Alma record., 1919-04-24
BY MILDRED WHITE.


You mean" he blurted out that
you would drive me there?-
The girl pushed open the car door.
THAT IL my business" she answered.
With alacrity ne placed his valise in
the machine and seated himself by the
driver. Her gaunteted hands were
upon the wheel
"Wheref she asked briefly
Truesdale answered with the house
name OF his destination. There was
no invitation for further remark In her
husinessllke manner
once she turned 10 smile at him
Great morning. isn't itY she said To
Glen Truesdale n was n ~grert morn
ing"
There's the great business block
ahead laughed the girl. "and your
office the center one. Twenty five
cents. please.
SO soon" said Truesdale. HIS tone
bespoke disappointment.
The driver flung open the door and
even - he descended she prepared
80 Whirl her car about IN departure,
1hcn inspiration came Ia him. There
was 50 little of interesting variety In
his tread-mill life. this glorious morn
'ue spin had seemed ike an hour from
his boyhood The car and the services
of this lovely. battling maid were mi
raculously for hire
This afternoon" said Truesdale. 81
would like 10 be carried over 10 the
next town; could you do it7'
The girl considered Yes" she
said "and there will be other passcn-
gers Call for you at two"
The other passengers were tucked
into the back seat when she arrived.
silently he resented the presence Of
th" Two old ladies' hut on their swing
Ng way again, he was glad The driv
er seemed 10 feel free now, 10 include
him la the merry. descriptive remarks
She made 10 the others Back with
The station lights cleaning through
evening dusk Glen Truesdale fingered
beside the big car.
1T win be necessary for mo 70 pav
weekly visit here for some time." he
told The girl; may ! ask YOU 10 drive
me each Wednesday,"
For moment she regarded him be
meath her soft cap brim
Certainly she agreed imperSonaliy.
II was altogether strange and mex
plicahlc how that wlnsoine. girlish face
haunted him through the days which
followed. Mockingly IL smiled from
pcrplcXing papers resentfuly 80
seemed to withdraw an his own return
ing smile Tnaccountablc anger filed
him that She" should he carrying
people about here and there. al 50
much a mile. and Why And what
was IL All 10 him. he who did not even
know her name?
My name Is Glen TrueSdale" he ali
ruptly Informed her upon one Of their
later rides. Il would lfke 10 know
yours"
Margaret Carstairs" she replied in
milnicry
This last ride down through the
early starlight. was one of enchant-
mcuf Trucsdale dared hardly glance
700 the glowing fuce near his own. LEST
he must tell the girl how lovely she
was. and forever break the charm
lu>'iur'ively. he knew that one step
ont of his stipulated role of customer
only" would be- the end Bat how 10
~eo her under other and more promis-
'ng conditions-thst WAS The problem.
Then because ne must know more of
her. ne sought the station agent.
Whom did YOU say she WASP" ne
a-sed casually. "the young woman who
drives the auto-buSi"
Don't know much about EN-" the
agent replied Game here couple
of months ago and rented the old Gage
place Carstairs the name. Her hus-
band started 10 run The auto trips
when he was called to war. Then. she
took IL up. Pretty plucky"
Truesdaie's head was swimming. lie
stepped out into the night Her hus-
hand-and he had gone-to war Yes
IL was pretty plucky. And Glen Trues-
dale came back TO the country town
no more
The girls eyes grew Wlstful as Wed
nesdav after Wednesday passed But
The haunting eyes looking back from
ClenS paper were mOcking ones
When business forced him again 10 the
country his face, whitened with fear
hat She would be there. hut when ne
saw her his heart qulckcned In Joyous
response Speechlessly ne stood gazing
into her reproachful face.
You have been away-So long" She
said disappointment was In her tone.
business method seemed 10 have
vanished when ! heard Of your hus-
band being away az war" Truesdale
began.
NV husband" " cried Margaret Car
stairs. Then she laughed "They do
get things mixed up herew she said.
1T is my brother who went 10 war.
Mother did not want me 20 take his
place. but"
Glen Truesdale jumped into the seat
az her side. Put I'm mighty glad you
did" ne said fervently.