The newspaper., 1909-01-22
sounding exaggerated

Quate without sounding exaggerated
and insincere.
BY this time he had reached the
car, and-through sheer laundering
luck-at once stumbled upon the seat
of trouble-a clogged valve in the car
bureter. No serious matter; with the
assistance of repair kit more than
commonly complete, he had the valve
clear in a jiffy.
News of this triumph he shouted to
the girl receiving in reply an oh
thank you," so fervently grateful that
he felt more guilty than ever.
Illuminating unhappily on the end of
contemplated abasement. he waded
round the car, satisfying himself that
there was nothing else out of gear;
and apprehensively cranked up
Whereupon the motor began to hum
contentedly; all was well Flushed
with this success. Maitland climbed
aboard and opened the throttle a trifie.
The car moved. And then. with a
swish. gurgle. and a watery whoosh,
it surged forward. up, out of the river,
gsllantly up the slope.
At the top the amateur chauffeur
Snul uONu lllt lnlOttlt anu luiiBEu
out, turning to face the girl. She was
by the step almost before he could
offer a hand to help her in. and as she
paused to render him his due need of
thanks, it became evident that she har-
bored little If any resentment: eyes
shining. face aglow with gratitude.
she dropped him a droll but graceful
courtesy.
You are too good" she declared
with spirit How can | thank you?"
You might" he suggested looking
down into her face from his superior
height. give me bit of a lift-just
couple OF miles up the road Though"
he supplemented eagerly. IF you'd
really prefer. should be only too
happy TO drive the car home for your"
Two miles. did you say?"
He fancied something odd in her
tone: besides. the question was super
fluous. His eyes informed with puz-
element. he replied: why. yes-that
much. more or less. live"
OF course" she put in quickly. I'm
give you the lift-only too glad. But
as for your taking me home at this
nOul. tdu Htdl VI
:'But-"
Besides. what would people say7"
she countered. obstinately. "Oh. no."
she decided: and he felt that from this
decision there would be no appeal:
Il couldn't think OF interfering with
your arrangements"
Her eyes held his for a single in
stant. instinct with mischief. cleaning
with bewildering light from out face
schooled to gravity. Maitland expe-
rienced a sensation Of having grasped
after and missed subtlety of al
lusion: his wits. keen as they were. re-
coiled. bafiied by her finesse. And the
more he OWNED that she was playing
with him. as an experienced swords
man might play with an impertinent
novice. the denser his confusion grew
"But have no arrangements" he
81 ammered.
DON'T she insisted-as much as
to say that he was fabricating and she
knew IL, We must hurry. you know.
because There. I've dropped
my handkerchief, BY the tree. there.
Do you mind"
"Of course not" He set of swiftly
toward the point indicated. but on
reaching IT cast about vainly for any
thing in the nature of handkerchief.
In the midst OF which futile quest a
change OF tempo in the motors i'm
patient drumming surprised him.
Startled. he looked up. Too late:
the girl was in the seat. the car in
motion-already some yards from the
point at which he had left It. Dis
mayed. he strobe forward. raising his
voice in perturbed expostulation.
Butt say"
Over the rear OF the seat a gray
gauntlet was waved at him. as tanta-
lizing as the mocking laugh that came
to his ears.
He paused. thunderstruck. appalled,
by this monstrosity of ingratitude.
The machine gathered impetus.
drawing swiftly away. Yet in the still
ness the farewell of the gray girl came
TO him very clearly.
"Good-by," with a laugh. Thank
you and good d-by-Handsome Dam"
CHAPTER ~.