Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-28
WHEN the AUTO
CHARGED


: touring car shot down The village
| street. with Myra Coleman ON the sea-
| beside him.
| Graves hands tightcned on the
| steering wheel aS he glanced at HranS
! cOmb-$ six feet Of sturdy manhood
| No one ever knew how bitterly Graves
| regretted his shorrness of stature.
/ Graves was moi d w"akling. There
was bone and muscle in the iiv" feet
| four inches that constituted his earth
| ~ T. M"rl"nt. but his Sli@h; DuilG SuS
scS'"d lack of power. and EraEHcombt
had cont"mptuonsly referred 10 him
! as doll EI..:.
/. Tn" nickuamc stuck. though il was
nCN"" used by Graves himself. And
yet in som" manner Graves had he
come acquainted With his nickname
and his Sr!.5itiv" spirit writhrd under
IN" %li2!I h" could no, resent
The nickname had done more than
wounded his pride. il had in degree
robbed him of confidence in himself
and though MNra seemed to prefc!
him To l'ransConIb". he only aSCribed
his to thC fact that he WAS the pos.
S'sS"r OF Il motor car and was wealthy
enough 10 crafty his love for auto,
mobilnS by purchasing the finest ma,
chine 10 be had.
lie took a mournful satisfaction in
delaying the day of BranScOmbes vic
tG!l as long as possible. bur as to the
nj y,E ~,
WAS in doubt He knew Myra too vel!
TO think that his greater possessions
could win her consent to marriage.
Like himself Myra was found Of
motoring. and they had planned Il run
TO Falls Village. some 20 miles away
serted river road bur to-day the ma
chine was acting badly. missing the
SHARK and finally coming 10 a stop al
together.
Patiently, Sidney climbed down and
raised the bonnet. There seemed TO
Be nothing the matter with the motors
The sparkling plugs were clean and the
tow was regular. II was not until he
turned his attention to the battery con.
HeCtiouS that the cause of the trouble
was located. In putting IN new bat
terry, his mechanic had neglected to
make proper connection
Wen be on our way in iffy,
now. be promised. Il shall have 10
blow up John when We get back. He
is growing very careless
Don't mind me-" protested Myra
I've been having perfectly lovely
time watching You fuss about the ma
chine without even swearing once"
1T isn't that | didn't want to-" ad-
mitted Sidney frank" as he went for
ward to throw over the motor.
He grasped the crank and gave a
Eeave. At first the motor remained
cold. but suddenly there was an ex-
plosicn and the car shot forward
Mvra shrieked in terror and closed
her eyes while she waited for the jolt
that would tell her that the wheels
had passed over Sidney's body. but no
jolt came and she opened her eyes
Graves had leaped to the bonnet
when the car started and now he was
climbing over the dashboard and had
shut off the power. The car slowed
down with a sudGenness that threw
Myra against the dashboard. then it
stopped. and Graves slipped to the
road and regarded the car with aston
ishmen:.
Il could have sworn that shut off
the clutch before got out Of the car"
he said in puzzled tones. It's one of
the first things you learn
'YCu mean this lever" asked Myra
Sidney nodded.
Il am afraid that might have
moved that" she confessed. You see
don't dare try to handle the car. it's
20 big and powerful. bat while you
were working over 1t 7 pretended TO be
running it. and l guess I didn't realize
that left the car all ready to start
Up when you cranked it.
Graves chuckled at the explanation
ITS all right" he answered. but
never was so surprised in my life as
when the car jumped at me II was
one lively half second assure you"
1t was wonderful thing that you
Jumped on the car instead OF aside.
she commented.
Il knew that You did not know how
TO run the car" he said simply as he
climbed hack to the seat Il knew tina;
IL it would only run straight for mo-
ment could climb over the bonnet
and stop the IOwer.
And in that momen; you thought Of
me- asked Myra wonderiusiy. Il
thiak Id havseried TO jump aside. !
would not have thought Of anything
else. II was a spIendidly brave thing
TO do.
No, bad for a doll man." he said 4
little visit: ully.