The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-02-03
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, the girl who he had believed had bee.
in his rooms that evening, in his aD
sence! Oh, clearly, that was mpos
s;ble. Her tone rang with truth.
She interrupted his train of thought
with a cry of despair. What VIII
they Think"
/ 81 dare say he ventured hopefully
81 could hire team at some farm
house"
"But the delay! It's so late u
ready"
Undeniably late; one o'clock at the
earliest. A thought longer Maitland
hung in lack of purpose, then without
a word of explanation turned and again
began to wade out.
What do you mean to do?" she
cried, surprised.
See what's the trouble" he called
back. Il know a bit about motors
Perhaps"
"Then-but why"
She stopped; and Maitland forbore
to encourage her to round out her
question. 1t was no difficult matter to
supply the missing words. Why had
he not thought of investigating the
motor before insisting that he must
carry her ashore?
The humiliating conviction forced
itself upon him that he was not fgur'
ing to great advantage in this adven.
ture Distinctly humiliating sensa'
ton to one who ordinarily was by way
of having a fine conceit of himself
1t requires certain amount Of ego
tism to enable one to play the ex-
quisite to ones personal. satisfaction; ;
Maitland had enjoyed the possession
of that certain amount; heretofore his
approval of self had been passably en-
tire. Movie could not deny-the
boor had shown up through the polish
of the beau.
IntolerabIe thought! "Cad!" ex-
claimed Maitland, bitterly. This all
was due to hasty jumping at conclu-
sions; If he had not chosen to believe
a young and charming girl identical
with an-an adventures, this thing
had not happened and he had still re-
tanned his OWL good viii. For one lit
tie moment he despised himself hearth
y-one little moment of clear insight
into self was his. And forthwith he
began to mediate apologies, fOrmu-
Lating phrases designed to prove ade-
quate without sounding exaggerated
and insincere.
BY this time he had reached the
car, and-through sheer laundering
IucK-at once stumbled upon the seat
Of trouble-a cbgged valve in the car
bureter. No serious matter; with the
assistance of a repair Kit more than
commonly complete, he had the valve
clear in jiffy-
News of this triumph Ire shouted to
the girl, receiving in reply an -Uh,
thank you'll" SCI ferventIy grateful that
he felt more guilty than ever.
Illuminating unhappily en- the end Of
contemplated abasement, he waded
round the, car, satisfying himself that
there was nothing else cut of gear,
dEEU dppl CuCu0A dAhOQ uU.
Wnereupon the motor began to hum
coutentedly; all was well Flushed
with this success, Maitland climbed
aboard and opened the throttle trifie.
Tire car moved. And then, with q
swish, a gurgIe, and watery whoosh!
it surged forward, up, cut Of the river:
gsllantly up the slope
At the top the amateur chauffeur
shut down the throttle and jumped
out. turning to face the girl. She was
by the step almost before he could
offer hand to help her in, and as she
paused to render him his due need of
thanks, it became evident that she har.
bored little ii any resentment; eyes
shining, face aglow with gratitude.
she dropped him a drolI but graceful
courtesy.
"You are too good!" she declared
with spirit. How can thank your
you might" he suggested, looking
down into her face from his superior
height, give me a bit Of 1ift-just q
couple Of miles UP the road. Though, .
he supplemented eagerly, IF you'd
really prefer, should be only too
happy to drive the car home for you p
1.-TWO miles, did you say?''
He fancied something odd in her
tone; besides, the question was super.
fluous. His eyes informed with puz
element, he replied: why, yes-that
much, more or less. I live :
"Of course" she put in quickly. aI1l
give you the lift-only too glad But
as for your taking me home at thia
hour, can't hear of that
Out
Besides, what would people say!s
she countered, obstinately. eOh, no.
she decided; and he felt that from this
decision there would be no appeal;
II couldn't think. of interfering with
your arrangements
Her eyes held his for single In
slant, instinct with mischief, cleaning
with bewildering light from out a face
schooled to gravity. Maitland expe
rienced a sensation Of having grasped
after and missed subtlety Of a
fusion: his wits. keen as they were, re
cOiled, baff1ed by her flnesse. And thu