The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-14

Wv long Time Jonn valiant Sat
MotionIess, the Opened Letter In
HE Hand, Staring at Nothing.
Curled worm-like In the drivers
seat. with his chin on his knees, John
Valiant sat with his eyes upon the
distance. For an hour he had whirred
through that wondrous simmer Of
color with a fiippant lettering breeze
In his face. sweet from the crimson
clover that poured and rooted over the
roadside.
"Chum. old man." said Valiant, with
his arm about the bulldogs neck. IF
those photograph chaps had
shown US this. we simply wouldn't
have believed II. would we? Such
scenery beats the roads we're usec to,
what?" He wound his strong fingers
In q choking grip In the serum OF the
white neck. as chipmunk chattered
by on the low stone wall. mo, you
don't you cannibal! He's a jolly lit
tie bessar. and he doesn't deserve be-
lng eateni"
He flled his briarwood pipe and
drew In great breaths OF the fragrant
incense. What q pity you don't
smoke. Chum: you miss such lott"
After q time he shook himself and
Knocked the red core from the pipe
bowl against his boot-heel. II hate to
start," he confessed. half to the dog
and half TO himself. ITO leave any.
thing 30 sheerly beautiful as this!
However. on with the dance! BY the
road map the village can't be far now.
30 long, Mr.. Bull"
He clutched the self-starter. But
there was only protestant wheeze;
the car deciiued to bulge. Climbing
down. he cranked vigorously. The
motor turned over with q surly grunt
OF remonstrance and after tentative
thrcbthrob. coughed and stopped dead.
Something was wrone. With a sigh
he nung OF his tweed jacket. donned a
smudgy Jumper" opened his tool-box,
and. with a glance at his wrist-watch
which told him II was three o'clock.
threw up the monsters hood and went
bitterly to work.
At half past three the investigation
had Got as far as the lubricator. At
four o'clock the bulldog had given 1t
sp and gone nosing afield. At half
past four John Valiant lay fat on his
back. like some disreputable stevadore.
alternately tinkerihg with refractory
valves and cursing the obdurate
mechanism A sharp stone gnawed
frcnziedly into the small OF his back
and Just as he made a final vicious
lunge. something gave way and a
prickling red-hot stab OF pain shot zig.
sasging from his smitten crazy-bone
through every tortured crevice OF his
impatient frame. Like steel from flint
Il struck out a crisp oath that brought
an answering bovine snort from the
fence-corner.
Worming like lizard to freedom,
his eyes puckefed shut with the
vretched pans. John Valiant sat up
and shook his grimy flst In the air.
You silly loafins IDIOT" he cried.
"Thump your own crazy-bone and sec
how you like IT, You-oh. lord!"
His arm dropped. anu a rush spread
over his face TO the brow. For his
eyes had opened. He was gesturing
not at tho bull but at a girl. who
fronted him beside the road. haughti-
ness In tho very hue OF her gray blue
linen walking suit and. In the ele..r-
cut cameo face under her felt cavalry
hat. myrtleblue eyes that held a
smolder OF mingled sstonishment and
indignation. An instant he gazsd. all
the muscles OF HIS face frightened with
chagrin.
II beg your PARDON he STAN
mered. Il didn't see you. / really
didn't I was-I was talking to the
bull"