Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-02-01
CHAPTER I.
(O0E1IcHT L9/0 6r 6061

brought his car TO matt.
"You signaled?" he called across the
grind of set brakes.
In the blending glare of the search
lights from the two machines, the
gray one arriving and the limousine
drawn TO the roadside, the young girl
stood, her hand still extended in the
gesture which had stopped the man
who now leaned across his wheel.
"Oh, please" she appealed again.
On either side stretched away the
Long Island meadows, dark, sound
less, apparently uninhabited. Only
this spot of light broke the monotony
OF dreariness. A keen, chill, October
wind sighed past, stirring the girls
delicate gown as it's folds lay un-
needed in the dust, fiuttering her fur
lined cloak and shaking two or three
childish curls from the bondage of
her velvet hood. The driver swung
himself down and came toward her
with the unhasting swiftness Of one
trained to the unexpected.
Il beg pardon-can | be Of some
user" he asked.
I'VE are lost" she confessed hur-
riedly IF you could set us right,
should be grateful. I've must get
home soon. have been guest at
house somewhere here, and started to
return to New York this afternoon.
The chauffeur does not know Long
Island; we cannot seem TO find any
place. And now we have lost tire.
! was afraid"
She broke off abruptly, as her COM
panion descended from the limousine.
I'VE only want TO know the way;
we're all right" he explained. This
is my cousin; | came out after her,
you see. Don't get so worried, EN-
ily-wel go straight on as soon as
Anderson changes the tire"
He huddled his words slightly and
spoke too rapidly, the round, good
humored face he turned 10 the white
light was too flushed otherwise there
was nothing unusual in his appear
ance. And his caste was evident and
unquestionable in spite of any cir
cumstance. There was no anger in
girls dark eyes as she gazed
straight before her, only pity and help
less distress.
81 can tell your chauffeur the road"
the driver Of the gray car quietly said.
Have you far to go?"
ITO the st. Royal" she answered,
looking at him. MY uncle is there.
Is that far?"
hU Tan
o'clock. ! will speak to your chauf-
feur."
DO, like a good fellow" the other
man interposed. "Awfully obliged.
You're not angry, Emily" he added.
lowering his voice, and moving near
er her. Since we're engaged, why
should you get frightened simply be-
cause / proposed we get married to-
night instead Of waiting for big
wedding? / thought 1t was good
idea, you know. 1t isn't my fault An
derson got lost instead of getting us
home for dinner, is it?"
Hush. Dick" she rebuked, hot col
or sweeping her face. You, you are
not well. And we are not engaged;
you forget. Just because people want
us to be" Too proud to let her
steadiness culver, she broke the SEN
tence.
If the driver had heard, and ii was
scarcely possible that he had not, he
made no sign. BY the acetylene light
he produced an envelope and pencil,
and proceeded to sketch a map show
ing the route to the limousine's chauf-
feur.
Understand it?" he queried, con-
Guiding. He had certain decision of
manner, not in the least arrogant, but
the result of a serene self-surety
that somehow accorded with his 1.-THE,
trained grace of movement. A judge
Of men would have read him an ath-
lete, perhaps in an unusual line.
Eyes, sir" the chauffeur replied
I'll get Miss French home in no
time after l get the tire on"
The indiscretion of the spoken
name was ignored, except for a slight
lift of the hearers eyebrows.
How long does it take you to
change a tire?"
About half an hour; it's night, Of
course"
An odd, choking gurgle sounded from
the gray machine, where a dark figure
had sat until now in quiescent mute
ness.
Half an hour!" echoed the gray
machines driver, and faced toward
the chuckle. Rupert, it isn't in your
contract, but do you want to come
over and change this tire?"
I'll do it for you, Darling" was the
sweet response; the small figure
rolled over the edge of the car with a
cat-like celebrity. Where are your
tools, you chauffeur? Quick!"
The bewildered chauffeur mechan-
ically reached for a box on the run
ning-board, as the young assistant
came up, grinning all over his malign
dark face.
ooh, quicker! What's the matter,
rheumatism? They wouldn't have you
in a training camp for motor trucks
on Sunday. Hustle, please"
There never had been anything
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