Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1912-08-08
MY NEW
AUTO
Bv ROBERT MATHEWsON

| Ihad just bought a new automobile
one Of the new light make-for $l.O5C
and was trying 1t on the road. 1t waa
4 very pretty machine to seat Ave PEG
pie, the tonneau being of aluminium
1t was rather early In the spring to
| hide for pleasure. for the roads were
still execrable. but l stuck to the best
Of them and was delighted with the
performance OF roy vehicle.
1 was driving along. feeling very fine
IN my new toy. for the purchase Of
Of years. when overlook . young
man and a young woman hurrying
along. the man carrying a suit case. the
woman holding up her skirts to keep
them from the mud. The man. hear
Ing IN auto. looked back and, seeing
me coming, stood In the middle Of the
road and motioned for me to stop.
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 lift7
We are anxious to catch train on
the c., l.. and Il. railroad. II you
would take us over there you have no
idea what favor you would do u.s."
Now, the c.. l.. and Il. railroad runs
! parallel with the road | was on and
can only be reached by crossroads
which ! knew 20 be in bad condition
had no mind to put my machine to
| such test. so l 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 a 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 be couldn't stand journey
to America.
I turned to look Mt the couple, and
the girl gave me an appealing glance
| that won me
What station do you wish to
reachw | asked
Darlington"
That's fifty miles"
with this splendid machine you can
| do 1t "a an hour; certainly In an hour
| and half"
Not on the roads 1 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 Mt full speed,
I'VE are lostv' she walled
MY friend" said the lover in a
tremulous voice. I'VE arc rich and able
to pay you any price for the use Of
your auto. Name It"
I had no mind either to sell my auto
or to take advantage OF the necessities
| Of pair OF lovers. "All right" | said !;
"I'll take you over. but not for pay.
| All the world loves q lover. and Pm a
lover myself"
| l 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 1t
pulled up, returned and followed us
We knew that 1t was after US. The
man looked very nervous. and the girl
| was quite hysterical For 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 l 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. y
l WINGED. l had not intended to ex-
pose my auto to such q strain.
slowed up.
"For heavens sake, go orr cried the
girl.
| The noise behind sounding nearer
| put on little more speed. l heard
the two whispering, then the man said
to me, 'Slow up for moment" I did
so, and to my surprise he jumped out
with the suit case and took to the
| woods.
"Go on" said the girl.
| Not understanding the strange pro
ceeding l did not quite know what &c
do and sat thinking about 1t when
felt something cold at the back OF my
neck. Turning. I saw the girl pokinl
revolver at me-
Move on mighty quick" she said
In a mans voice.
There was nothing for It but to dC
her bidding. knew now that l hat
been fooled by pair OF thieves. tha
one of them intended to take the swal
away. while the other would force IN,
to lead the pursuers or while his pa
secured the plumber. 1t didn't max,
any difference how many ruts w,
went over, the girl I had behind IN,
insisted on going faster and enforce,
her demands at tho point OF the pistol
l knew my beautiful new auto wa.
getting frtxhtfully damaged, but wha
could I do? II was terrible rid
over roads that got worse every mile
When we reached a point within hal
mile OF the station We broke dowr
completely and ran against a TELEGRAPH
| DDle and In rtioh In n Saft iisrh Cot