Deming graphic., 1919-08-19
The WELCOME Ride
sy mAaeAREr /. AHERN.


The two sailor lads--they were hard
ly over twenty-trudged along the
parkway aImlessly. hands In their reef.
CT pockets and whistllng to keep M
their spirits. II was one OF those
rare Sundays In winter. not too
cold. with sunny blue sky. The
ronds were dry and hard. and although
It was early morning. throngs Of auto
ists were already starting OF on pleas
ure trips. Many were comfortable In
closed cars, while others, rosy-cheeked
and bundled In fIrs, went swiftly by
In open cars.
Jimmie. one OF the boys I'm uniform.
stopped whistIing and gave deep
sigh.
"If l were at home now" he began
heminiscently. "rd be greasIng the old
ear and filling her up with gas. Then
all the folks would pile In, and ma
would have our lunch basket-it's al
most az big as a clothes hamper-and
we'd be of for the day. Out as'far
as the Falls, maybe. or perhaps TO
Uncle Steve's ranch. We'd get back
just before II got dark, and Hannah
would have a mans size dinner ail
rendy for us. We'd have appetltes
like starving steers. I can almost
smell the roast beef and the gravy
and"
stop that" his chum, Dick. inter
rupted rudely. "or you'll have my
teeth watering in a minute. I've an
idea, Jimmie: let's sit here by the
road and trust that an auto will come
along with two empty seats in H."
Accordingly they sat down and
watched the passing procession hope
fully. II began TO look as though they
were out OF luck when gray car
with two empty seats came along.
Two ladies' were the only occupants,
and they seemed TO be having trou-
BILE. The car slowed down, chug-chug-
ged for while, all the time emit
ting from its interior mysterious
sounds that would strike terror TO
any lady motorists heart, and finally
came to complete stop. The driver
frantlcally worked the spark lever
and throttle up and down and tried
the self-starter, but with no success.
Jimmie smiled at his friend. Here's
our chance, Richard Earl Palmer.
Come along, quick"
The two OF them hastened over TO
the gray car. Jimmie politely offered
his services, explaining that he was
an electrician In the navy and thor
oughly familiar with gasoline en-
gines.
Mrs. Windsor. the driver. had got
out, opened mp lie h1Od, and was
squirting oil alou; frm small can
rather lavlsly. She sighed with re-
lief at Jlmmles offer. "If you boys
can help me out. and have nothing else
to do you shall be my guests for the
day." she said gratefully.
With an instinct for finding engine
trouble. and the added incentive OF her
promise, II took Jimmie only few
minutes to find that there was loose
connection at the ignition switch. He
fixed II easily, and then, at Mrs. Wind
sor's request, tried the self-starter and
found that II worked without difficulty.
That was the beginning OF one OF
the happlest days jimmie and Dick
had spent since leaving home. Mrs.
Windsor, seeing the eagerness shining
in Jlmmle's eyes, had generously Of
fered to let him drive. She sat beside
him, pointing out the roads, while Dick
and her companion sat In back.
BY the time they reached their des-
tlnatlon, country inn famed for Its
good dinners, the four were good
friends and had exchanged conf.
dences. The boys learned that the car
belonged TO Mrs. Wlndsor's only son,
who was overseas, and that she had |
been driving II since he went away, |
but was almost discouraged by her
frequent mishaps. They discovered, |
to, that she was as lonesome as they |
were, and that she lived In a large |
house, but was considering giving II
up and going to hotel TO live until
her son came back.
After delicious and hearty dinner
Rt the inn, they all enjoyed the long
drive back to Mrs. Windsor's house.
She insisted that her two guests stay
for supper and spend the evening.
Jimmie and Dick made themselves at
home Immediately. They romped with
, frisky collie. played the plano, and
sang for their hostess. At ten they
departed for their ship, but
not until they had promised TO spend
he next weekend with Mrs. Wind
,or.
And she, between arranging for a
heater party at the next Saturday
matinee. and inviting number OF
ioung people to a dance at her home
evening. forgot all about her
onesomeness and her Intention OF go
ng % q hotel, and wrote her son the
most cheeful letters he had received
n a long while.
Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure News
paper syndicate)