The Washington herald., 1914-10-08
DAILY SHORT STORY.
on THE ROADSIDE.
BY MOLLY I'BIAsTER.
tcopyrieht. IsiD

tCopyTight. IelIl
Twilight was drawing to an ominoui
close amidst threatening rain Clouds ye
Martha still struggled with the sparl
plug of her motorcycle. She was IA
from shelter, and the road through the
country was long and lonely. Never be-
fore, since she had learned to run heI
cycle, had she found herself in so help
less plight. She had always considered
, herself master of her engine, and yet she
was stranded in a lone country road for
sheer inability to spark that engine.
After an hours struggle !exasperation
gave place to tears, and Martha crumpled
up on the roadside in a paroxysm OF
weeping. Had Martha been less feminine
she would undoubtedly have given her
cycle fling across the street and
marched home by the nearest meadows.
In that case, the young man in the
great touring car which swerved around
the corner could not have gone TO her
assistance
Anything I can do?" he called out rs
he slowed down.
Martha raised a face on which tears
had made little crooked roads of white,
and her glance was hostile. She had been
surprised in a weak moment and by a
chauffeur. Martha's attitude was decid-
rdly superior when she made answer to
tfc man who had offered her Assistance
She realized also that she was looking
C1ythinE but attractive with her dusty
;0ar-stained face and angry eyes.
oh. hoH' laughed the man, not a whit
Il. out by her manner, Il thought you
Gro a man." He glanced down at her
T'7s-Vline cycle costume and tardily re-
moved his can.
Wy clothes are no different from any
g." e'se's." said Martha wrathfuIly
''NAew! ! am sorry stopped" said
w Satellite with laughing politeness.
J 'UrHed to start his machine, then as
6C'nlv jumped down and examined
a la's cycle. There is no reason why
sh~u'd hermit you TO sit here on the
Io@6Fide all night even If you are foolish
couch 10 wan; TO. 1t is going TO rain
shorty" He paid no more attention to
ar'ha than If she had been an OBJ
strererous child. A second later he re-
-ned to his car. 1T is all right now"
he said
You are a most detestable person"
H'arthl informed him coolly. but
thank YOU for helping me-"
Don't mention it," called Sutclifre and
Y hir!ed of down the dusty road.
Martha was far too angry to watch
him 90. 4 moment later She too, was
spinning in the same direction. The
cool air revived her spirits and she found
time 10 laugh at the predicament which
bad made Of her a most quarrslsome
person. She even regretted her rudeness
to the chauffeur notwithstandin his
hrusque treatment Of her. She wondered
where he was employed and what he
must be thinking Of her. Certainly her
disposition would not have recommended
her to him. and she hoped he would not
circulate the story.
Sutcliffe did not circulate the tale. He
did, however, 70 about trying his best
to fnd out who the girl was whom he
had helped. He had taken the number
of her license and II was not difficult
after that to fnd out that her name was
Martha Glover, and that she was a
resident Of Douglas Manor. Sutcliffe spent
his summers usually at Port Washing |
ton, and it was easy to make guarded !
inquiry about the name of Glover. Since /
he was not a chauffeur, as Martha had |
but the owner Of two cars and |
a number Of boats. Sutcliffe realized that |
it was quite an easy matter to make his |
way into the social circle in which |
revolved.
1t was at the quaint little clubhouse |
at the manor that a mutual friend pre- |
sented SUtcliffe to Miss Glover There !
was not a glimmer of recognition in the |
mans eyes as he shook the hand extend |
ed to him, nor did he seem in the least |
overcome by the pleasure afforded him. |
He was, as matter of fact, frigidly |
polite and did not ask for even a fox
trot with her.
Martha had flushed brilliantly when, |
looking up at the stalwart white fan
neled man whom Mrs. Goope was intro
iucing to her. she met the eyes of the !
most detestable person" Instantly in |
ler mind she was flung to the roadside
With disabled motorcycle and tears and