The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-29

again and became bum and hobo
the better. Billy did not care for him
He was the only one who would suf-
fer, and every moment he was with
her only made the suffering worse He
turned to Henrietta with relief from
the thoughts that were insistently both
ering him and would not let him alone
Father was never in motor car,
said he "He used to say that his fu-
neral would be just another irony OF
fate. The only chance he had to ride,
he wouldn't be able to appreciate it."
Il know that is is terrible to be
poor" said Henrietta. but think peo-
pie ought to enjoy other things than
just those that money can give"
What things?"
why, the woods and fields. beat
tiful day"
Rent day. probably. and no rent
money. Father used to say when you're
poor. every day is rent day."
Were nearing the end OF the
woods" cried Bartlett. "And I think ]
see bouse."
And then the car stopped.
"Gi dap" cried Bartlett
Henrietta leaned forward. The gen.
:ral was hastily trying all the brakes,
slipping one lever then the other, fuss
ing here and fussing there, and Hen
rietta knew the symptoms of approach
ing trouble.
Father. is there anything the mat
teri"
ooh, no." pleaded Billy. Not here?"
The. Watermelon leaned forward and
opened the door. Every one get out"
I h. sElNa ,,,it< Il. L1,,e.
We mustn't monkey with the car un-
less we want pile of junk on our
hands"
He stepped out and turned to help
! the girls.
Not at ALL declared the general
Il know all about car. / can fix it
directly" He alighted and started to
raise the bonnet. The Watermelon in
tervened.
Look in the gasoline tank first" he
begged.
The general was already deep in the
the carbureter-"
"Carbureter nothing" pleaded the
Watermelon. IT'S gasoline
Yes" agreed Henrietta indiscreetly,
maybe it is"
That won't help us any," snapped
the general angrily. Where can we get
more? Much better to have something
else wrong"
Not for the car" said the Water
melon. None of US would be able to
fix it"
MY dear SIR" said the general
warmly, q have owned this car for
a year"
a know" murmured the Water
melon Il think it marvellous"
Il am perfectly capable"
will you bet with me-" interrupted
the Watermelon. that its the gaso-
line? Alphonse may have filed the other
car at the expense of this one"
1t was the gasoline. or rather the
lack of gasoline, that had stopped the
That's where a horse beats a car"
lamented Henrietta. You don't have
to keep bothering with their works"
She sat down on the car step and
clasped her hands in her lap 1--WE
could spend the night here, but in the
morning we wouldn't be any nearer
gasoline than we are now"
Pm not fretting about gasoline"
said Bartlett. Il want something to eat
Let's all go to that house.
We can't leave the car objected
the general.
No one could go off with the car"
argued Henrietta.
And we can get them to send a |
horse" added Bartlett i am starving
Il feel like the car" said Billy. Il
have no gasoline"
Il cannot leave the car" reiterated |
the general. and Henrietta realized that
that settled it as far as the general
was concerned, and that it would take |
her greatest tact to unsettle it.
Il will go and get farmer and !
horse" said the, Watermelon. unexpeet-
eddy siding with the general. I'VE would
have to be here anyway, to see that
they towed it in right"
"A horse would do" said Billy
gravely. We don't need the farmer"
Il have hopes of Billy sometimes"
said Bartlett, regarding his daughter
Il sometimes even think
that she may grasp the difference be-
tween sunshine and rain and realize it's
best to keep out of the latter"
Billy looked hurt Father doesn't
like me any more" said she. adding
HE thinks I'm getting
rather too old for him. anyway"
Bartlett blushed, Henrietta laughed.
and the general roared.
You grown-up daughters are so
hard to explain" said he. Not once
do you offer to be sister to us"
Il wouldn't be sister to father for
anything" protested Billy. He must be
fifty, at least"
Bartlett flushed angrily He dared
not glance at Henrietta. 81 am forty
i've" said he colby. which was at least
TWO years and half as near the truth
as Billy's rash statement.
Yes" sneered Billy. I'm only eight
EN-"
Henrietta changed the subject When
one is eighteen one can announce the
act loudly and cheerfully When one is