The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-07-10

| OF the GalS naT
"But you have either seen them or
notr' exclaimed the young man petu-
lantly.
That's so-that's so. Waal. guess
they took the other road. That Is.
they did if they didn't take to the
fields. Think it's goin' to rain this
week?'
BY the time young Gordon had re-
turned to the lake his horse was in a
lather, and he decided to go back to
his aunts in the hope that the auto
might also have returned. His hope
was vain. The horse was leg weary.
and the rider entered the house and
called up farmer on the middle road
four miles away.
"a gal and an auto?" repeated the
man at the other end Of the line. "You
bet your boots I've seen 'em. Went by
here three hours ago like whlrlwlnd.
Struck one Of my hogs lyin' In the
road and knocked him hundred feet.
Whew. but that old machine was glld-
in somew
"And the girl herself-did she seem
frightened?"
Scared most TO death, guess. Her
eyes seemed to be hangin' out, and
maybe she was prayln. She was hold
in the machine in the middle Of the
road, however. IF she lives to get to
the Red bridge she'll be stopped there
by the constable. Hes stationed there
to look for speeders."
The girl who dared" lived to reach
the bridge. 1t was an act Of Provi-
dence. From the moment the auto got
its speed, which was thirty miles an
hour. she was dumb. frozen and help
less to do anything but hold the wheel.
She saw nothing but the white road
ahead Of her. She passed vehicles and
overhauled others. but she was scarce
ly conscious Of it. AS she approached
the bridge the strain was too much,
and her fingers unclutched from the
wheel. and the auto dashed its way
through the roadside fence and came
to standstill in q field. Then Miss
Flint tainted away.
When she came to her senses the
constable was sprinkling water in her
face and saying:
Come now, none Of your tricks with
me- You are just playing possum be-
cause have caught you. It's case
| for Squire Johnson, and l shouldn't
wonder If you got jail for it."
"What-what are you going to do"'
asked the girl as she staggered to her
| feet.
Put you in the village lookup and
notify the squire, Of course. Take my
arm and come along. The machine is
pretty we'll busted. and we can't use
it. Wonder it didn't blow up and
send you sky high. Were you eloping
or something OF that kind?"
T-I was just taking n ride" was
the humble answer.
"Just making the dirt fly thirty feet
high and soaring folks and horses half
to death. Well, the squire will be
tickled to see you. He's been aching
for the last week to get hold Of q
speeder and give him good dose OF
county Jail How dare you take the
chances-how dare your
would you tane q dare from two
girls?" asked the prisoner as she re-
leased her arm and faced him.
"No-o-o. guess not"
IITynu r 1o,t opI fhnrnf If
they want to send ME to jail let 'em
do itw
She was taken to the Office Of the
village justice of the peace and ar
raigned. On the way there the con-
stables heart melted. He saw that
she had had q bad scare. and he liked
her defiant spirit. Therefore. while he
had to make complaint against her.
he did not put the speed at thirty
miles an hour. TO this he added the
statement that If the auto hadn't
struck a stone in the road it would
not have struck the fence.
Then he turned and winked at the
wondering, shiverlng girl to put heart
in her.
1t may have been one Of his honor's
soft days. He delivered q lecture on
| the rise and fall Of the Roman empire
or some other equally interesting sub
| iect and concluded by suspcnding SEN
tence Then the constable invited the
| cx-prisoner home with him to dinner
and set about arranging to send her
| back to her friends.
Evening had come. and she was
about ready to start when Gordon
came galloping up. When he bad In
troduced himself as the owner Of the
smashed auto he asked grlmly:
"And who is to pay the $500 dam
ages? And who IS to pay for my trou-
Bile? Why, If the justice had known
all the circumstances he'd have sent
you to Jail for Il year,
But the other girls dared me to do
it," protested the culprit, with trem-
bling lip.
Say. young man." said the cOnsta-
ple as he drew Gordon aside, you just
get even by daring the gal to marry
YOU. She amt the kind that takes Il
dare. Sec? You can drive her back In
the buggy. and yn,t just keep daring
her all tic way Lord. but wish
WAS In your shocs!'
1t was Il fine moonlight ride. 1t was
not too fast. The situation was little
| rtrninn.l nt fret Int n ftnr ~ u. hiln tho