The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-04-07
DAMAGES
$4,000


There was no question about John
| Denison, the banker in the suburban
village of Clyde, being a good hus-
band and a fond father. When his
nineteen-year-old daughter, Clara, first
| got the idea into her head she figured
that she would only have to ask papa
and the thing was as good as done.
When the asking took place she met
with a surprise party. (.
buy you a runabout?" he an.
swered. Certainly not! You cannot
be trusted with such a thing. In q
month l should have three or four
suits for damages. and the house would
be turned into a hospital to boot"
"You know grandpa put $500 in your
bank for me. That will buy the run
about and pay for any damages
may do. If 1 run over anybody it won't
hurt them more than $50 worth. Do
give your consent. Think of three
other girls riding about in their own
machines and sticking up their noses
at met"
But you must settle all damage
SUITS" he said at last.
The runabout was purchased and
arrived. Percy Markham also ar
rived. He had an aunt in the village,
and he arrived to Q her. 1t was
said Of him that he was well-to-do
financially, about twenty-five years
old, reasonably good-looking, and
+h,t ho hod .o~a uroo+ +rouhlo m hls
mind. When he walked abroad he
held his head down. That is always
a sign in a young man that he has
trouble gnawing at his heart. In
an old man it simply signifies that he
is looking to find a quarter in the
road.
Miss Clara Denison had been run
ming that runabout exactly & week,
when she turned a bend i'll the village
street one afternoon at a gait Of TWEEN
ty-f1ve miles an hour. Her instructor
had cautioned her that it was easier
to dodge things at that gait than 1t
was standing still. AS the machine
ham turned from the other. Miss
Clara was looking at a hat in a shop
window, and Mr.. Markham's eyes
were on the ground at his feet. Some
one yelled. Then some one screamed.
Then there was a bump, and some one
went into the ditch and there were
more things for the downcast Mr..
Markham to think about.
The victim of the head-on collision
was conveyed to the house Of his
aunt, and a doctor offended his con
tusions. At the bank, Mr.. Denison
leard that there would a $4,000 suit
for damages.
IN eight days Mr.. Markham limped
out. He was crossing the street to
get to the post Office, and his eyes
were on the gravel, when that run
about turned in from another street
None of the spectators Of what oc.
cured computed the gait at 0 than
tw~enty-tl,ree miles an hour. Some
said it was only 22h. Whatever 1t
was in niles, rods. feet and inches,
however, it was enough for Mr..
Markham. He went down under the
impact and was borne away by the
sympathizing public.
When he fir silly emerged it was to
visit the drug store for more arnica.
AS he was on tie sidewalk, he prob
ably felt that he had a legal right to
look down. AS Clara Denison was in
the middle of the street with her run
about she probably felt that she had
a legal right to hit up the speed q
little to pass a carriage. But Fate
was there. The machine took the bits
in It's mouth and ran up on the walk,
and Mr.. Markham wa sent to his
aunt's on a stretcher for the third
time. A third suit for d images!
"What are you going 10 do about
these suits?" asked the father when
he heard of the latest. "You remem.
Der l told you that it would be at your
own risk. Nice mess you have got
into!"
There was no reply, and the girl
didn't seem to be worried. She con
tinued to use the machine, but MIR.
| Markham had had his innings and
was run down no more. So far as the
banker knew. the young man had left
the town. As to the suits, NE won.
dered why they were not called, but
refused to be worried. When the time
came of course he would back his
daughter. @
Weeks passed, and then M day he
was rather startled by the announce
J ment: .
Papa, I have been financierins
again in the interests Of your bank
I saw l could eve pay the amount
Of Mr.. Markham's three suits. and
900"
80 what?"
"He has called here quite q number
Of times, and I guess he wants to
speak to you this evening. I guess he
does"
81 shan't pay him a cent to settle
tie cases. was the reply.
ooh, 1t isn't that. That's no fnan
ciering. It's about my running ovel