The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-04-28

they've got machines now that they
can repair with an old az in ten min
utes it's . big gain. I guess there's
some buttermilk from the churning
this morning. and If"
"Thanks-thanks. but I must be 60
Ing. Very kind Of you. indeed"
II the old pensioners eyes had not
been 30 dim he might have seen
young man blushing like girl as hs
walked towards the gate, but he didn't
sea. and in his hospitality he called
out:
Call again any time you break
down. If amt out here take the ak
and use 1t as long as you want to-"
Father. how could you speak that
way to him." exclaimed the daughter
at his elbow as soon as the latch Of
the gate had clicked.
Lordy. but what have l done now?
young feller's auto breaks down in
front of. the house and we lend him
an ak and tell him he can have it
again any time. You are always ready
to give buttermilk to tramps. and I
wondered why you didn't come out
and offer him a glass. l don't want
folks to think I've turned stingy in
my old age"
During the next month Molly
Thatcher heard from the gossips Of
the village that the young man was
connected with the big new factory
five miles away. She got sight Of him
and his auto at least every other day.
but he peered in vain for her. She
had maids curiosity, but she also
had q maids timidity. At nine o'clock
one moonlight night. as the village
lights were going out and strange
silence was creeping over the land.
she walked down to the gate and
leaned upon 1t. She had not been
standing there ten minutes when the
hum Of an auto came to her ears
from the crest Of the hill quarter Of
mile away. She had heard that the
dark-haired man sometimes rode about
at night. She would wait until the
machine came nearer and then step
behind the rose bush.
Puff. Puff. Chug." And then the
girl heard sharp snap, and some
thing told her that the auto was com.
ing down the hill uncontrolled. She
sprang through the gate and saw 1t
coming. There was only one person
in the vehicle and intuition and the
moonlight identified him. The course
was fairly straight. but the brake was
not working. Second by second the
speed increased and as the machine
came whizzing past she raised he,
hand above her head and screamed
to the man:
Jump for your life! You will be
killed at the BRIDGE"
For the fraction Of second he
looked into her eyes and smiled and
she had to turn and seize hold of the
gate while she waited for what must
happen at the foot of the hill and the
narrow bridge. And when the crash
came she screamed to her father
doing on the porch. and ran scream
ing down the path the wild auto had
followed. When. neighbor aroused
neighbor and half q dozen men gath
cred at the wreck they found the CIR
under the hill seated on the grass and
the head Of an unconscious young mar
in her lap.
"He is dead" some of them wits
pered after look.
mo! No! 1t can't be so!" she al
most fiercely replied.
"He must be taken to the inn and a
doctor called"
mo. take him to our house. Run
for mattress. Lift him carefully. Il
he hadn't been coming down the hill
in hopes-in hopes to see-to See
"Cut and bruised and suffering from
the shock. but no bones broken" re
ported the doctor to young MARSHALL,
friends next morning. Leave hin
right here and don't worry about him.
Two weeks later. as the young mar
was able to ride away in the auto o,
friend he said to the old pensionsl
before departing:
Il may not want to borrow, your az
but l should like your permission tc
call again.
why. Of course. Of course. toll
Molly we must be neighborly."
And will you be neighborly?" va,
quietly asked of the girl % the CAT,
was reached.
He must have read the answer 1,
her eyes. for he came again.