Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-12

big red touring car, at once the pride
and envy Of the neighborhood Han
cher heard of this. Not to be out
shone and outdone by his ancient
rival he invested in the goods of a
competing company; a yellow car
the two, although not very prof
cient, drove their own machines.
For a while they kept to their own
particular neck of-the-woods, but q
mischievous fate one day impishly
suggested to each of them that he In
wade the others territory, and awe
him with his aptness in the control
of his machine.
| On the same day, and at the same
hour they started, but by different
routes. Patiently. lean Sturman honk
honked up and down in front of Han
cher's store; persistently, fat Han
cher drove his red monstrosity past
the Sturman grocery-and all to nc
purpose. Sturman could not catch
, sight of Hancher; Hancher could not
i dazzle the eyes of his rival Puzzled
clerks watched the manifestations.
| The Sturman store stood on a cor
ner. Hancher, turning his machine
! close to the curb, and with his back
to the walk, failed to notice tipsy
man with a number of long iron rods
over his wavering shoulder. The lat
ter staggered around the corner, and
the rods, suddenly turning toward the
street, struck the unseeing Hanchel
on the side of his head, precipitatine
him to the pavement half unconscious
Instantly a crowd gathered. AS is
usual with crowds, none seemed in
clined to render the luckless one
assistance. Suddenly dainty damsel
tripped out of an adjoining store.
LET me in to him." she said
authoritatively, and the grasping crowd
broke before her. In an instant the
head of the downed man was lifted
to the lap of the girl, and bottle OF
strong smelling salts was applied to
his nose. Hancher gasped. wrlthed
and attempted to gain his feet.
zone moment" came in sootfi;
ing voice. Hancher realized that
cool hands were applying bandage
to the slightly bleeding wound on his
temple. Gratefully, and with the
maids assistance, the grocer stag
gered to his feet. His machine,
which, in falling. he had automatical-
ly stopped. stood little distance
from him. He turned to thank the
girl She was gone. Dizzily he
scrambled into the car, and turned
homeward
Sturman, at the other end of the
town, was also having his troubles.
At about his third turn in front OF
his rivals store, something went
wrong with the machine. 1t baked.
Covered with perspiration and CRIME
he worked desperately.
Possibly I can be of assistance to
YOU" Sturman turned, to confront a
neat young man with pheasant blue
eyes, and a half smile on his lips. u
know something about automobiles.
Without waiting for permission the
stranger crowded under the car In
surprisingly short space OF time
he had ascertained the error, and the
great machine was ready to respond
to it's owners hand. Sturman climbed
into his seat and tried it. 1t worked
He turned to thank the youth, but ne
was gone. Sturman went home.
"He never knew me- Mabel Stur
man explained to the younger Han
cher that evening.
"And before he could get chance
to thank me, l flew back into the
store again"
"He has been talking about you
all day." answered her lover.
"Some one told him yesterday that
on several occasions had been seen
with you He ranted terribly. Asked
me why I didn't look around for a
girl with the sense of the one who
had come to his assistance? Swore
she was the handsomest girl he had
ever seen."
Mabel Sturman flushed. Father
has nothing but good words for the
youth who repaired his machine. He
said his modesty was most commend
able. He says that II he finds him
of course he didn't recognize him as
the son of his old enemy-he means
to introduce him to me- Miss Mabel
looked demurely down. Il think,
she said softly, "that father believes
1t is high time for me to marry.
"And so it is, cried young Hanchel
enthusiastically. "And If Papa Stur
man can see possibility IN me ne
must not be disappointed"
The next morning Hancher, senior
received this surprising message:
"Haye married the girl who came
to your assistance yesterday. We are
waiting at Elders hotel for you to
congratulate us. Tom"
At the same moment Sturman was
puzzling over this:
Married the young man with the
'commendable modesty' OF which you
smoke. You must come to the Elder
hotel. at once and congratulate us
Mabel"
It is recorded that the two old enc
mics, celebrating the nuptials OF their
children, shook hands and were
friends again.