The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-01-24


your Rachael said. Perhaps you
can go back and get us a tow what
can we dol"
"StuckY' asked Rudy. wnding na
uuconcernedly about the ear as " the
sun were shining on the scene.
NO. don't think 80. not yet Hut
I can feel the road under ua giving
already. And Two killed my cngiuer
Rudy dolibcratod.
Wont start, chg"
she simply WON'T
Amt got "a crank. have yer
Rachael stared.
why. yen. We have. under my
seat here. Hut II there chance that
she might start on crankinEf' she
said eagerly.
"Dun't know" Rudy said non
committaily.
Rachael was instantly on her feet
and after some cropping aud adjust
ing. the cranklng was attempted
Failure. Ruddy went bravely AT 1t
again. Failure Again Rachael
touched the starter.
''No uHcr shc said with sinking
heart.
But Rudy WAS bred OF Hea folk
who do not expect quick results. lie
tugEed away again vigorously. ana
again after that And suddenly the
most delicious sound that i,achacrs
ears had ever heard there WAS the
sucking ana piunglng that meant
success. The ear painted like giant
revived. and Ruddy stood back lu
the mercilesa green light ana sent
Rachael "a smile Ills homely face.
running rain. looked at her aH bright
a. an angels.
"Dunt know ms ia stand there.
s'decp in my tracks, shouted Huddy
GlnRcrly. timidiy. nho pushed tie
ear ON some ten feet What -
thinking" suggested Huddy then.
coming 10 put his face IN close q"
hers. and shouting over In" Noise ~
wind and water. is this II | was 70
walk ahead Of 50. kinder ffciins for
tho road with my feet. then you
could come after. dye HecF"
"oh. Ruddy. do sou think we can
make ~. them" Rachaei'a face wuH
wet with tears.
"punt know" he said. lie took
of his immense boots ard gray
socks. and rolled up his vet trousers
the hrttcr to feel every inch ~ rise
or fan In the ground beneath his
feet and Mile held these fur him us
u u were sacred charge.
.And then. with the fun hghi % the
e.. f.Ua Il
with the water rushing and Eurgling
about them. and the rain pouring
down hs II u were an actual drluse
they made tho crossing at Clarke
iiar. Tho shifting water almost
blinded Rachael sometimes. ana
sometimes Il seemed aN II any way
but the way that Ruddy'n waving
arms indicated was the right one.
az N Co follow him were utter mad
ness me water spoutcd up thru
the clutch. and once again tho engine
stopped. and long moments went hy
before ., would respond TO tho crank
again. Hut Rachael pushed slowly
on. She was not thinking now. she
waa conscious OF no feeling but that
there was an opposite shore. and she
must reach Il,
And presently Il rose before them
Tho road ran gradually upward. "a
shallow shoe, OF running water COW
erinE II. but firm. hard roadway dis
cernihlc nevertheless Rachael
stopped the car. ana Buddy came
again and put his face close to here's.
thru the curtains.
Now ye've got straight road. Mrs
Gregory. and | hope TO the good
Lord you'n have good run. Thank
Sc. much obliged
'Iluddyi" said Rachael passionate
~. her wet gloves holding his big
hairy hands tight I'm mover forget
,his' II he has chance 20 1.-Two at
al. this IL his chance. and you've
given il Go hlml God bless you. "A
thousand timcsr'
That's all right" said Rudy.
terribly embarrassed You've al.
ways been awful good to my folks
I'm glad we done II, Good night
Then Rudy had turned back for the
walk home In tho streaming black
ness. and Rachael. drawing a deep
breath. was on her way again shc
stopped only for quick question
to Mary.
NO changer
Just the same"
The wet miles flew by. rain boat
untirlngiy against the curtains.
siished in two great feathers Of water
from under the rushing wheels
Rachael watched her sppcdumctcr.
twenty-five --- twcnty.cight thirty
they could not do better than that
In this weather. And they had
hundred miles To go.
But that hundred was only eighty.
six now, only eighty. Villages flew
by, and men came out and stood on
the dripping porchcs OF crossroad
stores to marvel as tho long scream
OF Rachacl's horn cut thru the night
air. Twenty minutes past eight
o'clock eight minutes OF nine
o'clock. Tho little villages began TO
grow dark.
There was nothing 10 pass on the
road: 20 much was gain. Except in
the villages. and once or twice where
slow. rattlinR wagon was plodding
along on the wet nirrorlike asphalt
Rachael might make her own speed.
The road las straight and was an
exceptionally good road. even In this
weather. She need hardly pause for
signhoards. The rain still fell in
sheets Sevcnty.two miles to go.
"ilow Is he, Nary"
1.-THE same, Mrs. Gregory. Except
that he gives n little groan now and
then when II shakes him
MY boyl But not sleeping?"
"Oh. no, Mrs. Gregory. He just
lies quiet like
God bless him. Rachael said un
lar ber breath Alotld abe said,