The Washington herald., 1912-01-28
LOST "RULE" BOOK
CAUSES TROUBLE
Hoosier Buys Automobile, and AZ
ter Taking a Pleasant Spin
Cannot Stop Engine.

The story Of the man who hitched him
self to an OK and then galloped through
town vainly beseeching somebody to stop
us" or head us on finds an up-to-date
parallel in the case Of John Hicks. Of
Wolf Lake, Ind, who recently purchased
a Flanders 20"
The car vas delivered at Mr.. Hicks
big farm. Early the next morning he es-
sayed his first drive. His instruction
book was his teacher and, step by step,
he followed its orders, starting his mo-
tor and rolling first on low gear and then
on intermediate. to the excellent gravel
road which passes his home. Here he
engaged the high speed and hummed
blithely on HIS way. The instruction
book slipped from his hands and a gust
of wind blew II of the seat. But Mr..
Hicks failed to note the loss in the pleas
ure OF the smooth way his car was run
ming. over hills and dales. through the
rolling country TO town, he slipped along.
Mr.. Hicks wasn't beating it," about six
teen miles an hour was the rate which
seemed to suit the adjustments
Wolf Lake was reached and the post
office, where Mr.. Hicks intended to stop,
was being rapidly approached. Here a
new problem arose. What was the for
mula for full stop? o..
him where he had left his instruction
book. 1t wasn't there. He stole glance
from the roadway. The book had plainly
disappeared. a knot, of friends on a COR
ner waved concentrations on the stylish
appearance. Of his purchase. Mr.. Hicks
kept on right through town, eyes to the
front, at rate of sixteen miles an hour.
Well into the country on the opposite
side, Mr.. Hicks took stock OF the situa-
tim Ia eTfTdrp aynnrfnnanfG
Of which seemed to develop hesitancy in
the car. In the meanwhile, he found
his hands full evading teams in the
road. From time to time he was COM
PEELED to pass horse-drawn vehicles in
narrow spots. But his gait never varied.
Five miles from town there was a flne,
long hill. Hicks hoped that this would
stop the car He went up 1t at the rate
of sixteen miles an hour.
Makes First Turn.
Something plainly must be done, Mr.
Hicks determined. At one side OF the
road, with no ditch or fence in the
way, lay a freshly-pIowed field. Mr..
Hicks turned into that. The car slowed
perceptIbIy. but kept moving Then it
described a majestic circle and came back
on the road When Mr.. Hicks squared
away again, he found himself on the
return trip. After few fest Of the good
going the car again picked up its for
mer gait of sixteen miles an hour. In
Que time Mr.. Hicks found himself again
bowling through Wolf Lake. There were
more salhtations from the sidewalk, none
Of which he felt justified in returning.
At the Hicks farm, Mrs. Hicks was
waiting to take a promised part in the
days motoring festivities. She saw with
surprise that her husband apparently
had no intention of stopping. As he
whirled by at a. rate OF sixteen miles
an hour. she called to him. without look
ing up from the wheel, Hicks shouted a
reply. the tenor Of which she failed to
catch.
BY this time Hicks worked OUT oeH-
mite plan OF campaign. Two miles be-
yond his place there was famous bed
Of sand that had been a scandal to the
advocates of good roads in the country
for years. Into the deepest part Of this,
where many a big car had stuck until
help arrived. Hicks sent his machine.
The car slowed down, TO about nine