The Parker post., 1915-08-28
HENDRICKS PLACE
He Held 1t Only Long Enough to
Make Sure of a Better.
By cLARlssA MAcKIE.

|
| Evelyn Post acknowledged the re-
spectful greeting of the tall, straight
young man in the doorway. Hen
drick did not look the part Of chauf-
feur-not exactly; he was altogether
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 disconcertingl like men OF
her own class. 1t was puzzling and
not at all desirable in a menial. There
even were times when she found her.
self addressing him on terms of equal
| ity. Of course, she always followed
such a 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, Hendrick,
said Mrs. Post; return and drive
| Miss Post over to Mill Hill"
II 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
I-Hendrick was so dark-she BIZ her
lip and stamped her foot on the rugs.
/ She would tell her mother to dis
charge Hendrick in the morning. He
was presumptuous!
"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 moth
| 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 a note of
sternness in his voice.
$50 you said before" returned
Evelyn coldly. please drive on.
promised Mrs. Beatty I 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 it's 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
impact 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; ut is more than unsafe
1t is foolhardy. If you will walk
across. l will try and take the Cal
over and then pick you up on the
other side." He opened the door.
eff you are afraid, Hendrick, will
drive the car myself" said Evelyn
with wonderful self-control. Hendrick
would be discharged the instant they
reached home-she would see about
that.
IF you are afraid, Hendrick-'
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 baby. She could
feel his heart pounding beneath her
hand. She hated him!
| 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.
i Evelyn, hating him with all he1