The Western outlook., 1915-01-02
|GO|NG TO MARKET
Automobile Smashes Wagon But
the Amateur Driver Comes
Out Winner.
BY DONALD ALLEN.


stood at the kitchen sink washing the
breakfast dishes.
1T must be Uncle joe" replied her
niece, Miss Jennie Waldron, as she
stood wiping the said dishes.
run to the door and see If the barn
has fallen on him"
He's a-fighting wasps." replied the
girl as she looked out.
Il told him yesterday not to med
die with their nests, but he's gone ana
done it. What's he dom nowf"
Running through the currant
bushes"
"And now?"
Hes licked them off with hat
but he's been stung."
Serves him right" and she went
to the door. Joseph Johnson, nave
you been foolin' with them wasps!
They pitched into me as ! was
goin' to harness the hoss," was the
reply.
"And have you been stung?"
| He came to the steps and showed
three great Jumps on his face.
"Well, that settles It,, walled the
wife, as she turned about and dropped
into a chair.
Miss Jennie got some vinegar for
Uncle Joe to apply to his stings, and
then returned to the aunt.
"I wouldn't feel 80 bad about 1t.
"But he was going to drive into the
village, and now he can't"
'He can tomorrow"
"But he was goin' to take butter
and eggs and 'taters, and bring back
tea, sugar and coffee. We are out OF
all Of EN-"
But we can get along"
"Drat the pesky luck!" exclaimed
the aunt as she fiourished the dish
cloth. Men you was to go, but
run tack into my foot and am hob
bling around like an old lame hen.
Now Joseph has got stung, and can't
go, and It seems as If I never wanted
q cup Of tea so bad in my life. He
ought to have his old ears boxed"
IF l could drive horse" began
Miss Jennie doubtfully.
"Y-e-s. Say, believe you could.
Old Peter is as gentle as lamb,
and he knows the way to town and
back as we'll as l do. You simply
hold the lines and he will go right
along. A baby could drive him"
"But If meet team on the way?"
'You pull on the right hand line
and give half the road"
"And when we get there?"
"Oh, Somers, the storekeeper, will
come out and hitch Peter for you
and carry in the things. He will also
see you started for home all right"
''It looks easy" said Miss Jennie.
"It's easier than making a pie-crust.
You've been comm down here three
or four times year for the last five
years, and It's Gurus that we never
taught you to drive"
well, I'll learn now"
"And you'll do fine. l believe this
foot will be we'll by the time I drink |
two cups of tea"
Uncle Joe harnessed old Peter to |
the one-horse wagon. What he |
thought of the venture he didn't say. |
He knew he should hear more from |
his wife about those wasps. When
things were ready the horse started
off at a Jog, and after the first mile
Miss Jennie had full confidence in
herself In going mile and a half |
she met two teams. She was some
what doubtful whether she should pull
on the right or the left line, and so
she pulled neither, but let Peter Jog
along in the middle Of the road. The
other two travellers hauled out into
the ditch and didn't say a word.
Then the amateur driver heard an
auto coming up behind. She looked
back and saw that 1t was a young
man driving it.
Was it the right line she was to
pull in this case?
Or the left?
Or was she to increase Peters
speed, or to stop him dead still?
She didn't remember whether her
aunt had told her that an auto was
entitled to only half the road or all
outdoors, and her confusion was
heightened by the honking of the
horn.
Nothing at all was done on her
part, but the autoist thought there
was room to pass, and he tried 1t on.
Rip! Smash! Crash!
A hind wheel Of the wagon was
.orn off, and the girl and butter and
eggs and potatoes were rolled In the
lust. Peter was turned around to
ACE the other way, but at his steady
I'D age he wasn't going to make mat
.ers worse
The autoist stopped his machine
within a few feet, and came running
back. 1T was all my fault, and I'm
lwfully sorry! Are you at all hurt?"
Aren't you very careless young
nan?" asked Miss Jennie.
Il may be, but guess l thought
7ou would give me a little more of
he road"
Here is everything spoiled, and /
vas going to market"
But don't say a word. I'll fix It
III right"
And the young man took Peter from
he shafts and headed him down the
Dad, knowing that he would turn at
ne right farm. Then he drew the ]
wreck into the ditch, saying: "Pu
ave the wagon maker come out and {
.et 1t and make 1t better than new"
But | was going to market" per-
listed the girl
You were going to trade those /
Kings at the store, you mean?" t
1