Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1917-05-25
An AutOiSt'S Adventure
By HENRY STUf1PF

the spring opened | became
wild TO go on an auto tour with our
new machine. that is admirably fitted
for long trips, having u rack i'll the
rear large enough To carry a Saratoga
trunk OF course | couldn't tour alone
or with girl friend. Mamma would
not hear of that. and there was moth
ing FOR ii but Sue must go with me her
self.
We started when the leaves ON the
trees We're we'll grown with excellent
road maps, and by supplementing the
information they gave us at every fork
in the road We got on very well. One
evening We We're nearing place called
Huntingdale, which seemed 10 be rath-
er collection OF summer cottages than
anything else, and we did not have
the name of any hotel at which TO stop.
Passing an autoist who had alighted
to examine his engine, asked him If
he could direct us TO Il public house
where we could spend the night. DE
looked up at me, and our eyes met.
Did you ever look into the eyes of a
man for the first time and recognize
through them soul that was in har-
mony with yours: This | did when L
met the gaze OF this man. Not only
that | knew he saw IN me what | had
found In him.
Il am sorry to say he replied to my
question, that there is no hotel in
Huntngdale You'll not find one that
you would care TO stop at till you reach
ArborviIle, twelve miles beyond"
| looked disappointed. Mamma was
getting tired, and before we could
make the twelve miles it would be
dark, and we made il rule TO travel
only by daylight.
Il can direct YOU" continued the
young man. TO a private family hotel.
but they are not taking boarders there
this year except myself. However, If
you care to try think you can get in
for one night
We said We would certainly care to
try. and the T0ung man. pulling down
the hood Of his auto and cranking it,
got into his machine and led the way
To an attractive looking house on an
eminence. When We reached ii he
asked rs TO remain in our car till he
stated our case for us. We thanked
| him, and he went inside. III a few
! minutes he returned and said that lac
had fixed the matter for US satisfac-
toriy. The landlady was confined to
her room, but he was very much ar
! - 4 l.af
we We're made comfortable. He hand
ed Us out OF our ear. and after Our
trunk had been removed and our ma.
chine started for the garage we went
up into the house.
| wondered that so luxurious an
abode should be used for boarders. Ho-'
tells and boarding houses be they ever
so v ell furnished are bound to show
some wear.
Mamma thought she was too tired
TO dress for dinner, but | told her Ia
such place it would not be safe to
dine in travelling costume, so We both
! put on evening dress. On entering the
| dining room we saw that places had
| been set for three, and the only person
in the room besides ourselves was the
young man who had been our con-
duetor. Seeing that he was in evening
dress / was very thankful that NAM
| ma and | had decided to change our
costumes.
Our landlady,' he said, "has COM
missioned me TO take her place at ta-
bic and do the honors in her stead. l
presume | shall have to introduce my
self, having no one 10 introduce me. l
am Edgar Sterling, at your service
Mamma introduced herself and then
introduced me. after which a waiter
who seemed rather a butler than
waiter served us, and We had a deli
eious dinner. Wine was opened with
out our having ordered it. Both mann
ma and 1 declined it when the waiter
was about TO pour IL into our glasses,
whereupon Mr.. Sterling said.
''1'he terms In this house include
wine, 80 you are not under any obliga-
ton TO me-
We permitted the waiter to fill our
glasses, but since the wine served WAS
champagne we concluded that the bill
for our one nights stay would be some
thing frightful. But / bad fallen I'M
der spell induced by the devotion OF
Mr.. Sterling, expressed i'll his eyes.
pleasing smile he had and his constant
attention TO my every wish
After dinner mamma remained be-
low but half an honr. when she went
upstairs to bed. i passed the most
delightful evening OF my life, and
mamma WAS obliged TO call me several
times before could tear myself away
from my entertainer.
The next morning we breakfasted
alone, the waiter having Informed us
that Mr.. Sterling had gone out early
in his car. We asked for our bill, but
Were told that the laudlady was noe
in condition to make II up and IL we
would leave our address II statements
would be sent US when she recovered.
Upon our return home we expected
To find our hotel bill. We were still
expecting to ind Ii when one evening