The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-11-17
The
Old Auto
By Clbe1t Webster


Ihe GROWING amD1t10n OF Nell Boz
den was to possess an automobile. He
began saving money to that end, but
the process was "a slow n He was
a bright, rubicund young man of twen-
ty-two, earned sixty dollars a month
as a clerk, and was too g~oOd-natured
and satisfied with life to quarrel or
complain. He was free-hearted, in
genious, but simple and %credulous, and
as he had never done anything to set
the world on fire, was set down as
mediocre, and contented with being
classed in that category.
AS said, Neil longed for an automo-
bile, and had saved up something to-
wards it, and then q queer freak of
fate, or rather misadventure, brought
the coveted object of his desire direct
to his doorstep.
A bird of evil omen, a%dventurer,
swindler and soldier of fortune named
Boyden, looking for a place to light,
swooped down upon Fairview to In
terest those having money in a gold
mine promotion. They had been Bit
ten before, however, and Boyden met
III lllllC SuSCCSSs Lie hSpI Ills uulO
mobile in an old shed, all that was left
of structural evidence on a lot where
the house had burned down. He sent
for a partner in crime, one Davlin, to
join him and select some other terri
tory containing gullible investors.
Davlin arrived at Fairview, many
sea over, took it upon himself to ap-
propriate the auto out for a spin, and
about midnight, at his hotel, Boyden
vas called out of bed to the tele-
phone.
Its me-" was announced in maud
lin tones.
"Who is me?" demanded Boyden.
"Joe Davlin, of course Say, Boy
den, Tn all in, and I've run the ma
chine into a telegraph pole and pretty
nigh smashed it to flinders. You'll
have to get some garage machine to
haul US into town."
Boyden's keen eyes sparkled. He
was never at a loss to turn an Incl
dent to his own advantage.
"You get right to the hotel here"
he ordered his befuddled friend man
datorily. leave the machine where
it is. Don't say a word to anybody
about the accident. Do just as 1 say,
or I'll throw, you ver for good"
In the course of an hour Davlin ar
rived at the hotel. Boyden got him to
bed. Then he used the phone liberal
ly. He sent word to the office of the
city company insuring his automobile
against theft, that it had been stolen.
Placidly chuckling, he went to bed
himself, feeling that he had done a
good hours work.
Next day the insurance adjuster ar
rived. The local Waterman had found
the wrecked machine, minus its tires,
which someone had stolen. There
could be no doubt that 1t had been
stolen and wrecked. Boyden received
three times what he would have take1
for the machine and left for new fields
of adventure and speculation.
It happened that Neil came upon the
adjuster, anxious to settle the affair
and get back to the city. The wreck
was offered to the local garage for
$780,"
II wouldn't give $50" remarked the
garage man contemptuousiy.
'Take it for $50" pressed the in
surance adjuster eagerly.
"Don't want it at any price"
"Forty?"
"No."
"Pll give forty" spoke up Neil, and
the bargain was clinched on the spot.
Ned had a friend who operated a
small machine shop, and to his place
he had the wrecked auto taken. The
latter was friendly and clever. He
patched up the disjointed machine,
happened to have a set of solid rubber
tires that had been once used on q
truck, and, clumsy, grinding, missing
fire regularly, but going just the same,
the machine tore proudly about the
village. Neil was too pleased to hear
the 1eers of those who criticized the
old rattletrap. He was proud as Luci-
fer when, coming down a steep hill,
he was arrested for speeding.
'That wasn't power" enlightened a
friend. at was momentum"
"What does it matter, so she goes u
chirped Neil.
Now, destiny was preparing a new
surprise for Neil, which linked in with
the incident of the wreck. One day a
handsome young man and a lovely girl
of seventeen, Gabrielle North, left the
train at Fairview with some trepida-
tlon.
They fastened to reach the outskirts
of the town. On q bench outside of
the shed where Neil kept his beloved
automobile and vas tinkering over it
inside at that moment, they sat down
TO rest.
''The telegram from u mutual
friend which we received here, says
that your uncle has wired to have us
stopped when We reach Rosebury,"
spoke the young man in an anxious
and cpriOua tome