Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-29


His companion turned quickly. "About
me?.' he asked eagerly. What
.Oh. il was only In the abstract" in
differently. she doesn't know you ex-
cept as something she met informally
at Catsons. But. like everybody else.
she has heard rumors of your fool
hardy recklessness. She rather ad-
mired the way you rescued the child
In front of your automobile. and ! have
heard her allude TO that act on the
river and to several other OF your
slight attacks of bravado. But. of
course, n more personal knowledge OF
YOU will dispel the Illusion. There.
that's right" as Cone suddenly speed
ed his machine to a third greater We
Iocity. Now it's something like. We
can probably keep this up TO the next
town II some fool COW doesn't get In
the way.
They were beyond the town limits.
with an almost straight road ahead
Little by little Gone increased their
speed until they were going fully
mile a minute. From time to time
CIarkson nodded his head approvlngly.
Twenty minutes of this. then ne suo-
denly leaned forward. shading his eyes
from the rush Of air which their speed
created A peculiar dark spot had ap-
reared in the road ahead. rapidly re-
solving itself into something tangible.
Ten seconds later he touched cones
arm.
"SJow down." he admonished. "lts
an automobile. and the chauheur ap'
pears to be a woman. OF course It's
Edith. think the machine is stand
ing STILL"
Thirty seconds later their automobile
came to a stop beside the other
closer view of which brought low
whistle from Clarkson. And. as he
had surrnised. the chauffeur was
Edith.
AS she saw and recognized them the
corners of the chauffeur's mouth.
which had been dropping. rose in per
ceptible relief.
81 was never so glad to see any one
in all my life" she called fervently.
Here I've been sitting five whole min
utes, wondering what in the world
should do next"
"And I'VE been wondering for a
whole half hour what in the world
/ EIaFTe0 YOU OUT d5 SNCtNhCAs
torted Clarkson dryly, and. If my eyes
are not at fault, l think ] recognize
the machine"
Yes. it's yours" meekly; "but please
don't scold. I've had an awful time.
/ went across TO your house and was
looking the automobile over when II
started. You had left it out in the
road, you know. l suppose l turned
a lever or screw or pulled out plug
or something. Anyway, 1t went Of
like a race horse. and l didn't know
how to stop IL. I've often watched
you steer. so l. managed to keep It in
the road. But i thought the journey
never would end" plaintively. i sup
pose the monster is run down. IL
hope IL isn't broken
"Of course It isn't" treasured Cone
warmly. automobiles often act that
way. Clarkson and ! can fix IL all
right in a few minutes. But you must
feel awfully used up, Miss Tyson.
Don't you think I'd better take you
home at oncsP'
yes. indeed. If you don't mind"
gratefully. land it WIFI be such a re-
lief to find myself in an automobile
with some one else responsible for
whatever II runs into"
Cone laughed and spranG to the
ground, followed by Clarkson. It took
but a few moments TO assist the girl
from her machine and into his own:
then Cone stepped in beside her.
You'll be able to tx the machine all
right without me. GARRISON" he called.
Miss Tyson is in a hurry to set
home" Then. over his shoulder as the
automobile began to glide away: 'If
you get back in time for the golf don't
wait for us. Miss Tyson may be too
! tired for n quick run. We will 60
round by the Lake Shore road. That
will be pleasanter. And. say. you
needn't bother about that afternoon
call. don't think it viii be worth
while now
There were a honk and a clatter
! and away the automobile sped. leaving
a cloud Of dust and a smell of burnt
lamp wick behind.