Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1919-05-17

Nina LEFT the house and approached
the car. which was standing outside
The entrance to the barn. II was "A
relic ul The early days Of motor tray
81, but it always HAD given good Serv-
lee and had been used nearly every
day during the present winter, which
HAPPENED ,o be- one of The open kind
There was only Il patch OF Sno"
here and there over the landscape,
bur the air was just sufficiently biting
to make IL celebrating.
"Ju~t The day for a ride She told
herself "aud I'm going To take one
aud prove that Jay Perkins told me a
flb."
She returned To the house aud pres
emily appeared with a heavy jacket
hat ana gloves. She set "Ebenczer's'
spark and gas throttlcs at the right
angles gud proceeded 20 crank the
motor On thc second turn The engine
began humming
"Thcre Listen to that" she said
triunpmantly. and climbed into the
machine She let IN the clutch, shift
cd the gears and "Ehcno2cr" rolled
Snnothly down the road.
Didn't tell your" she laughed. 81
think I'll 90 on To town aud do my
shopping and show MIR JAY that he's
not at all necessary to such trip
But as "Ebcnczrr" was approaching
the line that marked the boundary OF
the Perkins Martin land. something
happened Tie ear stopped dead still
In The road. although the engine
roarcd.
"Cutch must have Slipped out" de-
cidod Nina hut All Of her manipulate
inc OF levers and pedals would hot in
duce "Ehcnczrr" 10 bulge.
Ninn sat back puzzled. The engine
continued To hum, but not wheel
would turn.
"Somcthng surely IS wrong She
Said. At started ont FRO and"
About that time the haiky automo-
bile condescended 10 resume locomo-
tlon. Before Nina could get control
Of the wheel, the machine went of the
road and crashed into the orchard
that lined the highway.
a tree branch swept Nina from the
seat and she lay on her back and
gazed nj the sky. unlnjured but very
decidedly stunned.
How long she lay there she did not
know. but dusk was settling when she
came 10 realization Of where she
was and how she happened 10 get
there Her head was aching duly,
but she was relieved TO find that no
bones had been broken.
Some distance away she could see
the outlines of Ebenezcr. but she did
not trouble TO investigate the cOndi-
ton of the automobile. II stood there
in silence, neglected. while its erst'
while driver brushed her clothes and
made her way 10 the road.
Some one was coming along the
rond from the direction Of town, sing
ing. The hoofbrats Of n galloping
horse kept time for the music. Nina
paused till she heard the horse turn
into the lane that led 10 the Perkins
dwelling. Then she scampered out on
the road and hurried toward her own
home.
Her young brother had arrived from
the field where he had been working
nil day and was busy preparing sup
per She told him Of her experience,
and pledged him to secrecy. Then she
changed her clothes and took over the
job 81 preparing the meal.
Nlna was reading hook after sup
per had been disposed Of when a
knock sounded on the door, and Jay
was uShered into the room bringing
some letters She greeted him with a
nod and pretended 10 resume her read
ing.
Funny thing" remarked Jay. ad-
dressing Nina's brother. II happened
70 be down in the orchard Just little
while ago and found that some one
had smashed up one Of the cherry
trees so II won't be of any use. !
wonder who II could have been?"
Nina could feel his eyes on her and
she looked mp 10 meet his qulzzical
grin. She smiled somewhat ruefully
ana watched his eyes wander 10 the
bookcase and rest on the life Of
George Washington"
ITS Ike this" she said. "Ebenezer
smashed down that cherry tree, hut
but-well, was driving Ehcnezer-
or trying to-when II happened Can
you forgive mc-fOr cutting down that
tree. but more especially for the things
! said today?"