The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1919-05-03
The
Motor Lady
By ROSALE FAVIER
Copyright, 1913, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)

Thompson crawled from under the
car, his face, hands and clothes streak
I'd with q combination of perspiratiOn,
tar, gravel and grease that bespoke
dom for the light gray trousers, and
visit to the manicure for the hands.
And worst of all, the automobile still
refused to bulge!
IL give up" groaned Thompson,
sinking despondently on the grass.
THE blame thing won't go, and that's
NJ there is to it."
Never say die" cautioned a voice
nt his elbow. Faint heart never won
over a stubborn motOrcar."
MY dear young lady"-ThompsOn
hurriedly drew his grimy handkerchief
over his face, and tried anXiously to
find the part in his touseled hair
lust at present I haven't any heart
1t all, after all I have been through"
"What have YOU done|
"WeIL" he began. Il looked to see
if had any gasoline"
"Thar was clever of YOU" smiled
the girl $50 many men would knock
dp engine to pieces first, and discover
an empty gasoline can later. Is there
water in the radiatOr?"
''Yup -
Car well oiled?"
Certainly"
"How are the spark plugs? A
cracked one will cause no end Of trou-
lie, you know"
The man gulped. Evidently she did
know a little about motors. mo-" he
said "the plugs are all right. Besides,
if cne of them was broken the engine
would have given warming; it wouldn't
have stopped dead"
It's your ignition !'' Beth squinted
her eyes, deep in thought. There is
wire loose somewhere"
"There is not" Thompson cried en-
pEGtically. 1--we followed every blame
wire up, and they are all o. K"
Then know just what the trouble
is. Your timer is dirty"
"Just wipe it over and the car will
run with ease," Haunted Beth, her eyes
twinkling merrily. "And, so long"
On the way to the village, for he
started a few minutes later, Thompson
speculated on who the Motor Lady"
might be, and why she had Surried
away so quickly. He was thinking Of
her when he stored the car away in
the hotel garage, and engaged his
room for the night. He even sat on
the veranda to watch all the women
that passed, hoping that she would
LASS, too.
When night came hope fed. He was
IN town for the one night only, to sell
;ires to the e. B. Sterns Garage COM
Dany, and would leave for the next big
town directly after breakfast.
He strobe up and down the long cor
ri0Or putting thoughtfully at his cigar,
waiting for the manager Of the garage,
VINO had arranged to meet him that
evening. At eight o'clock on the min
ute the call boy motioned to the rest
less man. 'E. B. Sterns is out on the
Teranda waiting for you, sir"
thompson threw away his cigar.
His mind was wandering and he need
&c. to concentrate, for the Sterns peo-
PIE were customers he wanted to Sc
cure, He hurried out. A slender fig
ure rose from a rocker to meet him.
Good morning Mr.. Thompson"
YES" Thompson hesitated. Sorry
can't stop, but have pressing en-
gagement just now"
II know-with me-" laughed the girl.
81 am E. B. Sterns. You wish to in.
terest me in certain make Of tire. I
have a full stock Of shoes on hand
just now, so you will have to do some
talking to make me buy"
Thompson thought of his afternoons
plight; he noticed the twinkle In
Beth's eyes; he made up his mind to
win or diet So he talked. Fabric, en-
durability, strength, flexibility, relia-
b,lity, mileage. Never before had any
tire been so lauded to the skies. He
talked till his throat was sore, and
.ontinued till his voice was husky and
he painted for breath; and he did not
cease until she lifted her hand In pro-
test. Instead of saying, "Pll take a
hundred on trial." she asked: "Mr.
Thompson, what is your salary?"
Thompson was too surprised to say
anything but the Thirty per-"
"Il give you forty, if you care to
work in my garage"
You mean that? Why, you don't
know me from Adam"
81 know that you are a good sales
nan, and also a gentleman. There's
nobody in town that can help me in
he garage, and since my brothers
went to war l can't handle the place
aione. I need help, and have liked
yCur manner towards me ever since
we met. Will you accept?"
It was some Il months later when
= large touring car came to a halt
A.ong the roadside, and an athletic
ycung man turned to the woman be-
side him. "Now what's the matter?
Going to play tricks on us, just as we
are starting off on our honeymoon, is
$40 7 COLL thiS tough lucE "