The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-09-04
THE CITIZEN. FREDERICK MD. FRIDAY SEPTEMBER A. 1905

toria was struck by his expression.
He glanced up and met her eyes, but
the girl turned away with an air of
contemptuous indifference.
Griffith was fussing about the car
next morning, when. with a swish of
silken Innings, Victoria stood before
him.
Il want to speak to you," she be-
gan abruptly, regarding him with
wrathful eyes. She was hatless, and
the wind ruffling her pretty brown
hair made distracting little curls on
her forehead. Grifnth's admiring ex-
preston was, however, entirely lost
upon its object.
I've always been nice and
friendly-to you," she went on, an
grily, land l think it is abominable
of you to serve me such a horrid,
mean, shabby trick"
Griffith gasped as the adjectives
fell headlong over each other.
Il always thought you my friend"
"a suggestion of sobs in her voice
but now!-I just hate-and dislike
-and-despise you'll"
my dear child" from the dazed
Griffith; what do you mean?"
"Why?"- she began, when John
appeared, and she vanished.
A picnic was arranged for that day,
and the car was at the door betimes.
John noticed that its course was err
ratio. and that it stopped with less
precision than usual. Griffith looked
worried. and replied abstractedly to
Mrs. Mansel's apologies, when she
suddenly remembered things she
wanted, and dispatched John in one
direction and Victoria in another for
them. The girl was hurrying through
the hall, when Griffith barred the
way.
miss Mansel!"
His tone was urgent. She looked
up into his anxious face. =.
What did you mean this morn
ing?" he asked earnestly.
"Oh, you know very welli" she an
swered, resentfully; please let me
pass. They are waiting"
mot till you answer mel" he an
swered, masterfully. Hang the car!
Let it go without us. An answer
mean to have!"
"Well-as you insist ex-
claimed Victoria; "why did you in
vite the Duke, when you know how
miserable am because mother is try
ing to make me marry him! / didn't
think you would help to make me
marry a man old enough to be my
grandfather!
Before the astonished Griffith could
reply, there was a shout, and John
dashed into the hall.
"Griff! My mother! The carl"
And they reached the door to see
that masterpiece vanishing in the dis
lance.
"Merciful powers!" Griffith sat
down helplessly on the doorstep.
whats to be done, MANI" cried
John, shaking him franctically; "does
Exton know the workings of the ac-
cursed thing?"
There are no workingsi" an
swered Griffith, his head in his hands.
And Victoria burst into tears.
Get up, Griff," said John, sternly,
"and act like man. Is there no con-
troll over the thing that they can find
out?"
None whatever, answered the un-
happy owner of the car.
And If 1t meets anything?"
"It's lonely road over the hills, =
answered Griffith. recovering himself
at the sight OF Victoria's distress.
Don't cry, Miss Mansel. I'll have
the trap out and follow them"
The car was we'll known object
to the moor jewellers, but never had
they seen 1t as on that eventful day,
when at full speed it plunged hither
and thither like an unmanageable
horse, Mrs. Mansel's screams and the
Dukes shouts for help being barely
heard before the vehicle vanished in
the distance.
Within, chaos reigned. Maddened
by Mrs. Mansel's appeals, the Duke,
in his search for hidden levers, tore
down curtains wrenched off seats and
execrated his fate. Flung from side
to side, the unfortunate couple at
length chung helplessly to each other,
till suddenly, with a jerk, the car
stopped dead on the top of hill be-
low which roared little river, and
the two precipitated themselves into
the dusty road.
They were not minute too soon.
The car wabbled violently, jerked for
ward. then backward, spun round like
huge teetotum. and, with a mighty
crash, rolled down into the river.
A speck appeared on the road be-
hind them. AS it drew nearer it re-
solved itself into a man on a motor
bicycle. Too exhausted for speech,
the exhausted couple sat on the bank
and awaited his approach He stopped
before them.
Duke OF Exton. l believer" dis
mounting and drawing out fat note
book, land the future Ducnessi At
what time did your Grace leave Mr..
Griffith's place."
What business is that of yours,
sir?" inquired the Duke, irately.
Did not receive our representa-
tive with his usual affability," NUT
tered the intruder. conveying the sem
tence to his notebook; lady" glanc-