Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-08-24

Jimmy Bricc swung the big ROAD car
into the winding drive. took the sharp
curve by the house on two wheels and
brought up ut the steps with an adj
ruptneSs that all but sent him head.
long through the wind shield
On the wide verandu Colonel THORN
ton was pacing agitatedly To and fro.
bis lips set tight Aimd his keen old eyes
fashin" fire.
Its come ut last. just as expect
ed" he rayrd- as the car came To its
spectacular stop, "Mabel has gone
with that young upstart Nixon
gone one-rlupcd. DO You uudef-
stand: That's why sent for YOU I'd
30 with you myself if riding in the
wind didn't bring on my asthma SO
I'd 20 with you and make it hot for
him. swear | would AS it is your
have to take Nell. She'll know what
To do. Ho. Neil. Nell"' he called sun
denly through the open front door
Here's Jimmy in tile racer Hurry
up: You Invent u psinure to lose
Light Footsteps battered on the
stairs. On to the veranda came Nell
Thornton.
They've gone across the state line
10 Worthwhile. OF course" the colonel
declared. You can get EN- if Won
hurry. Let out that car. Jimmy. Don't
let EN- make it ahead of you"
Jimmy opened up The car. and down
Il "a l. 4
swung Into the road and went whirl-
Ing toward Worthwhile. leaving in their
wake Il cloud of dust that rose even
above the treetopS
Once they reached II straight stretch
IF road Brice leaned toward the girl
beside him.
Well overtake 'em if they haven't
too much of Il start" he declared.
How long have they been gomez"
Half an hour" she answered.
Then we've got EN-" said he en-
couraginGly. "Of course we've got to
head this thing off"
"Of course" she agreed. but some
how Jimmy was impressed with the
idea that she was not oyerenthuSiastic
about it.
Il almost wish we could LET 'em go"
| said he. shes desperately in love
with him. and Nixon isn't half bad
chap
That's impossible" said she. She's
nothing but Il child. almost thinkjf
she had been firm with papa be would
have consented. but to try to take the
matter in her own hands this way has
sent him into frightful rage"
They reached a fork in the road. One
branch led to Worthwhile, the other to
| Standish
Jimmy swung the car into the left
hand branch of the road and gave il
full speed again.
What are you going 10 do when
you catch them" he asked
Il shall be very firm. and you must
back me up"
"AlI right" he agreed cheerfuly.
''Of course will; but. honestly. Nell. !
hate like fury TO butt i'll"
you're not going TO desert me at
the critical moment, are you" she
questioned auxiously.
Sure I'm not, Watch me-" he
laughed.
The soft May dusk was coming on.
They shot past houses in which the
| lights were already beginning TO twin
kle.
Seems to me we ought to be get
ting squint at them pretty soon.
said he
There's n car ahead she cried sud
denly. "Hurry-oh. hurry,
The road car seemed fairly to lift
itself from the ground. They sped up
| to the car ahead. but its occupants
| were a middle aged couple who looked
up in mild reproof as they tore past
Jimmy Brice laughed. Fooled again"
he Knocked Il believe they're going
,, to make it after all"
They mustnt-they mustn't" said
| the girl. Cant we go any faster:
! Jimmy shook his head. This Is her
best speed" he declared.
Now they bad reached the outskirts