Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-07

he pulieu u lew levers, set the steer.
Ing wheel and started to crank It.
Monty" he commanded, loosen that
line there, and when the engine starts
throw 1t aboard SO won't have to
leave the steering wheel"
] did as no asked.
He turned the flywheel over pain
fully. There was sort Of Wheeling
sound, but nothing resembling the reg
ular explosion Of n marine motor In the
flush OF perfect health feeling It's oats.
Tho engine 10 cold" he announced
Tho principle Of the gasoline en-
glne,H lectured glibly to Lucille, ais
easily comprehensive to tho intellect
OF a boy of ten. 1t consists simply Of
mixing gasoline In tho thing-a-ma-j JIG
which is drawn into what-d'-you-call.
It In the engine, md then when an
electric spark is applied from the ding
bat there Is an explosion. See-he
turns tho wheel over--th3h draws the
charge of gus into tho engine--now the
eccentric trips the sparkling ;lerice-
now listen intently for the explosion.
You can't hear 1t because there Is a
very good mufIler on the boat"
Bopp expressed what he thought Of
me by hitting the engine a smart rap
with the monkey wrench.
whats the matter?' inquired Lu.
Gle sweetly, wishing to smooth matters
| over won't the engine rum"
That Is always the prize question to
ask the operator Of n gasoline engine
! on boat or an auto. Next time You
sec an auto stalled beside the road,
with the driver dripping Precipitation
and tearing his heart out at the crank,
ask him that, and you will hear him
pour out his innermost soul in words
Of one syllable.
Bopp seemed disinclined to answer,
J so did 1t for him. "You see he could
! make the engine go, any child could,
but he wants to get 1t all warmed up
before he starts 1t. It Is really kind
ness on his part. No humane man
would want to make a poor, cold, gaso-
! line engine run fast right at first. See
! Mr.. Bopp is going to hold 1t In his lap
until 1t gets warm"
ooh, dry up!' snapped Bopp impo-
litely.
"That's impossible" retorted. '.The
earth itself Is over two-thirds water,
and I stack up considerably higher
than that"
Bopp now had smudge Of dark
grease on his light trousers, had worn
! blister on the palm Of his hand and
had used up collar completely. He
opened q valve Oh top of TIE engine,
shifted suspiciously and looked wise.
"Its flooded" he sncrted.
II can sympathize with it," said
feelingly,
After rummaglng around in the lock-
er TOR awhile he got out q collection of
tools and began to remove steel plate
from the engine.
"In order to make 1T easier to. under
: stand the inner workings Of the en-
, gine" l explained to Lucille. che is
going to take 1t apart so that you may
see each piece distinctly. i wonder if
| he knows that he spilled some cylinder
oil In that place where he is now sit
ting. No matter. TO resume oNr lee
ture, TINT thin piece Of tubing covered
! with black grease Is the crank shaft
No; am mistaken. That is tho mans
leg, Tho crank shaft Is. that other
thing not quite so thin and shapeless.
Move your leg n little, will you, Bopp,
so that Lucille can tell which is the
crank shaftf"
There was no reply save n growl Of
rage from below where the young man
was standing on his head peering into
the gi2zard Of the machine.
Don't forget to tell me when to let
so Of tho rope" I reminded him.
! Lucille suddenly scrambled down into
the launch.
ooh, Frank" she exclaimed, "would
1t make any difference If this wire
were fastened to something's"
He arose from his imitation Of kan-
CARGO about to jump down mine
shaft and took the wire from her I'm
gers without comment. His feelings,
! whatever they We're, he did not dare
/ trust to speech. There was something
majestic about the repression Of tho
man that forbade comment. In pal
plating silence he attached the wire
to place which seemed to be made
for 1t, reassembled the engine, wiped
| of his hands and grasped the crank.
He turned 1t once easily, and, "zing,"
the motor got down to business like
clock!
Lucille hastily scrambled out of the
! boat.
LET her gor' Bopp yelled, taking
i hold OF the wheel In pose good deal
like viking save for the grease on
his trousers. Odd vikings wear trou-
sers? My memory Is at faulty
l threw the line on board with
feeling Of envy for one who was speed
ing to square meal.
"Keep to starboardp' Lucille yelled.
Keep to starboarl! There's shallow
water on the port side!'
Bopp spun the wheel, and the launch
turned abruptly to the left.
"Che other way!" screamed Lucille.
"Starboard Is on your right ,sider'
She was too late. The boat stopped
SlllnnlI Pom b GILL, tool 1