Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1915-07-16
HENDRICKS PLACE
He Held 1t Only Long Enough to
Make Sure of a Better.
Rv cLARlssA MAcKIE.

too handsome, too self-possessed, with
an air of authority that did not rest
well on a servant. But his skill in
driving compensated for these other
faults. He had remained in the en-
ploy of Evelyn's mother for three
months and all during that time he
had kept his place.
But Evelyn did not like him-she
was positive of that; because he
looked disconeertingly like men of
her own class. It was puzzling and
not at all desirable in a mental. There
even were times when she found her
self addressing him on terms of equal
ity. OF course. she always followed
such lapse by unusual haughtiness.
Altogether the advice of Hendrick
was rather disquieting to his young
mistress.
Now he stood, quietly attentive,
waiting for his morning orders.
Get the morning mail, Hendricks"
said Mrs. Post; return and drive
Miss Post over to Mil HILL"
Il beg your pardon. Mrs. Post, but
the river is rising and the Mill Hill
bridge is unsafe" said Hendrick.
Then go around the other way
the long road" returned Mrs. Post.
Hendrick bowed and disappeared.
At eleven o'clock Hendrick returned
with the car and announced that the
long bridge was down in the flood and
that the upper bridge could not long
hold up against the waters pouring
from the swollen creeks which were
tributary to the river.
Evelyn paused with one foot on
the step of the car.
I'm sure it cannot be so bad she
said carelessly. You will drive over,
Hendrick; Mrs. Beatty's please"
Hendrick hesitated, almost as If he
were going to demur; then he
shrugged his shapely shoulders,
climbed to his seat and started the
car.
Evelyn found herself studying her
chauffeur's stern, clear-cut profile.
How becoming was the neat tan livery
-Hendrick was SO dark-she BIT her
lip and stamped her foot on the rugs.
She would tell her mother to dis
charge Hendrick in the morning. He
was presumptuousi
"Presumptuous? In what way?"
asked her conscience.
Evelyn Post knew that the chauf-
feur's presumption lay in the fact
that he stimulated her interest-noth-
ing beyond that
At the foot of the slope that led
to the bridge. Hendrick stopped the
car and turned to Evelyn.
do you still wish to cross the
river, Miss Post?" he asked.
Evelyn glanced indifferently at the
bridge in the distance. Certainly
drive on Hendrick."
THE bridge isn't safe. Miss Post, :"
objected Hendrick, with note of
sternness in his voice.
$50 you said before" returned
Evelyn coldly. please drive on. l
promised Mrs. Beatty would be
there at twelve o'clock, and it is now
half past the hour"
The car glided down the hill until
the front tires touched the timbers
of the bridge. Evelyn glanced at the
river boiling between its narrow
banks. She could see that it was ris-
ing rapidly, and the wooden planks of
the bridge were wet where the waters
hao splashed up between them. The
frail structure trembled at the first
impac, of the heavy car.
Hendrick got down and came to the
tonneau, one gauntleted hand resting
on the door.
1T is unsafe to take the car across
the bridge. Miss Post" said the chauf.
feur patiently; 1T is more than unsafe
it Is foolhardy. II you will walk
across. will try and take the car
over and then pick you up on the
other SIDE" He opened the door.
'If you are afraid, Hendrick, will
drive the car myself" said Evelyn
with wonderful self-control. Hendricks
would be discharged the instant they
reached home-she would see about
that.
A. JOa 0AC diAoiAt
Evelyn was repeating when the chauf
feur leaned forward, deftly snatched
her from the seat and ran across the
bridge. holding her in his strong arms
as If she had been a baby. She could
feel his heart pounding beneath hel
hand. She hated hint
The bridge swayed little under
their united weight. They reached
the other side and Hendrick dropped
his burden and ran back to the car
He leaped to his seat and started the
machine across the bridge.
Evelyn. hating him with all hel
heart. saw the bridge culver under
the weight of the big car. She longeC
to cry out and send him back, bu
pride stilled the words on her lips
The structure sagged when the cal
reached the middle. There was {
rending crash of timhers, and then (
horrible thud from the river beneath
She saw the water boiling up through
the jagged remains Of the old bridge
The car and its driver had disap
peared.