The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-04-26
A Gasoline
Road Agent
go
(CopyrigLt.)
BY Mary Roberts RirehIrs

81 don't know what possessed you
TO take the river road anyhow Gar,
retson's voice was distinctly aggrieved
'"This IS the fourth time we've been
stuck in the mud, and It's getting
worse every minute. Besides, were
going to be Late
Jimmy Garretson stopped and care
fully turned up his dress trousers to
q safe height.
ats the deuce of place to have a
dance, anyhow. IF people will enter
tain FOOL English nobleuen, they might
at least have, the sense to do it in
town.
Arbuthnot and Garretson peered
into the machinery.
II cant see anything wrong. Awful
reek of gasoline. .hough. You'd bet
ter get out yourself"
Arbuthnot threw off his big leather
coat and crawled cautiously down.
Don't yo1i know why want to meet
this English tord?"
breast"
Its not y"-witheringly. 'Don't
you Know Marjorie Lane is going to
marry him?"
"Phew, you don't mean it! Why, l
fhought-that is, you know"
Eyes, know. 1 thought it, too. But
It seems a title carries good bit of
weight And there were other reasons.
Let's have look at this thing now"
'Engine nothing" he said wrath
fully. "We've been leaking gasoline"
IF only it wasn't the river roaL
we'd run good chance of another car
coming along. We might borrow some
gasoline, or if they wouldn't give us
any we could hold them up. / saw in
the paper where some fellow did that
not so very long ago."
eve might try it,
As the extent of the damage done
TO his clothing revealed itself to Gar
retson he became more emphatic.
"Stop swearing" said ArbuthnOt,
S'and listen to me. Do you remember
the night you were to take Edith Arm
strong to the Adams theater party?
And do you remember that that was
the night of Graham's bachelor din
uer%
II don't remember much about that
night. Remember the next day, though
had an awful head. What about
tT
"Well. when 1t was time for you to
60 for Edith, you wouldn't go. Said
you were having good time where
you WERE"
II did?" Jimmy Garretson groaned.
'YOu did. So like fool made up
q little story about your not feeling
well. and took Edith myself. She may
have understood, but Edith's a trump,
you know. Never asked questions"
"Why don't you talk about some
thing cheerful? This is the devil Of
place to bring up fellows past sins
TO him. It's going to rain, too"
"Well. you wanted to know why
Marjorie Lane has turned me down
for this English fellow. I had an en-
gagement to meet her at the club ball
that night. and when l got there at
midnight some lunatic had evidently
told her, for she cut me dead, and l
haven't seen her since"
'I'm awfully sorry, old man. wish
you had told me sooner-it was really
up to me to fix things. My reputation
n too far gone to be hurt, anyhow"
Listen" Arbuthnot held up q warn
ing hand.
In the distance could be heard the
chug-chug of an auto, growing louder
AZ 1t approached.
"HellO! Wait minute" called Gar
retson. "We've had an accident and
need little help"
Haven't lme," came surliIy back.
'Tix It yourselves"
"You don't seem to understand what |
! said" Arbuthnot's voice was thick |
with passion. II told you to STOP"
Remove your hand, sir! What do
you mean by OBTAINING me?"
tYou internal little puppy!" He
fned savagely on the stranger, and
llng him by his ulster collar, tossed
into the mud. Now walk"
Nen Arbuthnot proceeded deliber-
to empty the. gasoline tank Of
trange automobile.
ward!" Arbuthnot raised up In
/. Are you going to sit there
and allow. an outrage like
imam, by Jove!" i
Garretson almost fell again
t0nishment.
pan dol" came weakly from
Akment. aren't there two
DO you think I'm foolY
very audible sniff of dis
he tonneau.
VI do. You brought this
bn yourself by being any
ptleman. It's charming
he."
Nt stepped forward, cap
madam" he said, adj
zee, I'VE had not the
7 the gentleman was
/ 5 disgraceful affair
happened. The least