The Washington herald., 1914-09-24
DAILY SHORT STORY.
SUBURBAN SALLY.
ny poRoTHY DOUGLAS.

She had been left a most delightful
little home. an excellent garden. and
ample stabling for horses and country
vehicles. In ALL her property amounted
to not more than an acre. and Sally
found, time hanging heavily upon her
hands when she had accorded her old
gardener entire charge Of the ground
He was the only outdoor servant Sally
could afford to keep and he acted also
In the capacity OF stablemGn.
There was an excellent pair of gray
mares in the stable. q small trap and
her grandfathers old family omnibus
The latter was thick with the dust Of
years yet II was the hinge upon which
sally's business venture swung.
II could drive, perhaps. twelve COM
muters to their train each morning and
take them home in the evenings" she
unused. III / charged a dollar q week
and had even ten passengers would not
have to sell of the horses. Ten dollars
week means considerable to me.
Besides" she reflected when she had
all but determined on the idea, "the
horses would have a little exercise and
trifle of amusement. I feel sure
that the gentlemen who occupy those
charming houses on the Elm road will
rather drive In my omnibus than a
crowded street car"
sally's mental prophecy proved correct
| The gentlemen who commuted to the
city from Elm lane were weary Of
crowded carr and leaped at the idea 5ug-
gested on the tiny cards that Sally had
sent about the neighborhood.
Her grandfather's old omnibus had
been polished until It looked like an
ebony mirror. The harness on the mares
shone, thanks to Shippers diligent arms.
Sally, in the high box seat with the
reins in her strong hands, was a charm
ing vision to greet committing business
men as they came from their doors in
the morning and from the hot, dusty
| train in the evening.
II people prone to criticism considered
| Sally mad, because Of her original ven
ture she neither knew nor cared. She
was making so a week in a perfectly
legitimate and altogether pleasant man
| ner
During July and August, when subur-
banites brought out guests and relatives
for a breath OF country air and fresh
vegetables from their gardens. SaIly's
so a week sWelled to SO. Commuters
seemed willing to crowd into her omni-
bus rather than into street cars and
Sally was obliged to permit an occa-
sionaI passenger onto her box seat. This.
determined to remain. as far as pos
sible, a stranger TO her patrons.
II was not until the advent Of Dick
HaIstead into her omnibus that Sally
found her dignity slipping from her. 1t
was impossible for any one to remain
very far above the human throng when
Dicky was near. He seemed born mere
ly for the purpose OF etching smiles on
the faces OF those with whom he came
in contact.
II say. Halstead." yelled Roger Evans
from the inside OF the coach. no one
Is allowed on the box seat unless 1t is
crowded to capacity inside! Come down
of your perch"
'1 am sitting here in the interest Of
humanity" returned Halstead. The on
mare has a wicked look IN her eyes this
morning. She may want to bolt when
she passes the steam roller" He glanced
swiftly at sally's amazed expression. My
manly strength Is required-here on the
box seat"
To those inside the waEonette IL seemed
as II Halstead had made the statement
In a spirit OF fun. In reality he had
feared the of mare for some days past.
Since the advent Of the great steam roller
on the quiet country roads Sally had had
as much as she could do 10 handle the
horses. Her teeth had been set grimly
and the muscles Of her arms ached with
the struggle. yet she had kept herself
we'll in hand and not one Of the pas
sengers realized the fight their little driv-
er had been having with her mares.
Sally was only less spirited than her
horses. She would not admit defeat even
though her soul cried out against the
battle she was putting her physical
strength into.
Dick Halstead also saw the girls de-
termination to master the animals and
he watched the conflict with admiring
but vigilant eyes.
He had found himself profoundly In
love with the girl on the box seat. but
his judgment informed him that Sally
was not a girl to he courted during bust
ness hours She would require moon
light and flowers. just like any ultra
feminine creature. He knew that under
the cloak of dignity she wore there was
a most wonderfully charming Sally and
that was the Sally Dick Halstead wanted !
for his own.
They were approaching the corner Of
the road where they were wont to meet |
the snorting. powerful roller with its
deafening noise.
Halstead turned to Sally. Her face
had gone white. He looked ahead for !
the cause and saw a second roller. more !
gigantic than the first. The mare might |
pass one road-fend, but assuredly Sally's |
hands could not make her pass a second |
1t meant a frightful spill at least on the |
precarlOuS road. Haistead Tot second I
feared TO take the reIns suddenly from |
the girl. She might fight to retain them !
and the horses would bolt with some !
twenty men in the wagonette.
Halstead drew a heavy, swift breath .
and again glanced at Sally.
She felt his glance and realized the |
strain he was under
Here" she said. swiftly thrusting the !
reins in his ready hands: Il haven't the
strength"
Angel" muttered Halstead under his
breath and then the fight began. Never
could Sally have controlled the maddened !
beasts. for beasts they were in that !
desperate moment when they reared in |
one awful plunge as they dashed past
the second roller.
side. one minute topping the next erect
ed. but the situation was saved. Tragedy
had been averted
Sally closed her eyes. her face whittier
than the lace at her throat. The horses /
were running steadily now and straight
Dick put one hand over Sally's as it lay
on the seat beside him. She looked at
him but did not speak. In the wagon
cite twenty men were suddenly bereft of
speech. Perhaps the realization that life
was a wonderful thing hit them forclbIy
after the narrow escape with that other
phantom.
You saved them ALL" Sally said
finally and her voice trembled.
Dick only laughed.
We might all have had a house party
in the village hospital" he said and