Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-16
NEVER TAKE A "DARE..

She was seated in the center OF a
group OF girls on the schoolhouse steps.
her head was shaking in a determined.
proud motion. as she so!emnly pro-
claimed the fatal truth. mo. l have
never taken dare. and l never will
take one
After this solemn statement was
made and approved by tie other mem
Dcrs OF the group. all five girls arose
from their seat and started ho;neward.
1t was tho end Of days work at
school, and all of them were rackiDg
their brains trying to think of some
way to have an especially good time
that afternoon.
They had arrived within block OF
their homes when. out of the silence
came sudden burst of JOY from one
OF something perfectly wonderful"' She
cried. and turning to Frances she ex-
claimed, Frances Blaine, YOU said you
would not take a dare, SO now | dare
YOU to get out that Tin Lizzie OF
your dads and take us all for a ride
Frances became limp. She remcm-
forbidden her to take it out alone. and
she began: But dad won't allow it
and"
Remember your motto" came the
Missing sound Of the girls beside her
Il was perfectly hopeless. Sic was
positively in the power of these girls
because she had said that she would
not take dare.
Within an hour from that time all
five girls We're seated comfortably and
eXcitcdly in the old Tin Elizabeth"
Frances shaky foot touched the clutch.
her shaliy hand touched the gears and
they had started,
out of the city limits at once
shouted one of tho girls: But before
Mr.. Elaine on the street. Frances was
too excited to know what she was
doing. Her foot pressed harder and
fl hn
was siZZins by, good many mil g
above the speed limit. They were out
Of town III no time,
Frances lot down the speed for a
while TO catch her breath. This excite
mcnt was WONDERFUL. She could con-
troll her feelings no longer, and very
and GigGling until they hardly had any
sense LETT at all. At least It is quite
apparent that Frances did not. for tho
number OF times that they landed in
the ditch within those few miles was
quite appalling.
Dorothy's mischierous brain was
working 4 good deal moro than usual,
and she very soon made another as
founding remark into Franco ears.
Listen here, ] dare you to 20 it fifty
miles an hour" sic said. Frances gave
she could make UP, but she would not
take IA dare.
The sDecdometer arose higher and
higher, and they were socn passing
ears and being out of sight OF them ut
very near tile same time. Frances.
who WAS enjoying the fun really more
than amy OF the others. was constantly
saying over TO herself: Gee. why had
not | thought OF this before? This is
9lorious--whcn---
Halt captr 4 stern voice from { lie
side Of the road. AS Frances suddenly
stopped the car and looked up to see
what on earth had happened she GaZcd
straight into the face OF the speed
cop. you're arrested for sncedng"'
greeted her ears. as she gaZcd speech
less. first at tie cop. and then into the
faces of the astonlshed girls.
''Wh-wh--wh -a-a t." she managed
10 burt out. But as soon "a she had
rcsaincd her senses. il was no trouble
at all to find out what had happened,
4 day or two later brings us back
20 tie old schoolhousc steps. Frances
Is staring blanily ont into space. her
lips SGT in their usual firm position,
as Dorothy exclaimed. Il declare.
Frances. you look as II YOU had lost
your last friend IN tho worid.'
Frances turned her little wise head
slowly around. SO that her eyes met
those OF the group beside her. and pro-
claimed, slowly and solcmnly tie fol-
lowing truth: II thinl. | have lost
about half Of my senses. but ! have got
enough left to k:.ow that J have los, II
good many dollars. gained a good many
seedlings and resolved TO always take
4 dare in the future"
VIRGINIA DARE DAVIES.