The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-02-26
when The AUTO
CHARGED


Hugh Hranscombc looked enviously
at Sidney Graves, as the latter's new
touring car shot down the VILLAGE
street. with Myra Coleman on the scat
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 weakllng. There
was bone and muscle in the five feet
four inches that constituted his earth
iy tenement, but his slight build srs,
gested lack of power. and Branscombe
| had contemptuously referred to him
as doll man.
The nickname stuck, though 1t was
never used by Graves himself. And
yet in some manner Graves had be-
como acquainted with his nickname
and his sensitive spirit writhcd 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,
him 10 Branscombe, he only ascribed
this TO the fact that he was the pos
SCISSOR of a motor ear and was wealthy
enough to crafty his love for auto
MODELLING by purchasing the finest ma.
chine to be had,
Al inT ~ 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 we'll
to think that his greater possessions
could win her consent to marriage
Like himself, 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 II was not until he
/ turned his attention to the battery con
/ nections that the cause Of the trouble
4 was located In putting III "a new bat
| terry, his mechanic had neglected to
/ make proper connection.
Wen be on our way in a jlffy.
now" he promised. Il shall have to
| blow up John when we get back. lie
| is growing very careless"
Don't mind me" protested Myra.
I've been having a perfectly lovely
| time watching you fuss about the ma.
chine without even swearing once"
1T isn't that | didn't want to-" ad.
mltted Sidney frankly as he went for.
ward to throw over the motor,
lie graspcd the crank and gave a
hcave. At first the motor remained
cold, but suddenly there was an ex
plosion and the car shot forward
Myra shrieked IL 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 nc
! jolt came and she opened her eyes.
Graves had leaped to tho bonnet
when the car started and now he was
climbing over the dashboard and haC
shut off the power. The car SLOWED
down with a suddonness that threw
Myra against the dashboard, then /
stopped, and Graves slipped TO the
road and regarded the car with aston
ishmcnt.
u could have sworn hat | shut OF
the clutch before / got ont Of the car.
he said in puzzled tones, ITS one o
the first things you learn"
"YCu mean this lcyCrs" asked Myra
Sidney nodded.
Il am afraid that I might hayl
moved that" she confessed You see
| don't dare try to handle the car, IT.,
so big and powerful but while yoi
were working over it pretended 70 b.
running it, aud guess ! didn't rcaliz,
that | left the car all ready TO star
up when you cranhed It."
Graves chuckled at the explanation
ITS all right" he answered, but
never was so surprised in my life a.
when the car jumped at nc. It wa.
one lively half second I assure YOU"
ct was 4 wonderful thing that yol