The Huttig news., 1910-01-22
WHEN TIE AUTO
 CHARGED


 street, with Myra Coleman on the seat 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 a weakling. There was bone and muscle in the five feet four inches that constituted his earth ly tenement, but his slight build sug gested lack of power. and Branscombe had contemptuously 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 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 sessor of motor car and was wealthy enough to gratify his love for auto, mobiling by purchasing the finest ma chine to be had.
 He took a mournful satisfaction in delaying the day of Branscombes 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. It could be done in an hour on the de serted river road, but today the ma chine was acting badly, missing the spark and finally coming to 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. It was not until he turned his attention to the battery con nections that the cause of the trouble was located. In putting in a new bat tery, his mechanic had neglected to make proper connection.
 We'll be on our way in a jiffy, now" he promised q 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 a perfectly lovely time watching you fuss about the ma chine without even swearing once"
 It isn't that I didn't want to-" ad- mitted Sidney frankly as he went for ward to throw over the motor.
 He grasped the crank and gave a heave. At first the motor remained cold, but ssAsz=ar1 there was an ex- plosion and the car 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 a suddenness that threw Myra against the dashboard, then it stopped, and Graves slipped to the road and regarded the car with aston ishment
 T could have sworn that I shut off the clutch before I got out of the car," he said in puzzled tones. Its one of the first things you learn"
 You mean this lever?" asked Myra. Sidney nodded
 T am afraid that I might have moved that she confessed. You see don't dare try to handle the car it's so big and powerful, but while you were working over it pretended to be running it, and I guess I didn't realize that I left the car all ready to start up when you cranked it."
 Graves chuckled at the explanation. Its all right" he answered, but I never was so surprised in my life as when the car jumped at me. It was one lively half second I assure you"
 Tt was a wonderful thing that you jumped on the car instead of aside." she commented
 T knew that you did not know how to run the car" he said simply as he climbed back to the seat. T knew that if it would only run straight for mo- ment I could climb over the bonnet and stop the power
 And in that moment you thought of me-" asked Myra wonderingly q think I'd have tried to jump aside. would not have thought of anything else. It was splendidly brave thing to do"
 Not bad for doll man." he said a little Wlstfuily.
 syou heard that nicknames" she cried. T think it's shame. I'd rather be you than the man who gave you that name"
 No one wants to be little five foot runt," he said, nor wants one" he added softly.
 nYou think that woman judges a mans worth by his heightf" asked Myra. scornfully.
 Do you mean that you might learn to care for me in spite of my size?" he asked, ray of hope lighting his face.
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