Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-04
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE WELCOME RIDE
By Margaret l.. Ahern

TUE two sailor lads. they were hardly
L over twenty. trudged along the park
way aimlessly, hands in their REFER
/ pockets and whistling to keep up their
| spirits. 1t was one of those rare Sun
days in winter, not too cold. with a sun
ny blue sky. The roads were dry and
hard. and although 1t was early morn
ing, throngs of autoists were already
starting off on pleasure trips. Many
were comfortable in closed cars while
others, rosy-cheeked and bundled in
furs. went swiftly by in open cars.
Jimmie. one of the boys in uniform,
stopped whistling and gave deep sigh
IF were at home now he began
reminiscently. I'd be greasng the old
car oa an; and filling her UP with gas. Then
would have our lunch basket-it's
almost as big as a clothes hamper
and we'd be off for the day. out as far
as the Falls; maybe; CT perhaps to Uncle
Steve's ranch. Wed get back just before
it got dark. and Hannah would have a
mans size dinner all ready for us. We'd
have .appetites like starving steers.
can almost smell the roast beef and the
stop that his chum. Dick interrupt
ed rudely, 'or you'll have my teeth
watering in a minute. I've an idea.
Jimmie; let's sit here by the road and
trust that an auto will come along with
two empty seats in it,"
Accordingly they sat down and
watched the passing procession hope
fully. 1t began to look as though they
were out OF luck when gray roadster
with two empty seats came along. Two
ladies were the only OCCUPANTS, and
they seemed to be having trouble. The
car. slowed down. chug.chugged for a
while. all the time emitting from its in
terror mysterious sounds that would
strike terror to any lady motorists
heart, and finally came TO complete
stop. The driver frantically worked the
/ lever nd
and tried the self-starter, but with no
success.
Jimmie smiled at his friend. Here's
our chance; Richard Earl Palmer. Come
The two Of them FASTENED over to the
gray car. Jimmie. politely offered his
services. explaining that he was an
electrician In the navy and thoroughly
familiar with gasoline engines.
Mrs. windsor. the. driver, had got out
opened up the hood. and was squirting
oil about from small can rather Law
ishly She sighed with relief at Jim
| out, and have nothing else TO do, you
said gratefully.
With an instinct for finding engine
trouble. and the added incentive OF her
promise, it took Jimmie only a few
minutes to find that there was loose
connection at the ignition switch. He
sor's request, tried the self-starter and
found that 1t worked without difficulty.
That was the beginning of one of the
happiest days Jimmie and Dick had
spent since leaving home. Mrs. Wind
Jimmie's eyes. had generously offered
to let him drive. She sat beside him.
pointing out the roads. while Dick and
her companion sat in back.
BY. the time they reached their des-
tination, a country inn famed for it's
good dinners. the four were good friends
and had exchanged condolences. The
boys learned that the car belonged to
Mrs. Windsor's only son. who was over
seas. and that she had been driving
It since he went away. but was almost
They discovered. too, that she was as
lonesome as they were, ana that she
lived In a large house. but was consid-
ering giving 1t up and going back to
a hotel to live until her son came back.
After a delicious, and hearty dinner
drive back to Mrs. Windsor's house.
She insisted that her two guests stay
for supper and spend the evening.
Jimmie and Dick made themselves at
home Immediately. They romped with
for their hostess. At 10 they reluctantly
departed for their. ship, but not until
they had promised to spend the next
weekend with Mrs Windsor.
And she. between arranging for a
theatre party az the next Saturday
people to dance at her home Satur-
day evening. forgot all about her lone
someness and her intention of going
to hotel, and wrote her son the most
cheerful letters he had received in a
long while.
The next complete novelette,. when
Duty Calls"