Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-21
DAILY NOVELETTE,
SPUNK

BY Elsie l.. Cobb

probably be the next one to be engaged
in the club yourself, because you know
Fred Carter has just arrived home from
overseas"
The voice was that of n wisp of a Cir,
just leaving n club of girls who had
been working for the Red Cross at
Eleanor Randolph's home in Spring
dale.
As she leaped off the piazza she ran
around the driveway for her little road e
ster, with her fluffy tan dog, Spunk. at
her heels.
Spunk and Beth Preston were the best
Of friends, and the two fairly iumped
into the car. Spunk taking a seat b,
himself barking furiously beside his
mistress, as Beth turned out of the
driveway into the road.
BY. girls" she called, "we'll see
YOU again two weeks from today at ."
"1lope You make it, Beth" Eleanor
called back
In a second or two nothing but n
cloud of dust could be seen down the
road.
Elizabeth Preston had left the club n
little early. because she had very i'm.
portant engagement with her ia ather
early that evening out of town.
"Well, Spunk, ] guess we can make it
all right. if we continue at this rate" :"
said Beth. just missing chicken in the
middle of the road.
The distance from the Randolph to
the Preston home was nine and one
half miles. The machine had covered
four miles and a half when bang went
the tire, and Beth and Spunk sat and
looked at each other as the machine
came to n stop.
ooh, You naughty dog. Stop wag-
ging that tail of yours What shall we
do? Out here on this country road and
it's already : o'clock" she exclaimed
glancing at the watch on her wrist
And ! haven't tire with me or even
tool in the box. Who'd think this
would happen, just coming home from
Els house?
"Well. I guess I'll turn in around
this curve on to the other road, so no
body'll run us down" Which she did.
Spuuk jumped out of the car and pro
cecdpd TO help his mistress by bark
ing. but TO no avail.
She sat there for at least twenty
minutes. which seemed to her an hour,
but she could do nothing about it.
Finally the dog began barking and
ran out in the middle of the main
road.
Come here. Spunk, Don't make so
much noise" But he persisted in stay
ing there and continued to bark louder
than ever.
Just as Roth was beginning to get
rather peevcd at the condition of the
machine she heard the sound of a dis
tant motor coming along the road at
quite a rate of speed. 1t quickly shot
by the curve in the road. and Beth could
lust manage to see the figure of smart
looking young man disappearing down
the road on a motorcycle.
SKUNK continued to bark and yelp
madly and kept jumping IN and down
as if his life depended on the noise he
made.
Soon the rider Of the motorcycle ap-
npared before Beth. He had slowed up
MS lldCHlH' NIl'i Nv H'"'' 'ii' b'S
barking so loudly. thinking there must
be trouble of some Kind. 1t was when
he turned around that he noticed the
girl all alone leaning over the machine.
GLOW do you do, Miss he said.
81 see you're in trouble. DO you sup
pose I could help YOU? That little dog
of yours is responsible for my seeing
You on this road.
"Oh-thank YOU she drawled.
"well. I need new tire. bur didn't t
happen to bring an extra one along with
me-"
As she spoke to him he noticed how
small and attractive she was.
"Oh. if all you need is tire. I'll ride
back to the garage-only mile and a
half back-and get you one"
upo,nr Mr. -"
"Ionsin, - nut in tho chan
.It's an,fu,,v kind of Won Tn, euro :,
a-o o,rorod
..ol, 49, Of oil "
o.,- +,rontr r,inrtoe had r,ssod u.hor
a;. onnoarod ,,.;th 49, a;l
.: ,'oo I h;s noo,.
and was soon putting on the new tire.