River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-11-05
SYNOPSIS

- i INOF1I9
Meade Stillman shows Colonel Gethelds
of the board of strategy and others his
aero destroyer, a wonderful implement OF
war operated by Tadium
to the government, opposes him. Meade
meets the colonel's daughter. Bernice. tt
whom he is already hero
but he didn't slow down. Then / told
him that he was exceeding the limit.
He looked at me in funny sort OF
way and told me the car was out of
control at first | didn't believe him.
But be pointed to the switch, and !
saw it was in neutral
Il told him to give me the wheel
while he tried 70 stop the engine, but
he refused He seemed really scared.
Then just in front of the Raleigh be
tried to put on the emergency brake
aud choke the engine, and the lever
snapped short off. George casled to
me to jump and leaped to bis feet, as
If be meant to leave the car himself.
Just at that moment, while we
we're running and wabbling all over
the street because be had let go of the
wheel. Mr.. Stillman here jumped and
landed on the running board. climbed
into the car over my lap and kicked
the switch box clear off the dash with
his heel | think it's just about an
even chance that be saved my beauty
at least. if not my life"
ory,, oirolo6 fho rrir.l,S xuoiSf
and drew her close He turned to
Stillman Meade. my boy" he began.
when you saved my girl you saved
all | have in the world since lost
her mother. | can't thank you In
words. but
Colonel" Stillman interrupted in
protest. lit was easy. Please don't
make much of moments work. r.
''Yet it took quick eye and hand
to jump TO that car and quick brain
to comprehend the need and the neces
sary action" his host declared.
"As Miss Gethelds says, the car was
wabbli0g or couldn't have caught it.
1t was turning almost in circle at the
time" explained Meade las for the
jump. I've lived all my life in the
mountains and learned to judge dis
lance"
What ! want to know" chimed In
Bernice. lis why George couldn't have
smashed that switch, as you suggest
ed and Mr.. Stillman didT''
Il suppose he didn't think Of it aft
er bis brake broke" said Meade
quietly.
''No. suppose not" echoed the colo
mel, "but why didn't you tell me you
had met Bernice?"
Meade smiled. 81 didn't know 1T. I"
be responded with frankness.
Bernice laughed. "Oh, he was mod
est in all conscience, dadP she cut In.
after he'd stopped the car he climb
ed out and took off his hat, and j
think it's dead for keeps now he said
to George and walked off. | suppose
be never gave us another thought"
Il most certainly did," Stillman pro
tested. the color again coming into his
cheeks.
And" persisted Miss Gethelds, with
wicked twinkle In her eyes. from
what dad tells me, like young Lochin-
var, you come out of the west"
There. there. Biddy." expostulated
the colonel Mr. Stillman is our guest.
to whom we are greatly indebted, and
he is not used to your methods of hec-
toring your admirers. Don't mind her.
boy"
Miss Gethelds slipped from the arm
of the chair.
''I have no desire to hector Mr.. Still
man, as you say" she retorted. And
to prove my desire to be entertaining
| will If he likes take him all over
town in my motor after luncheon"
Meades speedy acceptance at least
proved that it was sincere.
Gethelds smiled Get back in time
for dinner" be cautioned II have
asked Congressman Gotz to dine and
discuss the Stillman invention"
"Harolds likely to be here too" said
Bernice. IF George hadn't put his
car out this morning we were going
out and see Harold try out his new
plane this afternoon. Well be back in
plenty of time"
When luncheon was finished she was
as good as her word and. loading
Meade into her own little roadster.
started out to show him the town.
II was new experience for the man
beside her and one which filed him
with vague delight Thanks to twen-
ty years of seclusion with his father
in the western mountains, he brought
to it all the enthusiasm of boy un-
dulled by any former experience OF
urban pleasures or feminine compan
ionship.
The fair creature who drove him
through the streets of the beautiful
city was to him a goddess of romance
Had he but known it. he was as re
freshing to the maid as she to him.
His sinewy strength, his bronzed face,
his modest reserve. were to her sophis-
ticated mind new light on the word