Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-03-03
WHEN THE AUTO
CHARGED

Il
beside him
Graves hands frightened on the
steering wheel as he glanced at Brans-
combe's six feet of sturdy manhood.
No one ever knew how bitterly Graves
regretted his shortness of stature.
Graves was not weakling. There
was bone and muscle in the five feet
four inches that constituted his earth
ly tenement, but his slight build shg-
gested lack of power. and Branscombe
had contemptuouslt referred to him
as doll man.
The nickname stuck, though it was
never used by Graves himself. And
| yet in some manner Graves had be-
come acquainted with his nickname
and his sensitive spirit writhed under
the slight he could not resent
The nickname had done more than
wounded his pride, it had in a. degree
robbed him of confidence in himself,
and though Myra seemed to prefer
him to Branscombe, he only ascribed
this to the fact that he was the pos
SCISSOR of motor car and was wealthy
enough to crafty his love for auto
MODELLING by purchasing the finest ma
chine to be had.
He took mournful satisfaction in
delaying the day Of Branscombe's vic
tory as long as possible, but as to the
ultimate result of the rivalry he never
was in doubt He knew Myra too well
to think that his greater possessions
could win her consent to marriage.
Like him'self, Myra was found of
motoring, and they had planned a run
to Falls Village, some 20 miles away.
1t could be done in an hour on the de-
serted river road, >but to-day the ma
chine was acting badly, missing the
spark and finally coming to 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
flow was regular. 1t was not until he
turned his attention to the battery con-
nections that the cause Of the trouble
was located. In putting in new bat
terry, his mechanic had neglected to
make a proper connection.
We'll be- on our way in a jiffy,
now" he promised. Il shall have to
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 l didn't want to-" adj
mitted Sidney frankly as he went for
ward to throw over the motor.
r He grasped the crank and gave
heave. At first the motor remained
cold, but suddenly there was an ex-
plosion and the carr shot forward.
Myra 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 suddenness that threw
Myra against the dashboard, then it
stopped, and Graves slipped to the
road and regarded the car with aston
ishment.
Il could have sworn that l shut off |
the clutch before got out of the car"
he said in puzzled tones. Its 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
SO big land powerful, but while you
were working over it pretended to be
running it, and guess l didn't realize
that left the car all ready to start I
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. 1t was
one lively half second l 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 gar" he said simply as he
climbed back to the seat Il knew that
IL it would only run straight for mo-
nent / could climb over the bonnet
and stop the power"
"And in that moment you thought of
me?" asked Myra wonderingly. 81
think I'd have tried to jump aside. l
would not have thought of anything
else. 1t was splendidly brave thing
10 do"
mot bad for a coll man. he said a
little wistfully.
You heard that nickname?" she
cried. Il think it's shame. I'd rather
be you than the man who gave you
hat name" +
mo one wants to be little FIVE
loot runt," he said, nor wants one"
lie added softly.
you think that a woman judges a
mans worth by his height?" asked
Myra, seornfully.
40 you mean that you. might learn
% care for me in spite OF my size"