Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-15

she said, "but knew we could count
on you. Here, take this thing-I don't
want It,"
It was a very serviceable revolver,
cold and smooth as slipped It out Of
It's leather holster. made sure that
1t was ready for use.
TITS perfectly ridiculous taking It
along" she added. We're not going
on any desperate midnight errand.
The mere time of night is the only
thing that's even unconventional. But
Walter wouldn't let me come without
It,"
l asked no questions BY this time
had learned better; and besides
did not greatly care what we we're do
ing, or what was to happen next. l
would be of service IL could, that was
all. Since 1t was to be hopelessly, 1t
might as. well be blindly, too; and the
sense of adventure was gone out of me.
The car swayed and sided gently to the
irregular mutter Of the engine and the
drOwsy whining Of the gears. We
might almost have been motionless, ex-
cept when the flare of some passing
light swept across us, filling with an
uncanny and sudden illumination the
polished interior of the limousine, and
showing me as by the glimpse Of q
lightning-hash the yelled and silent
figure by my side: Here was romance
beyond my widest imagination: night
and hurry and mysterious need, the
swift rush onward through the warm
gloom, the womanhood OF the breath
ing shadow so close to me, whose
thought could not know, whose anx.
iety could only help by doing igno
rantly what she asked of me and then
leaving her in other hands. And all this
that should have stirred me to chivalry
seemed only dull and weary. . thank,
less task. The lines of 1.-THE Last
Ride Together" began running In my
mind, and turned them over and
over. trying vaguely to fill In forgotten
phrases, until the rocking Of the car
reminded me where was and the sar.
donic incongruity of 1t Jared me back
to earth. 1t was always like that. tho
deed parody of dream, the details Of
actual happenings making mouths al
truth that, lay behind them, life sneer.
ing at itself. Here were two lovers
hurrying together through the night,
held silent by secret and bound by
blind trust. And they were riding
through Westchester In motor car,
and the thought of fussy medical
man with q bass voice was the naked
sword which lay between them.
A trolley car, looking like huge
and luminous caterpillar, hung along
side us for moment, then fell behind.
Our engine had not been running per.
fectly from the first; and now as we
jolted over q section of newly mended
road and began to climb bumpy hill,
the trouble suddenly became so much
worse that it looked as though 1t
meant delay. Impure gasoline does
not make one cylinder miss fire regu.
larly for many revolutions and then
explode once or twice with croupy
grunt.
There's something the matter with
the car" said Lady nervously. II hope
we're not going to break down. We
mustn't break down.
1.-THE chauffeur says it's the gaso-
line" answered, "but / don't believe
1t. It's ignition by the sound"
do you know anything about a
carr"
"A little" said; and as we drew
up at the side Of the road. was out
and in front of the machine almost
before the chauffeur had numbered
from his seat He got out his electric
lamp, and began tinkering with the
carburetOr.
Hold on a minute" said. III you
ball up that adjustment, 1t may take
half an hour to get 1t right again. Are
you sure it isn't ignition?"
"Ignition's all right, sir" he grunt.
ed; she's getting too much gas"
Then why are three Of your cylin.
ders all right and one all wrong?" I
snapped. Come around here with
that lamp"
Once the bonnet was open 1t was
not hard to find the trouble. The nut
which held one Of the wires to its con-
nection on the magnetic had dropped
off, and the end of the wire was hang.
ing loose, connecting only when the
vibration Of the car swung 1t against
the binding post. The chauffeur did
not appear grieved.
We're dished." he remarked cheer
fully, I've no other nut like that"
ITS probably in the underpan,"
retorted. We got the pan of, and at
ter some search in the puddle Of grimy
grease, were fortunate enough to flnd
It, A moment later we were throbbinA
steadily on our way.
(To Be Continued.)