The Detroit times., 1913-08-09

CHAPTER, XVI.


Aurelie The same child-Aurelie who
used TO dive among the watr-hya-
ctnths In futile chasing of the baby
sharks In the south Louisiana bayous?
Done come TO occupy the land, But
now he was more bewildered "Reck-
on I'd take you out home. Aurelie
but John he's got SO filled with the
Holiness spirit The Holiness Breth-
ren done turned John hard against
the show business"
I'VE won't stay another minute"
cried Aurelie. I'm call up the Metro
pole and have EN- send their taxicab!"
~ Wiley fell In his chair. Aunt Abby
stared. That would be the last word.
Aurelie skipping out OF town in taxi.
For there was taxi. Earlville had a
taxa. Where there is an E,lks club in
brownstone and hotel-tapestried
dogs In four colors-there must be a
taxi But never had this blatant taxi
desecrated the streets OF Rome
"Aurelie!" gasped Mr. Curran.
Take the street-car from the June
ton. But the taxi-gee whiz,"
Too late. She flew TO the telephone
and ordered the taxi
Miss Norman sat back and settled
her skirt under her belt. Well" she
drawled. II had a nap, anyhow, on the
old town. And, seeing that we've put
II on the blink, might just as we'll
light pill" She took a cigarette out
OF her bag MIR. Curran, this country
air gives me a pleasure"
She lighted IT, Aunt Abby stared
I'm a church-member in good stand
in" she cried, and fled through the
office and back up TO her peach pre-
serves
Mr. Curran looked wildly across the
Square. People were standing about
watching the News Office. Old Marshal
Bee was sticking his head out of the
undertakers, and even the prisoners
In the basement jail OF the courthouse
we're gazing across the lawns. Mr..
Curran retreated farther into his shop.
Great heavens, here he was entertain
Ing a blonde-haired actress, and she
smoking cigarette In broad day
light in front of the News, too, And
he running for congress.
Then up the street that taxi came
whoofing. and stopped before the
News All the CONSERVATION before
was as nothing. Business ceased all
about the Square. The grocers' clerks
stood with jaws hanging and potato
measures In their hands The cook
came out of the Gem restaurant-Chi-
cago Home Cooking-and lawyers and
dentists put their heads out of the old
stone-slabbed windows and Vawter,
the artist, came down with his camera
to get postcard picture. And all
4. he time the county deputy. Amos.
| and old Marshal Bee doddered at each
other across the Square as TO whose
jurisdiction should extend toe Miss
Norman's MONDAY nap. But when the
taxi stopped they stopped also.
If that-air machine" shouted Dep
uty Amos, runs more'n four mile an
hour in this town, it air your bounden
duty as city officer to stop EN-"
I'll stop EN-" cackled Marshal Bee.
"if catch 'em!"
Mr. Curran was in despair. Azure
| lie. don't go. IL makes ii worse than
ever Why. people aren't against you,
Only some old tabbies--lots of folks
are proud OF you-they ask me about
you"
Aurelie was pushing Uncle Michigan
into the taxi Miss Norman followed
languidly. They had trouble with Tn
Gle Michigan's wooden leg and the
chauffeur assisted Uncle Mich,
whispered Aurelie. you're just going
to surprise EN- They never thought
OF you and your shiny old leg in an
automobile"
Done goin' TO see the world"
chuckled Uncle Mich; and Miss Nor
man patted his hand. Amt he the
game old sport--leg and all"
"Oh, Aurelie," gasped Mr.. Curran
again. Tell Miss--er-what' s-her-
name-to put out that cigarette; I'm
running for Congress.
well. run along. We amt going
to hurt Congress- She sat up very
straight. and then gave the taxi man
a dollar. You just tear around the
Square as fast as you can three times
and then out High-st. And if you get
arrested we'll pay your fine. And run
over everybody you can except dogs
and babies and chickens
Young Mr.. Van Hart. from his low
Office windows, heard every word. He
saw his mother driving up High-st.
slowly and dignifiedly as the Van Hart
trap was wont TO go. And he saw the
red taxi start. Aurelie sitting up With
her odd foreign air. And Miss Nor
man with that cigarette, while all the
populace OF Rome. Iowa, marveled. He
stood clutching the window shade and
groaned "Aurelie, And | loved you,
Aurelie!"
He heard the taxi go whoofing by.
Then he heard Old Dutch snort as MS
mothers trap turned out or High-st.
He looked out and then dashed down
stairs. When he reached the corner
the taxi was making its second lap,
and his mother was speaking calmly
to the backing horse. Harlan ran TO
seize Old Dutch's bit. And then the
taxi went past them hurting the cor
ner dust clear into Dickinson's vege-
table boxes. People simply waited.
Even the dogs ,gaped mutely. Neither
to right nor left did Aurelie glance.
Old bootlegger Mich sat still between
her and this cheerful woman with the
cigarette. Then the taxi. with final
derisive snarl, made its last circuit
of the Square and shot out High-st.
Old Dutch flew up on his hind legs.
while a tall, dignifed young man
stood pulling HON down In the whrl
OF dust and leaves kckeid by the taxi
all over his immaculate summer suit.
Mrs. Van Hart looked calmly after
the taxi. Harlan, cvasn't that Azure
lie Lindstrom?"
1T was. mother" he answered