The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-03-04

L odctSu VI nlidlSuI IOdu, duO us Jug
ging pace never would have establish
ed speed records. All this, therefore.
was modification of trouble. and
hardly called for the shrill screams of
the girl.
1t all came about through Lonnie's
omnipresent curiosity. No sooner had
her chum and hostess, Mrs. Greg Hol-
sen, dismounted to make a speedy en-
trance into small shop to pay bill
than the blue-eyed, yellow-haired girl
from New York felt an uncomfortable
impulse to seize the wheel and give it
just one wee turn.
In cab-cluttered Gotham Miss Lees
automobile excursions had been me-
chemically managed by her fathers
| driver, with Miss Lee sedately seated
on a rear seat; but Mrs. Holsen's run
about was invariably guided by that
estimable young matron herself. 1t
was easy Miss Lonnie Lee was posi-
tive of It, Besides, this was such an
infinitesimal bit of a machine. Any
one could run it.
Reaching forth a dainty gloved
hand, Lonnie seized the wheel and
gave 1t sharp turn. With Joyous
throb the little machine seemed to
CULVER for a moment; then II positive
ly sprang into the air and raced down
the road.
Miss Lonnie had expected a mild,
lady-ljke response to her touch. Such
a demonstration as this drove the wee.
undeveloped germ of reason out of
her frivolous little head, and scream
after scream, two-luna power, pune
tured the country silence and fright
ened the Carcordians almost into fits.
Carcord was only the smallest OF
dots on the map of the state. 1t was
conservative, reserved. Snd-until now
quiet. Only the bes1 summer so
journers from the largeTcities visited
Carcord. for the possession OF all
available property In this select COM
munity was limited to few discern
ing people-people who knew the ear
marks Of blue blood without asking
one who his or her great-great-grand-
| father was. \
Mrs. Greg Holsen, at Lonnie's first
staccato stab at the atmosphere. ma
terialized In the door of the shop. Her
excited advice to the maid was drown
| ed in more hair-raising shrieks from
the runabout Miss Lonnie was not in
a receptive mood.
The runabout kept to the road. am
bling along in a business-like way,
and, as this was down grade, gradu-
ally increasing In motion. 1t was ear
ly in the season at Carcord. Later
dozen cars would have instantly start
ed in pursuit. but now Mrs. Greg Hol-
sen, with the guests of her house
party, were the only summer sojourn-
ers in the community, and automo-
biles were conspicuously rare among
the natives.
Lonnie Lee. shifting speedily from
center stage, so to speak, left an able
understudy in the pretty person of
Mrs. Holsen. The screams of the de.
parted damsel were as nothing COM
pared to the lung-expanding yells es-
Gaping the fair lips of the young ma
tron. Open-mouthed, the natives con-
gregated. This was a new phase of
city sensationalism.
Just as the hysterical Mrs. Greg
Holsen was about to establish a rec
ord squirt, a red car honked husky
warning to the whiskered oaes inter-
ested in the lady's vocal demonstra-
ton and drew to an abrupt stop in
front of the little shop.
"Louisel" An impatient hand grasp
ed, not too daintily, the arm of the
woman. stop that noise, and tell me
| what 1t is all about"
With one last shrek for good meas
ure. Mrs. Greg obeyed, and turned an
cry eyes on her brother.
"Jacki How can you stand here
when that poor, dear girl may be
dashed to pieces at any moment?"
What. poor, dear girl?" demanded
the youth. impatiently. And for
heavens sake. Louise. quit snifling.
and get down to facts"
Jack Ellston was an athletic youth,
broad shouldered. His night-black eyes
stared impatiently at his sister.
"Well?" he demanded.
why. Lonnie Lee, of course" wall
ed the overweight matron. who
else started away with me in my rum
about-and now it's run away with
heri"
Ellston wanted to hear no more. In
an instant he was in his machine, and
with bound the great car rolled
down the broad pike In the direction
the runaway runabout had taken.
Only the evening before the youth
had ventured to ask certain favor
Of Miss Lonnie Lee. This favor had
been withheld. pending careful
thought, but Miss Lee gave little en-
couragement for a report calculated
to please the Ellston scion Lonnie
Lee at times took herself most seri-
pusly. While winsome In these moods.
she was also quite unapproachable.
Professional careers a-plenty she had
suo nr>rI ont for boroolf NoU aha