The citizen., 1919-11-20

CHAPTER Living with MS fatner on
Elden has reached the age OF eighteen
with few educational advantages. ~ sc-
cldent to the auto ~ which pr haray'
eminent eastern physician, and his daugh-
ter Irene, are touring the country. brings
a new element into his life Dr. Hardyls
leg Is broken ana r.na.SS be Is SeeesSry snd soe SDe
thing. more. develops between Irene ana
David.
"won't you sit down here. Mr.. El-
denY she said
There had been no introductions.
Dave ate on In silence.
"Thank you" said the old man, and
there was something In his voice which
may have been emotion or may have
been the huskIness Of the heavy drink
er's throat. The girl gave 1t the for
mer explanation. As he took the prof
fered chair she saw In this old man
shreds OF dignity which the less refined
eye of his son had not distinguished.
To Dave his father was an afflictiOn to
be borne; an unfair load laid on boy
who had done nothing to deserve this
punishment The miseries associated
with his parentage had gone far to
make him sour and moody. Irene ut
FIRST had thought him rude and gloomy;
flashes Of bumor had modified that
opinion. but she had not yet learned
that his disposition was naturally a
buoyant one, weighed down by an en-
vlronment which had made 1t soggy
and unresponslve. In years to come
she was to know what unguessed
depths OF character were to be re-
veaied when that stole nature was
cross-sectIoned by the blade Of keen
and defiant passion.
Mfr. Eden promptly engaged the doc
tor In conversation, and In a few mo-
ments had CLEANED the main facts In
connection with the accident and the
father and daughter which 1t had
brought so momentarily under his
roof. He was quite sober now and his
speech, although slovenly. was not In
delicate. He was still able to pay to
woman that respect which curbs the
coarseness OF q tongue for years sub
jected to little discipline.
After breakfast Irene attended to
the wants OF her father. and by this
time the visiting doctor was manifest
ing impatience to be away. But Dave
declared with prompt finality that the
horses must rest until after noon. and
the doctor. willy.nilly, spent the morn
ing rambling In the foothills. Mean
while the girl busted herself with work
about the house. In which she was ef-
fecting a rapid transformation.
After the midday dinner Dave har-
messed the team for the journey to
town, but before leaving inquired Of
Irene II there were any special pur-
chases. either personal or for the use
of the house, which she would recon-
mend. With some diffidence she men
toned one that was uppermost in her
thoughts-soap. both laundry and toi-
let. Doctor Hardy had no hesitation
In calling for a box Of his favorite
cigars and some new magazines. and
took occasion TO press into the boys
hand q bill out Of all proportion to the
value Of the supplies requested.
The day was Introductory to others
that were to follow. Dave returned
the next afternoon. riding his own
horse and heavily laden with cigars,
magazines and soap.
The following day II was decided
that the automobile. which since the
accident had laid upturned by the road
way, should be brought TO the ranch
buildings. Dave harnessed his team
and. instead Of riding one Of the horses
walked behind. driving by the reins
and accompanied by the girl, who had
proclaimed her ability to steer the car
With the aid of the team and Dawes
lariat the car was soon righted and was
found to be none the worse for Its de
Election from the beaten track. Irene
presided at the steering-wheel. watch
ing the road with great intentness and
turning the wheel too far on each oc
casion. which gave to her course q
somewhat wavy or undulating order
such as is found I'm bread-knives; oi
perhaps a better figure would be tc
compare II to that rolling motion af
fected by fancy skaters. However, the
mean Of her direction corresponded
with the mean Of the trail and all went
merrily until the stream was ap
preached. Here was a rather steel
descent and the car showed a sudden
purpose TO engage the horses In con
test Of speed. She determined to use
the foot-brake. a feat which was ae'
compllshed. under normal conditions
by pressing one foot firmly against
contraptlon somewhere beneath the
steering-post. She shot a quick glance
downward and. TO her alarm, discov'
cred not one. but three. contraptlons
all apparently designed to receive the
pressure Of foot-1f one could reach
them-and as similar as the steps Of a
stair. This involved u further hesita'
ton. and In automoblling he who hesi'
tates invites series of rapid expert
ences. II was quite evident that the
car was running away. II was quite
evident that the horses were running
away. too. The situation AS
sumed the qualities OF a race, and
the only matter Of grave doubt related
to Its termination.
Then they struck the water. II was
not more than two feet deep, but the