Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1918-02-07
Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union.

"You mean" he hurted out, thai
you would drive me there?"
The GIRL pushed open the car door.
THAT S my business" she answered.
witt alacrity he placed his valise In
The michine and seated himself by the
driver. Her gauntleted hands were
upon he wheel.
"Wlerew she asked briefly.
Trusdale answered with the house
name of his destination. There was
40 mutation for further remark in her
ousinSslike manner.
One she turned to smile at him.
'GreG morning. isn't it?" she said. To
Glen rruesdale 1t was a "great morn
n.y."
"Tnre's the great business block
lheaG" laughed the girl, "and your
.fIice the center one. Twenty-Five
rents please"
"So soon," said Truesdale. His tone
bespoke disappointment.
The driver flung open the door, and
even as he descended she prepared
to whirl her car about in departure.
Their inspiration came to him. There
was 10 little of interesting variety In
his tiead-mill life. this glorious morn
ing spin had seemed like an hour from
his b)yhood. The car and the services
Of this lovely. battling maid were mi
sacubusly for hire.
"Tlis afternoon" said Truesdale, II
woull like to be carried over to the
next town; could you do itf"
The girl considered. "Yes," she
said "and there will be other passen-
gers. Call for you at two"
The other passengers were tucked
into the back seat when she arrived.
Silently he resented the presence of
the Mo old ladies, but on their swing
Ing way again, he was glad. The driv-
er seemed to feel free now, to include
HMM the merry. descriptive remarks
she made to the others. Back, with
the station lights cleaning through
evening dusk, Glen Truesdale fingered
t(NSe the big car.
Sit will be necessary for me to pay
q weekly visit here for some time" he
told the girl; may / ask you to drive
me each Wednesday,
For moment she regarded him be-
meath her soft cap brim.
Certainly" she agreed impersonally.
1t was altogether strange and mex
plicable how that winsome, girlish face
haunted him through the days which
followed. Mockingly 1t smiled from
perplexing papers; resentfully 1t
seemed to withdraw at his own return
Ing smile. Unaccountable anger filled
him-that "she" should be carrying
people about, here and there, at so
much a mile, and why?. And what
was it all to him, he who did not even
know her name?
"My name is Glen Truesdale," he alb
ruptly informed her upon one of their
later rides. 81 would like to know
yours"
Margaret Carstairs," she replied In
mimicry.
This last ride down through the
early starlight, was one Of enchant-
ment. Truesdale dared hardly glance
at the glowing face near his own, lest
he must tell the girl how lovely she
was, and forever break the charm.
Instinctively, he knew that one step
out of his stipulated role of customer
only" would be the end. But how to
see her under other and more promis-
ing conditlons-that was the problem
Then, because he must know more OF
her, he sought the station agent.
"Whom did you say she was?" he
asked casually, "the young woman who
drives the auto-busf"
"Don't know much about 'em," the
agent replied. "Came here a couple
of months ago and rented the old Gage
place. Carstairs, the name. Her hus
band started to run the auto trips
when he was called to war. Then, she
took it up. Pretty pluclly."
Truesdale's head was swimming. He
stepped out into the night. Her hus
band-and he had gone--to war. Yes
it was pretty plucky. And Glen Trues
dale came back to the country towr
no more.
The girls eyes grew wistful as Wed
nesday after Wednesday passed. But
the haunting eyes looking back from
Glen's paper were hooking ones
When business forced him again to thu
country his face whitened with feal
that she would be there, but when HI
saw her his heart quickened in joyous
response. Speechlessly he stood gazini
into her reproachful face.
"You have been away-so long" sh,
said. Disappointment was in her tone
Business method seemed to have
vanished. "When heard of your hus
band being away at war" Truesdal
began.
"AIy husband !" cried Margaret Car
stairs. Then she laughed. "They d
get things mixed I'D here!" she said
"It is my brother VINO went to wal
Mother did not want me to take hi
place, but"
Glen Truesdale Jumped into the sea
at her side. "But I'm mighty glad yo1
did," he said fervently.