Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-12-07
The
Old Auto
q
By Gilbert Webster


Copyright. 1917, Western Newspaper Union.)
The browning ambition of Neil Bor-
den was to possess an automobile. He
began saving money to that end, but
the process was slow one. He was
a bright, rubicund young man Of twen-
ty-two, earned sixty dollars n month
as q clerk, and was too good-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 1t, ana then a queer freak of
fate, or rather misadventure, brought
the coveted object of his desire direct
to his doorstep.
A bird Of evil omen, adventurer,
swindler and soldier Of fortune named
Boyden, looking for q 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
with little success. He kept his auto
mobile in an old shed, all that was left
of structural evidence on q lot where
the house had burned down. He sent
for partner in crime, one Davlin, to
join him and select some other terri
tory containing gullible investors.
Davlin arrived at Fairview, many
seas over, took 1t upon himself to ap-
propriate the auto out for spin, and
about midnight, at his hotel, Boyden
was called out Of bed to the tele-
phone.
TITS me-" was announced in maud
lin tones.
"Who is met" demanded Boyden.
"Joe Davlln, 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 q loss to turn an incl
tNShN W mo OWu huNuulukes
"You get right to the hotel here"
he ordered his befuddled friend man
datorily. Leave the machine where
1t Is. Don't say d word to anybody
about the accident. Do Just as 1 say,
or I'll throw you over for good"
In the course of an hour Davlin ar
rived Mt the hotel. Boyden got him to
bed. Then he used the phone LIBERAL
ly. He sent word to the office of the
city company insurlng his automobile
against theft, that 1t had been stolen.
Placldly chuckllng, he went to bed
himself, feeling that he had done
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 taken
for the machine and left for new fields
of adventure and speculation.
It happened that Nell 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 $780," remarked the
garage man contemptuously.
"Take 1t for $50" pressed the In
surance adjuster eagerly.
"Don't want 1t at any price,"
"FortyT
NO"
"Ill give forty" spoke up Neil, and
the bargain was cllnched on the spot.
Ned had 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
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 jeers Of those who criticized the |
old rattletrap. He was proud as Luci-
fer when, coming down steep hill,
he was arrested for speeding.
''That wasn't power" enlightened
friend. ut was momentum"
"What does 1t matter, so she goes"
chirped Neil.
Now, destiny was preparing n new
surprise for Neil, which linked in with
the incident of the wreck. One day
handsome young man and lovely girl
of seventeen, Gabrielle North, left the
train ut Fairview with some trepida-
ton.
They hastened to reach the outskirts
Of the town. On bench outside Of
the shed where Nell kept his beloved
and was tlnkering over It
inside at that moment, they sat down
TO rest
"The telegram from our mutual
friend which we received here, says
that your uncle hos wired to have US
stopped when we reach Rosebury,"
spoke the young man In an anxious
and serious tone.
"Then 1t seems" murmured the
young lady sorrowfully, shat we can't
90 to Rosebury."
"No, not by train, and as soon as
your uncle finds we have left the train
he will have his hirellng spies after
Is all along the route"
ooh, Walter what are we ever GO