The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-10
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
A Triple Miracle.

- -
q Y
az SARA LoNcLEY

A Triple Miracle.
BY SARA LoNeLEY.
((Copyright. 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
rETSY picked her way through q
TX debris Of marble chips, shavings
- and, powdered plaster, evaded
piles Of lumber and sawhorses and
lodged pools Of mortar ready to catch
the unwary. For the great domed
hall Of the Browns city house was be.
ing remodeled according to plans
drawn by Harrison, the celebrated
architect.
Reaching the door OF the library, she
unlocked It, cropping her way in the
dark among the happy pieces Of should.
ed furniture, and drew up window
shade to let In some sun.
mercy! How close and stuffy ana
dusty! But must call mother on the
phone and tell her got here safely
In my new roadster and I'll start for
Glover Hill as soon rs l have some
luncheon at the hotel"
She threw up the windows and car
ried the phone over. "I'll be home in
time for dinner. mother. I'll start
back at 2. haven't found your gray
velvet coat yet. but I'll get some Of
the workmen to help me up the stairs.
What? Raining UP there? Why, it's
lovely here. The suns out and tho
sky is as blue as June! Oh. don't wor.
~ about the car. I'm not afraid Of
little wind; besides I've got to learn
to take all kinds Of roads. Harrison?
No. haven't seen him--just some
workmen. Things are terribly messy.
Well, bye.bye, Ill be home by 6. Yes.
know you're having a dinner. Don't
worry. Good-bye!'
She hung up and looked out at the
sky. Just as she had said. the wealth.
er was perfect. A thunder shower
sixty miles away didn't frighten her.
She looked fondly at her new road
car, q dark Brewster, green with ivory
wheels. Near It at the curb was a
ridiculous little Bridge so mud.caked
Betsy wondered that 1t could co. Re.
peated layers of mud had dried and
hardened on the wheels until there
was scarcely q semblance Of spoke
Lett, and chains, about as much need.
cd on that dry smooth asphalt an
an extra tail on dog, chung foolishly
IN the :sres.
cts . wonder to me-" said Betsy in.
dignautly, "how some people can treat
Q car 90. No matter what ktnd It IL,
it's q car-same as q yellow Dup Is q
dog. II It's yours you've got to take
care Of It,"
THAT'S true" said man on the
stone balcony outside the window,
"but q yellow pup wouldn't be happy
Il he were clean. He would only go
out and roll in the gutter again. II
his instdes are we'll taken care of he's
happy. and he'll go until he Drops"
Betsy looked at his overalls and
grin1y hands and changed the subject.
have to get to the second floor and
dot"
"You can go up a ladder perhaps.
dot"
II don't think So"
I'm willing-and honest. I won't
+ touch anything!"
al right" agreed Betsy. suddenly
trusting his brown eyes. "Here's the
key to mothers room. Open the big
box at the foot Of the bed and get a
gray velvet coat. Then close UP ev.
erything again, please"
TIL do it," he declared and was
gone.
Betsy locked up the library and
went out to her car. After a short
delay, the man came out with the
wrap. I'm sorry to keep you wait.
Ing, but couldn't find 1t right away"
he explained. His eyes were not
smiling no wand his lips were set very
drm. She wondered at the change.
For an hour after she left the hotel
things went famously and the green
car few over the white. hard road, and
even after turning off On to the dirt
road things were we'll enough, but
loon little puddles began to appear
that had not been there before and
the ground got softer and Betsy had
more manipulating Of clutch aud
gears than she cared about. Then,
rounding curve between a high
wooded bank and a ravine, she found
perself In mud quite foot deep. She
put on more power and plowed
through, but the wheels started to slip
And, do what she would, she continued
10 skid terribly.
Suddenly she put on the brake and
The car stopped dead. What had hap.
peued she couldn't tell, but tho car
Wouldn't move at all in any direction
There she was alone In a mudhole
miles away from help and another
Itorm coming! She looked at her
dainty high.heeled slippers and then
ut tho mud. She couldn't walk! She
would wait for help. But she remem-
bered that the road was a shortcut be.
tween two highways and little used.
bhe might have to wait for hours.
Then she heard a snappy little
ehug. chug behind her. She turned
md there was the ugly little Bridge
Bar she had made fun Of, with her
accommodating workman turning the
wheel this way and that with one
hand.
my. he must be an expert to bounce
through this slough of despond that
rayf"