The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-05-22

Presently he saw the thief turn q
sharp bend in the road. The auto skid
ded, followed tortuous course for
some distance and brought up against
deserted shanty. Before 1t struck
the chauffeur had succeeded in reduc-
ing its speed, and neither she nor the
machine was much injured, though
both were badly Jared. But Miss Ath-
erton was more ratified at being over
hauled than by the jarring.
Take me to jail!'' she cried. "Take
me to Jail. I'm thief"
Now, there was everything In Miss
Atherton's appearance to belle her con-
fession. Coolidge saw at once that
what appeared on the surface was not
the truth.
Are you burtT he asked solicit
ously.
His tone was reassuring. Miss Ath-
erton looked up and saw gentleman
regarding her not only kindly, but ad-
miringly.
Miss Atherton, though she had re-
gained her equanimity and satisfied
herself that she was In no danger of
being dragged to Jail, was still not her
self. Nevertheless, she was still wo-
man. She began to throw the blame
on to Mr.. Coolidge.
what were you trying to run me
down forT she asked in no friendly
tone.
Il could not see that lady was
Il ,,tt hi.
supposed some one was trying to get
away with it."
Miss Atherton looked as If she were
about to burst into tears.
you were quite welcome to use my
machine, l assure you" faltered Cool
idge, fearing a collapse.
"Then why didn't you say so?'
How could / say SO when i was not
on handY'
But you cried out, 'Stcp thiefy"
II supposed some one was stealing
ny In@"hine. l did not know that
young lady had merely borrowed it."
Miss Atherton was recovering her
self slowly. She made no rejoinder to
Mr.. Coolidge's last remark. He con-
cluded to make an effort to get her
either to her home or his, anywhere
but where she was. There were two
vehicles to be taken care Of, but now
that she had ceased to be buoyed uD
by excitement he did not have to trust
her to drive either of them. Besides,
he did not know whether the one she
had been driving would be available
after the collision. Opening the door
of the car in which he had made the
pursuit, he begged her to enter.
Where are you going to take me?"
she asked.
TO your home"
What will you do with the one I
have tnjuredY'
Leave 1t where 1t is for the present"
She walked lamblike to the door he
was holding open and entered the car
He entered at the wheel side and,
turning into the road, drove back
over the course they had been racing.
But the return speed was very differ
ent from the outgoing. Mr.. Coolidge
was quite delighted with the adven-
ture. He was pleased that his car had
not been stolen and still more pleased
to have pretty girl beside him who
had given him an opportunity to show
his gallantry by borrowing his car
leave.
She begged him to permit her to send
Il man to take his machine to shop
and repair 1t, but he declared that 1t
had not been damaged. Then began
an explanation as to how she had come
to run away with his car, but 1t was
not exactly the one already given with
this story. Up to the point where
Coolidge had cried "Stop thief!' it was
n succession of excuses. From that
point onward 1t was n lamentation that
he had made her think that she was
flying from long Imprisonment. Coo
lidge declared that hanging would be
too good for him. but he did not sug-
gest anything else that he could have
done under the circumstances. BY the
time he got her home he had implored
her forgiveness, but what for did not
matter. There was II sort of reconcilia-
ton between them, and everybody
knows that making up between a
young man and young woman is liza.
bic TO stir the emotions. Az any rate.
when they parted Coolidge had re-
ceived permission to call In the even |
ing to learn II the shock Miss Ather-
ton had received had been fraught
with serious consequences.
Coolidge availed himself of the priyl- |
lege accorded him, and Miss Atherton
had scarcely finished dlnner before he !
was announced. He seemed very anx-
ious lest some sign of physical or men,
tai shock had appeared during the In |
terval since he bad last seen her and |
gave vent TO an expression of Joy when
she assured him that she had suffered
no injury whatever, except that she
should have placed herself In such an |
position. Coolidge as
sured her that he understood perfectly
the innocence Of the motive that ac-
luated her in temporarily borrowing
his car and assumed all the blame for
her TO take 10 flight. These
self accusations ana his efforts 10 rem
der fhnm np,. fnnls ~