The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-08

That's so-that's so. WAL, l guess
they took the other road. That is.
they did if, they didn't take to the
fields. Think it's goin' to rain this
week."
BY the time young Gordon had re-
turned to the lake his horse was In a
lather, and he decided to go back to
his aunt's in the hope that the auto
might also have returned His hope
was vain. The horse was leg weary,
and the rider entered the house and
called up a farmer on the middle road
four miles away. go
"a gal and an autoW repeated the
man at the other end of the line. "You
bet your boots I've seen 'em! Went by
here three hours ago like whirlwind.
Struck one Of my hogs lynn in the
road and knocked him q hundred feet.
Whew, but that old machine was Gid
in somew
"And the girl herself-did she seem
frightenedY'
Scared most to death, guess. Her
eyes seemed to be hangin' out, and
maybe she was prayin'. She was hold
in the machine in the middle of the
road, however. If she lives to get to
the Red bridge she'll be stopped there
by the constable. He's stationed there
to look for speeders."
The girl who dared" lived to reach
the bridge. 1t was an act of Provi-
dence. From the moment the auto got
its speed, which was thirty miles an
hour, she was dumb, frozen and help
less to do anything but hold the Wheel
She saw nothing but the white road
ahead Of her. She passed vehicles and
ly conscious Of it. AS she approached
the bridge the strain was too much,
and her fingers unclutched from the
wheel, and the auto dashed its way
through the roadside fence and came
to a standstill in a field. Then Miss
Flint tainted away.
When she came to her senses the
constable was sprinkling water in her
face and saying:
"Come, now, none Of your tricks with
me. You are just playing possum be-
cause / have caught you. It's a case
for Squire Johnson, and ] shouldn't
wonder if you got jail for it."
"What-what are you going to dor"
asked the girl as she staggered to her
feet
"Put you in the village Lookup and
notify the squire, Of course. Take my
arm and come along. The machine is
pretty well busted, and we can't use
it. Wonder it didn't blow up. and
send you sky high. We're you clipping
or something Of that kindY
Ill was just taking a ride" was
the humble answer.
"Just making the dirt fly thirty feet
high and soaring folks and horses half
to death. Well. the squire will be
tickled to see you. He's been aching
for the last week to get hold Of a
speeder and give him a good dose OF
county Jail How dare you take the
chances-how dare your
would you take a dare from two
girls?' asked the prisoner as she re-
leased her arm and faced him.
"No-o-o. | guess not"
"Well. 1 wouldn't. and so there! II
they want 70 send me to jail let 'em
do it,
She was taken to the office Of the
village justice of the peace and ar
raigned. On the way there the con-
stables heart melted. He saw that
she had had a bad scare. and he liked
hor dnfio ,i,.if NH he
had to make complaint against her,
he did not put the speed at thirty
miles an hour To this be added the
statement that if the auto hadn't
struck a stone in the road It would
not have struck the fence.
Then he turned and winked az the
wondering. shivering girl to put heart
In her.
1t may have been one of his honor's
soft days. He delivered a lecture on
the rise and fall of the Roman empire
or some other equally interesting sub
ject and concluded by suspending SEN
tence. Then the constable invited the
ex-prisoner home with him to dinner
and set about arranging to send her
back to her friends.
Evening had come, and she was
about ready to start when Gordon
came galloping up. When he had in
troduced himself as the owner Of the
smashed auto he asked grimly:
"And who is to pay the $500 dam
ages? And who is to pay for my trou-
BILE? Why, If the justice had known
all the circumstances he'd have sent
you to jail for yearr'
"But the other girls dared me to do
it." protested the culprit, with trem-
bling lip.
"Say, young man." said the consta-
BILE as he drew Gordon aside, you just
get even By daring the gal to marry
you. She amt the kind that takes
dare. See? You can drive her back In
the buggy. and you just keep daring
her all the way. Lord, but / wish !
was In your shoesw
It was q fine moonlight ride. It was
not too fast. The situation was little
strained at first, but after awhile the
farmers heard laughter as the buggy
passed. ~ RE
Perhaps there was one dare, perhaps
a dozen. The society paper which an
nounced the engagement few months
later didn't specify. Society papers
don't always 60 into minute particu-
lars.
Her Preference.