The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-02-16
MY NEW
AUTO
Bv ROBERT MATHEWSON

pie, the tonneau being Of aluminium.
1t was rather early in the spring to
ride for pleasure. for the roads were
still execrable. but l stuck to the best
Of them and was delighted with the
performance of my vehicle.
was driving along, feeling very fine
in my new toy. for the purchase Of
which had been saving for a couple
Of years. when 1 overlook a young
man and a young woman hurrying
along, the man carrying suit case, the
woman holding up her skirts to keep
them from the mud. The man, hear
ing an auto, looked back and, seeing
me coming, stood in the middle of the
road and motioned for me to stop. I
pulled up, Of course. He was fashion
ably dressed, as was the girl, who was
as pretty as peach.
BEG pardon for stopping you, sir.
Would you mind giving US a lift?
We are anxious to catch train on
the c., L. and B. railroad. If you
would take us over there you have no
idea what favor you would do u.s."
Now, the c., L. and B. railroad runs
parallel with the road l was on and
can only be reached by crossroads
which l knew to be in bad condition.
l had no mind to put my machine to
such a test, so told the gentleman
that was sorry, but hadn't time to
go SO far, whereupon he took me
into his confidence, telling me that he
and the girl were q runaway couple.
The girls father was dead set on her
marrying a broken down British noble
man three times her age and was to
have taken her abroad the next day
to be married. the old fellow being so
infirm that he couldn't stand journey
to America.
l turned to look at the couple, and
the girl gave me an appealing glance
that won me.
What station do you wish to
reachT" asked.
"Carrington.''
That's fifty miles,"
with this splendid machine you can
do it in an hour; certainly in an hour
and a half"
mot on the roads I shall have to
use."
The girl put her handkerchief to her
eyes and began to cry. At the same
time we heard the distant chug Of an
auto coming at full speed.
I'VE are lostr' she walled.
MY friend" said the lover in a
tremulous voice, I'VE are rich and able
to pay you any price for the use Of
your auto. Name it."
l had no mind either to sell my auto
or to take advantage Of the necessities
of pair of lovers. "All right" said;
TN take you over, but not for pay.
All the world loves a lover. and I'm a
lover myself"
/ let her out and on reaching the
next road that led toward the railroad
turned into 1t. Soon after this we
heard the automobile behind us pass
the road we had taken, but when it
pulled up. returned and followed US
we knew that it was after US. The
man looked very nervous, and the girl
was quite hysterical. For a matter
OF ten miles we were on a very fair
road, then struck one not so good.
had distanced the pursuing father on
the fair road. but had scarcely entered
upon the inferior one when | heard
an ominous chug-chug, indicating that
he was not far in the rear. put on
full speed, but we began to bounce,
and with every thank you, ma'am,"
l WINGED. I had not intended to ex-
pose my auto to such a strain.
slowed up.
For heavens sake. 60 onv' cried the
girl.
The noise behind sounding nearer l
put on a little more speed | heard
the two whispering, then the man said
to me. "Slow up for a moment" l did
SO, and to my surprise he jumped out
woods.
GO on said the girl.
Not understanding the strange pro-
ceeding 1 did not quite know what to
do and sat thinking about it when l
felt something cold at the back Of my
neck. Turning, l saw the girl poking
a revolver at me.
''Move on mighty quick" she said
In a mans voice.
There was nothing for it but to do
her bidding. l knew now that l had
been fooled by a pair Of thieves, that
one Of them intended to take the swag
away, while the other would force me
to lead the pursuers on while his pal
secured the plumber. 1t didn't make
any difference how many ruts we
went over, the girl l had behind me
insisted on going faster and enforced
her demands at the point of the pistol.
I knew my beautiful new auto was
getting frightfully damaged, but what
could 1 do? 1t was a terrible ride
over roads that got worse every mile.
When we reached point within half
a mile Of the station we broke down
completely and ran against telegraph
pole, and landed in a soft ditch. Get
ting up. saw the girl limping for the
station.
My machine was only good for the