
she did not purchase anything
Before the week over nearly every auto
dealer in town had noticed that Wilder trying
to sell a new customer, and every day different
makes of machines were placed at the disposal or
the willing Perkins and his more than willing wife.
In fact no one ever entered into the spirit of
real "joy-rider' with more enthusiasm than did
Mrs. Perkins
Perkins too, was intoxicated with the expert
ence. He patronized the various chauffeurs who
were sent around to him. and every night he deHD-
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 disgusted by Perkins
persistency in not making choice, and departed
from the ranks. Others hung out, forcing their
upon him. Among these was Wilder. who
succeeded in getting the prospective customer to
ride in his machine every day; and his car, too,
was the preference of Mrs. Perkins--being Of the
same make Klocze's-only larger.
1t the bulldog tenacty 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 come about so easily that Per-
kins almost expected raise in salary in recogni-
tion of his prominence in the motor world
Lets take the Klockes out riding in Wder's
machine" Mrs Perkins suggested day. they
think it ours and they know it's better than their
own It will be such fun. You know, they just
cant refuse for we have so often accepted invita-
tions to ride In their car The madness was still
on Perkins, ami he greeted the idea with enthus-
iasfn Consequently the Klockes were invited and
accepted and Wilder called up and requested
to send his machine and chauffeur the next day to
sail n0TfI