The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-10-07

PHIL, THE CHAUFFEUR


read. Phil the chas1s-v. glanced in
ouiringly at Mr.. King. tr whom he
had been driving all thros gh the sum
mer
shall let her out. sirr'
Mr.. king nodded then. turning con-
fdingly 10 Phil. he began TO tell him
what Phil had long suspected. that
he Was deeply IN love with the beau
tfful Miss Meeks whom he had visit
ed every weekend for many months
Phil listened attentiyely 10 every
word and by subtle understanding
invited further confidence
I don't quite know" Mr.. King
spoke apologetically, why l always
have had a desire TO confide in you,
but I simply must "
Phil smiled proudly and opening
up the valves slowly Increased the
speed until the trees and fences we're
mere specks, so quickly were they
passed Finally they slowed down,
then drew up in front OF low white
house
Come for me about nine" Mr.
King called as ne ran uD the path 10
the house
In the garage Phil removed his
yisored cap and coat TO work on the
ear, and for an hour he cleaned Wig
orously
He was a slight chap. with soft
eyes and winsome smile, really too
refined looking for his position,
though as he worked ne scovled, and
! his face Was not qoise pleasant. He
was thinking with bitterness OF all
Alr King had tolo him. and a great
resentment grew Ia his heart toward
the woman. who IN his estimation
was far from good enough Tor his EN-
ployer
he was stfll bending over the car
when he was called to the telephone.
Phil" Mr.. King called come for
me at once. and bring all our stun
We're going home tonight"
A lump came n Pills throat, and
he couldn't answer When he did. no
one was there
Scarcely fifteen minutes later they
were on their way 10 New York.
For over an hour neither spoke.
though several times Phil cast covert
glances at Mr.. King. TO find he was
looking with unseeing eyes at the
road ahead bathed r the moonlight
At length Phil laid his hand un-
derstandingly on Mr. Kings shoulder
The quiet sympathy brought a half
sob. and he turned and faced him.
"Old chap" he said. brokenly
she's only been playing with me: she
loves another man"
He gently pressed the shoulder. but
said nothing and they sped on and on
over rough roads and smooth fast
and ever faster. following the trail Of
the night into the dawn Just as the
gray was giving way to the roseate
hues OF early morning they reached
the top OF a long hill; at the foot
was railroad crossing Never slack
ening. they started the descent.
About halfway down he shut of
the power and applied the brakes.
There was no slackening OF the ter
rife speed. and h realized that he
could not stop the car: and on the
crossing. reaching entirely across the
road. Was a freight train.
1--WE lost control, his voice was
scarcely more thar whisper.
Mr.. King looked at him as one in a
trance. Phil steered for the side OF
the road where the grass was long
and soft.
When they We're near enough for
one jumping to land on the soft sod
he said in commanding tone:
Jump"
but you" Mr.. King looked hope
lessly at Phil
Clear and incisive, the command
was repeated He hesitated for a
second. half standing, then he leaped
and knew no more.
Phil. afraid to look at him, moved
quickly from under the steering
wheel, still keeping his hand on it. his
left hand on the arm OF the seat Sud
dealy releasing hts hold, when about
ten feet from the track, he jumped
landing fat in the dusty road.
A second later the car crashed into
the freight
When Mr. King came 10. several
hours later. In a farmers house, his
first question was for Phil
"Your chauffeur is safe" he wal
told, but"
What % he questioned.
"Your chauffeur isis a woman"
"A-oh. my Cod" he dropped bach
on the couch
A year later they were IN q brand
new car Phil. Ia a long coat and tiny
hat. was driving.
Phil dear. he said tenderiy, "you
must be proud of having been 9
chauffeur for it isn't every fatherless
girl who would do so much to sup
port her mother. I love you for It
and a thousand other things Yog
saved my life. you know, and all
can do is to lay it at your feet" HI
took the hand resting on the wheel.
Then you don't think ! did wrong
TO disguise myself as a man" She