The state herald., 1915-03-19
-Autos.- sa,d he man

"Autoo, SAID me m44.
"Sir." began the general. He felt .
pressure on his shoulder 20 firm,
that. irritated. he turned to rsmon-
strate with Henrietta. Ono could not
explain the situation With any degree
of pride in the nrst place. still less 30.
If some one behind were apparently
endeavoring to suppress one.
The Watermelon frowned. I'VE
weren't breaking any speed limit. un-
less the snail is the standard you reg
ulate your speed laws BY" The men
no longer believed that they had
caught the thief. but II they insisted
on taking the party before magis-
trate. each would have to give his
name. With the general present. fic-
titious names would only be so much
waste of breath, and the Watermelon
had no desire to give his assumed
name to anyone In the employ Of the
law.
Nav" sneered the man. splitting
with gusto. "Therere other things to
break besides speed laws"
Yes" agreed the Watermelon.
your empty head"
Now, don't get sassy" warned the
man, growing angry. I'm an officer
OF the law and I'm not going to take
any of your sass"
AN officer of the law can't arrest
a law-abiding citizen" snapped the
Watermelon with righteous indigna-
ton.
"Law-abiding?" jeered the man.
What have we done?"
TRY to, guess" suggested the man
pleasantly and the other laughed.
81 can't guess" said the Water
melon. ''Is It for riding through the
COW lane? We didn't hurt the lane
any. l rode through this same lane
last summer and the Browns didn't
kick up any row over It. In fact, they
were with me. that is. Dick and Lizzie
were."
The man stared and the Watermelon
frowned coldly
| DO you know the Browns?" de-
manded the fellow.
Not very we'll" admitted the Wa.
termelon. 81 was through here last
summer and stopped over night at
their place. They were fine people.
all right. They told me II ever came
this way again to drop in and ! said
| would. 1t was sort of joke. They
gave me a, latch key" He drew key
from his pocket and held It out as
proof Of his integrity.
| Huh" said the man duly. gazing
from the key to the Watermelon.
The second man took It. which
door does It nt?" he asked.
THE front DOOR" said the Water
melon promptly. Go try It II you
want proof"
Not SO fast" said the second man.
who had taken the AFFAIR into his own
hands. IF you know the Browns, tell
me something about them? No, you
chuffer feller, hold on. back there.
Don't try to slip by. for you can't.
You automobilists think that the Lord
| created heaven and earth for your
benefit and then rested on the seventh
day and has been resting ever since.
That's better. Now. then" turning
again to the Watermelon--'how many
in the family!"
How many" Queried the Water
melon. Il don't know. I only saw ma
and pa and the three kids. Dick and
LixEie and Sarah. Sarah was a young
lady about twenty. II remember
rightly; Lizzie was eight and Dick was
bit older. ten or twelve-twelve. I
lnL M \ har IL lrfk
day came In January. anyway"
We'll. Eoldarn IT," laughed the nrst
man. thoroughly convinced. We'll.
say, amt We the easy marksl"
Don't blame yourselves.' said the
Watermelon gently. Father used to
say that anything colossal. even stu.
pidity. was worthy OF admiration"
What did Dick look like7" demand.
ed the second man. loath to give up.
The Watermelon straightened up.
See here. my man." said he sternly.
I'VE are In hurry. You have detained
us long enough. | have told you AZ
much as am going to about the
Browns. It's a year ago this summer
that was there and ! haven't been
dwelling on their beautiful counte-
nances In rapt and joyful contempla.
ton ever since. have seen u few peo-
pie during the interval. Dick was
fairly good looking. but Lizzie was the
cutest. took them through the COW
lane to show them how they could 20
for the cows In a motor.car. farming
up-to-datc. see. Now move aside and
let us pass. please"
mo. you don't" returned the man
sharply. Let that chuYer feller In
the back car come up to the house
with me while try this key. Tom.
you keep the others here. TIL come
! back"
tro BE coNriNrHpJ