Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-12
THIRTEENTH EPISODE.

Are you speaking to me?" asked
Tommy, icily.
The man did not answer. He merely
attempted TO get hold Of the dorknob, and
failed.
Better luck next time" said. Tommy.
please open the door, said Celestia,
II have to go for drive"
What do you want mixing in this?'
said the driver. Tommy did not answer,
but said to Celestia:
II wouldn't go alone with this man.
why not take me to look after you? /
won't speak even once. IL you'd rather
not"
Better get in, Miss said the driver.
Something wrong here" said Tommy,
as Celestia pushed him gently to one side.
and started to open the door for herself.
Hurry up" said the driver.
Celestia hurried and Tommy's face be
gan to flame with rage. At the same
time he formed pretty shrewd guess at
the condition Celestial was in.
How can you tolerate such irsolenceT'
he exclaimed, his brows lowering.
IL have to do everything the driver
says" exclaimed Celestia, in an UNI
emotional voice.
She, climbed into the car, and shut the
door after her, the driver sprang to his
seat, and Tommy stepped calmly on TO
the footboard. The driver, seeing this,
attempted to throw Tommy off the foot
board. Tommy simply got his fingers in
the mans collar, jerked him clear off the
car, and let go. The man fell heavily on
his head and lay still.
IF you have to do everything the driver
says" cried Tommy. in a jubilant voice,
II shall be the driver! Jump in, Freddie,
while the jumping is good. may need
YOU"
Freddie jumped in and seated himself
by Celestia with every evidence Of pride
and Importance. and the car Iurched for
ward lust as the former driver began to
show signs OF life.
II was only a hundred yards to where
the road entered the woods dense sec
ond growth OF spruce, birch. pine, bal
sam and larch, succeeded after about a
mile by a splendid fragment of primeval
forest Here Tommy brought the car TO
a stop, got out, and opened the door OF
the tonneau.
"Td like you to sit in front. by me. .
he said gently.
And Celestial obeyed him like an auto
maton.
There's dirty work here" thought
Tommy. and once more the car went
forward. He addressed various questions
to her. but got no answers II was as II
she did not hear him. She sat bolt up
right. looking straight ahead with unsee
ing eyes. II was only when he spoke
words OF phrases with a semblance OF
command that she showed signs of un-
Outstanding. AS when he said. 'Don't
try to fight this road. Take It easy
Lean back"
The road came out of the forest. passed
between two swamps. and assembled
long hill. fenced. and pastured. from
which there was a view OF rough farm
land. and in the distance q wooden vii
lage and a steeple in the midst
At the bottom of the hill a car had
skidded from the road and came to grie
in a Doggy ditch The driver was tTyinl
10 lever 1t out with a fence rail. Tive
women stood watching him. At the sount
of Tommy's car sweeping down upon
them. they looked around, and Tommy
recognized Mary Blackstone and Mrs
Gunsdorf. His face became white and
grim. He gave his engine more gas. and
rushed by them. hurting column oil
thick dust high In the air.
Mrs. Gunsdorf, at sight of CeIestia, be
came for a moment like a stone image OF
horror. Only her head turned a little
and 80 standing. she looked after tho
car. Then very slowly. as IL she wa
lifting heavy weights. her arms twisted
ana tense rose from her sides. reached
the Northumberland then without a. word
or a sound. she dropped dead IN the dust
Next TO the church in the village stoo,
the little parsonage. car was draw
up in front OF this. and In the middle O
the road. looling expectantly at the cal
which Tommy was driving. stood Prof
suiieter with a white flower In hi,
button hole Also on the lookout
was a clergyman and a lady who wa
doubtless his wife.
To Tommy the scene Was like a PAGE
in book written for children in words