The Ordway new era., 1919-03-21
Gasoline
Road Agent
(copyright-)
By May Roberts Rinehars

stuck In the mud, and it's getting
worse every minute. Besides, we're
going to be late"
Jimmy GarretsOn stopped and care
fully turned up his dress trousers to
a safe height.
Its the deuce of place to have a
dance, anyhow. If people will enter
tain fool English noblemen. they might
at least have the sense to do it In
town"
Arbuthnot and Garretson peered
into the machinery.
81 can't see anything wrong. Awful
reek of gasoline, though. You'd bet
ter get out yourself"
Arbuthnot threw off his big leather
coat and crawled cautiously down.
Don't you know why want to meet
this English lord?'
mot the least idea-cross my
| breast"
Its not funny"-witheringly Don't
you know Marjorie Lane is going to
marry bim?'
"Phew, you don't mean it! Why,
| thought-that is. you know"
''Yes, know. thought it, too. But
1t seems 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 1t wasn't the river road
we'd run a 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. I saw in
the paper where some fellow did that
not so very long ago"
1--WE 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,
"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
ner?"
II don't remember much about that
night. Remember the next day, though
had an awful head. What about
it?"
"Well. when it was time for you to
go for Edith, you wouldn't go. Said
you were having a good time where
you WERE"
II did?" Jimmy Garretson groaned.
"You did. So like fool made up
a little story about your not feeling
well, and took Edith myself. She may
have understood. but Edith's 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. had an en-
gagement to meet her Mt the. club ball
that night, and when I got there at
midnight some lunatic had evidently
told her, for she cut me dead, and /
haven't seen her since"
"Tm awfully sorry, old man. / wish
you had told me sooner-it was really
up to me to fix things. My reputation
is too far gone to be hurt, anyhow"
Listen" Arbuthnot held up warn
ing hand. :
In the distance could be heard the
chug-chug of an auto. growing louder
as it approached.
Hello! Walt minute" called Gar
retson. "We've had an accident and
need little help"
Haven't time," came surlily back.
Elk 1t yourselves"
"YOu don't seem to understand what
said" Arbuthnot's voice was thick
with passion. II told you to STOP"
"Remove your hand. siri What do
you mean by OBTAINING met"
"You internal little puppy" He
turned savagely on the stranger, and
taking him by his ulster collar, tossed
him into the mud. 'Now walk"
Then Arbuthnot proceeded deliber-
ately to empty the gasoline tank Of
the strange automobile.
"Edward! Arbuthnot raised up in
dismay. "Are you going to sit there
quietly and allow an outrage like
this?"
"A woman, by Jovey'
Jimmy Garretson almost fell again
in his astonishment.
what can dor came weakly from
the embankment. aren't there two
of them? Do you think I'm fool?"
There was very audible snifr of dis
gust from the tonneau.
I'm afraid do. You brought this
whole affair on yourself by being any
thing but gentleman. It's charming
situation for me-"
But Arbuthnot stepped forward, cap
in hand.
Il assure you, madam" he said, ad-
dressing the voice, 1--WE had not the
slightest idea that the gentleman was
not alone or this tiisgraceful affair
would never have happened. The least
we can do now is take you to your
destination, If you will lllow us that