Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-07-04
She was roundly upbraiding

remarks. She was roundly upbraiding
him.
Urged to action by thoughts of his
own plight he hurried to her side and
said:
Excuse me, please. You dropped
something. Shall I put it up in front
OF in the tonneau?"
The whimsical note in his voice
brought quick, responsive laugh from
her lips.
'"Thank you so much. I am fright
fully careless with my valuables.
Would you mind putting it in behind?
Thanks !" Her tone altered complete
ly as she ordered the man to turn
the car around-"And be quick about
it, she added.
The first drops of rain pelted down
from the now thoroughly black dome
above them, striking in the road with
the sharpness of pebbles.
Lucky it's limousine" said the
tall traveller. "Better hop in. Well
be getting it hard in a second or two"
'You must let me take you on to the
Tavern in the car" she said. 'Turn
about is fair play. cannot allow you
to"
Never mind about me-" he broke in
cheerily. He had been wondering if
she would make the offer, and he felt
better now that she had done so. "T'm
accustomed to- roughing it. I don't
mind a soaking. I've had hundred Of
'em.''
"Just the same you shall not have
one tonight" she announced firmly.
Get in behind. / shall sit with the
driver"
If anyone had told him that this
rafting, dilapidated automobiles
years old, at the very least, he would
have sworn-was capable of covering
the mile in less than two minusNs he
would have laughed in his face AL
most before he realized that they we're
on the way up the straight dark read
the lights in the windows of Harris
Tavern came into view. Once more
the bounding, swaying car came to a
stop under brakes, and he was relax
ing after the strain of the most hair
raising ride he had ever experienced.
Not a word had been spoken dur
ing the trip. The front windows were
lowered. The driver-an old, Ratchet
faced man-had uttered a single word
just before throwing in the clutch at
the crossroads in response to the
young woman's crisp command to
drive to Harris Tavern. That word
was uttered under his breath and it
is not necessary to repeat it here.
The wayfarer lost no time in climb
ing out of the car. AS he leaped to the
ground and raised his green hat he took
q second look at the automobile-a look
of mingled wonder and respect. 1t
was an old-fashioned, high-pOwered
car, capable, despite it's antiquity, of
astonishing speed in any sort Of 60
ing.
"For heavens sake" he began,
shouting to her above the roar of the
wind and rain, don't let him drive
like that over those"
you're getting wet" she cried out
a thrill In her voice. "Good night
and thank you'll"
"Look out!" rasped the unpleasant
driver, and in went the clutch. The
man in the road jumped hastily to one
| side as the car shot backward with
| jerk, curved sharply, stopped for the
fraction of a second, and then bounded
forward again, headed for the cross
roads.
"Thanks!" shouted the late passen-
ger after the receding tail light, and
dashed up the steps to the porch that
ran the full length of Harris Tavern.
A huge old-fashioned lantern hung
above the portal, creaking and strain
ing in the wind, dragging at it's stout
supports and threatening every in
! slant to break loose and go frolicking
away with the storm.
He lifted the latch and, being tall
man, involuntarily stopped as he
passed through the door, a needless
precaution, for gaunt, gigantic noun
taineers had entered there before him
and without bending their arrogant
heads