Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-11-17
That
Red Auto



passed the house Margaret Holden re-
membered with amusement the inco-
herent tale which Aunt Sophia had
brought home with her from her out
ing the day before, of an up-to-date
chicken thief who was boldly fitting
about the town at night, raiding va
rious roosts, and carrying off their
feathered occupants; but when, during
the course of the same afternoon, the
brilliant machine had whizzed down
the street no less than four times she
began to feel slightly nervous.
I'm glad Aunt Sophia hasn't no
ticed it." she thought uneasily. Aunt
Sophia owned a flock of fancy fowls
which was the apple of her eye, and
she had already been considerably up,
set by the story of the elusive chicken
thief; SO Margaret resolved to say
nothing about having seen a rcd auto
mobile.
But when Aunt Sophia went to bed
at seven o'clock with a sick headache
and Margaret was left to her own de-
vices the memory of that red auto
mobile rose up and haunted her.
In vain she told herself that its
business had probably been an entire
ly legitimate one; that it had right
to pass the house as many times as
its chauffeur wished; that a black
machine or grey machines might
have passed a dozen times and she
would not have noticed it.
1t might not even be the same au,
to which she had seen pass the house
four times, since she had been unable
to make out its number To be sure
there had been only one person in it
each time, but that was the chauffeur
and, disguised as he was by the Gus
tomary auto toys, she could not be
certain that he was the same chauf-
feur.
Margaret shivered a little as she
thought what splendid disguise the
goggles and cap and coat would make
for chicken thief or even a burglar
The black mask of the old-time high
wayman was Insignificant beside
them
81 don't see why this had to be Bird
gets evening out, she thought dole
fully. Il do wish somebody would
come in. Why, I'd be glad to see even
Freddie Lebar and listen to a TWEEN
ty-frst proposal"
She smiled at herself for she had
left home because she was weary of
that young mans persistent proposals,
and was half afraid, too, since she rec
ognized the fact that the constant fall
ing of water will eventually wear
away rock, and Freddie was-well,
Freddie, the best fellow on earth, if
only he did not aspire to be her hus-
band.
Margaret tried to read; then she
walked about the living-room restless
ly. Finally she turned out the lights
and sat down beside front window
street. She was not in utter dark
ness, however, for an electric street
lamp just below the house filled the
room with a soft, dim light.
Il might as well watch as | seem
unable to do anything else" Margaret
thought.
The dim light and the stiffness of
the place had a soothing effect upon
her. and she dropped into slight
doze in spite of herself
How long she slept she never knew,
but she suddenly awoke to find herself
cfftiyr hnf ,o,% i,,
cry nerve alert for the repetition of
some sound which must have aroused
her.
Guess | must have been dreaming"
she thought dazedly Then muffied
throbbing sound reached her ears. At
first she could make out nothing.
Then slowly. very slowly, dark OBJ
ject came into view, an object with a
brilliantly cleaning headlight
Margaret peered out OF the window
as if fascinated. unable to move or
think for the moment.
Slowly the moving object passed in
to the circle of radiance from the cleo
trio street lamp, and she felt her heart
give quick bound, as she made out
the red color of the automobile. Ever
more slowly it advanced until it was
abreast of the house--then it stopped
Its solitary occupant alighted, and
stood examining the house intently, as
if not quite satisfied that it was the
place he sought.
"Oh, what shall | dor Margaret
asked herself wildly. ITS the chick
en- thief I'm certain of it. Aunt
Sophia will never forgive me If | let
him carry on her prize winners.
Should call her, wonder? No, she
is so timid. she would be perfectly
useless. Whatever is done must do
alone"
At last the fellow seemed to make
up his mind that be had mnde e mis-.