Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1910-07-29
UNDER
DIFFICULTIES

A
Haskins never did care for Seln.ore
anyway. Al first he had dlsliked the
fellow mildly on general principles
but later he hated Selmore cordially,
for a specific reason. Alice Clark was
| the reason.
When Selmore first saw Alice Clark
and fell victim Alice was in Haskins'
car. Though he did not realize II,
Haskins had grown to consider her
as belonging to his car quite as much
as he did himself. He had glowed
with a little proprietary pride when
he detected the gleam OF interest and
admiration in Selmore's eyes, but he
was not prepared for what followed.
Selmore had stopped by the car,
and after being introduced. had cheer
fully asked for lift to his destination,
and got It. occupying the entire time
OF transit in conversing with Alice
quite as though Haskins were a hired
chauffeur.
A week later. when Haskins called
on Alice and found Selmore there, he
learned through the conversation that
SelmOre had accidentally met her in
candy shop and had promptly asked
TO call. And he kept on calling
Haskins tried 10 convince himself
that had IL been any one else on
earth than Selmore he should not
have cared II was simply. he told
himself. because he disliked Selmore
So Alice certainly had a right TO
have as many callers as she chose. IN
asmuch as she was not engaged to
himself. 1t was the first time the
idea OF being engaged TO Alice had
presented itself 10 him, and he
thought about it a great deal after
that. mainly because Selmore per-
sisted in interfering so with his es-
tablished routine.
He was especially upset one eve
ming when. having made an engage
ment over the telephone to take Alice
automobiling. he called. only to find
that Selmore had just arrived.
Out OF politeness he asked Selmore
10 come along. and 10 his rage Sell
more brazenly accepted Haskins had
quite counted on that ride as a pleas
ant one. for # was a springlike eve
ming There was TO have been a spin
over the boulevards. supper at some
quiet place and then home In the
moonlight-and who could tell what
might happen? Now, here was Sell
more. fastened on him for the whole
evening
He tried to make himself believe
that Alice had looked a trihe disap-
pointed when Selmore accepted, yet
he bitterly felt 1t could not be so, for
Selmore was looking especially hand
some in his new spring suit.
The ride progressed In an electric
silence on Haskins' part and with flu
ent conversation on Selmore's. They
had the spin and the supper. which
was ashes in Haskins' mouth. Then
they started home. On a downtown
street corner the machine wheezed
and stopped. Haskins took malicious
delight in making Selmore descend
and help him back it of the car
tracks. Then he investigated irrita-
bly,. for accidents were alien TO his
car.
AS he delved amid the machinery
Selmore sat aloft amiably talking to
Alice When at last Haskins had TO
crawl under the machine and lie fat
on his back while he pounded the
mechanism he knew how anarchists
feel
Here. Haskins." Selmore called
down finally, can't you fix it? I
should think you'd know your own car
better"
It's getting terribly late" said
Alice
As Haskins plodded away 10 a tele-
phone he seethed with hatred OF Sci
more After wrestling with the phone
and finding he could get no help. Has
kins phoned his home garage and
then went back TO the two in his car
They're sending tow after me-"
he said. You two can Just catch the
last suburban train II you hurry. It
will relieve my mind If you'll take It.
so that I'll know Miss Clark will get
safely home"
Splendid idea" agreed Selmore.
and leaped out He reached up a
helping hand 10 the girl in the back
seat.