The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-22
THE DAILY
HORT STORY
The Liar.
By &. RAY BARKER


Well she won't" he asserted stout
~. There's something wrong with
Ehenezer. You must have heard her
+ cutting up when took her out Of the
barn. When / put her in reverse she
tried to go forward Then, when !
did get her out, she quit dead, and l
haven't been able to make the motor
30 much as nutter."
Nina's lirs curved in a sheer.
"Ubenezers has never beeen out OF
order day" she SMILED. II know
you're lying Just because yoa don't
want me to 60 after the mail with you
don't know your reason, hut maybe
you have another girl on the road
somewhere that you want to call on;
30 you decided to ride the mare and
leave me hcme."
jay tried to get in another word,
but the effort was doomed to fail be-
fore It was made.
You ought to be ashamed" Nina
went on, especially on this anniver-
sary Of the birth Of the father OF our
country, who never told a lie in all
his life. Even when he cut down his
fathers cherry tree just in fun, he
went and owned up to it like man. I
can't stand liar, l tell you, and I've
Just about decided that we might as
well call everything off between u.s.
Nina was genuinely angry. She had
planned 2 shopping trip in anticipation
Of her wedding month home and
the announcement that she would be
obliged to fcfego her visit to town be
cause the auto would not run reused
ter wrath.
jaw wss q ctty.bred boy, who was at
tending college, when his parents
bought a i2O-scre farm. Shortly after
he purchase Jay's father died and left
ne land to the boy and his mother.
Neither ot them was acquainted with
the science al farming, but Jay was
dcsirous Of learning something about.
II SO he and his mother disposed OF
two.thtrds OF their interest to Nina's
father, who was on the lookout for
just such land, and who agreed 10
partnership OF the whole 100 acres
rather than to.a purchase OF part Of 1t. 4
Jay and his mother continued to live
in the small dwelling that Mr.. Perkins
had erected on the land. while the
Martins built large residence some
distance from the other house.
Nina was attending boarding school
at the tine Of the transaction, but
when she finished and came home she
end Jay struck up comradeship that
quickly ripened into something dearer
and they had become engaged three
months before the Washington BIRTH
day anniversary with which this tale
deals.
"sec that book in the bookcaseg"
said Nina, reasuring her TRADE, well
that's the Life OF Washington and
you would do well to read 1t. Now go
ahead AMI keep your date with the
other girl
Jay opened his mouth to remon-
strate, but the look on her face caused
him to change his mind; so he left
the house. carrying a sickly grin, and
mounted the horse that was waiting
for him.
Her nose pressed against the win
dow, and tears creeping from her eyes
Nina watched the mare gallop out Of
sight with her fiance.
Think Of anybody trying to tell me
such q barefaced lie-such weak ex.
cuse!' she snorted. .'1'm disappointed
in that non. The old automobile
would run on the bottom OF the lake
and know It.
This brought an idea, but she hest-
tated before acting upon 1t.
II guess father wouldn't care" she
mused. IF he were here I'd ack him.
Mr.. and Mrs Martin were spending
the day at the home OF e relative in
the adjoining country, having Travelled
ttither in the spring buggy; for Mr..
Martin had not cot to the point Of
tructing himself at the wheel Of 'Eben-
ezer.n
Nina left the house and approached
the car, which was standing outside
the entrance to the barn. It was a relic
OF the early days Of motor travel, but
1t had always given good service and
had been used nearly every day during
the present winter, which had happen
ed to be an open one. There was
! nnlysa patch Of snow here and there
over the landscape, but the air was
lust sufficiently biting to make it ex-
Vibrating.
sJust the day for ride she told
heyself, "and I'm going to take one
and prove that Jay Perkins told me
ae.p
She returned to the house and pres.
emily she returned with heavy jack
j6t, hat and gloves. She set "Eben-
ezer,s" spark and gas throttles at the
right angles and proceeded to crank
the motor. On the second turn the
\ engine began humming.
There! Listen to. that" she said
triumphantly, and climed into the ma.
chine. She set in the clutch, shifted
the. gears and "Ebenezer'' rolled
smoothly down the road.
didn't I tell you?" she laughtd II
4 think mi go on to town and do my
shopping and show Mr.. Jay that he's
! not at all necessary to such q trip"
But as "Ebenezer" was approaching
The line that marked the boundary
E6f the Perkins-M Martin land, something
happened. The car stopped dead still
int the road. although the engine roar
yClutch must have slipped out" de.
cided Nina: but all Of her manipulate.
ing 2ot levers and pedals would not in
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