The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-02
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Roadsters Two.
ey DOROTHY DOUGLAS.


home AZ Great Neck. Her little road
ster had eaten up the miles as II
Vanishing until they were all con-
sumed.
Helen had invited large number
OF friends on the spur, Of the moment
for week END party and there was
scant time TO provision the closed
home before the first guest should ar
rive. They would all motor out from
the city and would get a mighty cold
reception unless she hurried bit.
Arriving at Great Neck, Helen drew
up at the butchers. had her purchases
put as usual in her car, and went on
then TO the grocery shop to make an
ether order.
Her little roadster swung against
the curb a few yards beyond the door.
A delivery wagon was directly in
'front.' so Helen took the next best posi-
ton.
Inside the shop she made her large
order.
Just put them in the car" she told
the grocery boy.
.The roadster7" questioned the boy
as. laden with the huge box, he obey
ed orders.
A nod and smile answered him,
and Helen then turned to write q
check in payment.
1t was scant five minutes before
she emerged ready for the final spin
that would lead her. well stocked with
food for the inner man, up to the big
driveway to her country home.
Helen sent a swift glance into the
car TO make sure her big box was
safely there. ~
There was mo box! And the boy had
returned empty handed to the store
before she had finished making out
her check She fastened back 10 de-
rnand OF the grocer the whereabouts
OF her order.
Il put Il in the roadster" said tho
boy. and accompanied Helen TO the
door There his heart gave a nasty
turn. There must have been two sim
liar cars by the curb and he had plac-
ed the groceries In the wrong car.
Helen Easped facts Immediately,
and scanned the main street for the
other roadster. II it were in sight Il
would be quicker to follow and get her
bog rather than wait until duplicate
order was made up.
That's probably the car turning
the bend. she decided, and swiftly
jumped into her seat. Being in a
tremendous hurry, and trying to fol-
low the direction of that fast disap-
pearing car, Helen did all the wrong
things She flung into reverse gear,
st1iied her engine almost banged
head -on In to the one trolley in sight.
ana finally got away.
She sped after the receding car as
Il she longed to kill. every inhabitant
OF Great Neck. II seemed often as il
fortune we're fayoringl that other car,
Tor when Helen seemed about to
Spring alongside 1t she invariably had
TO slacken for truck or the sudden
appearance OF child in the roadway.
wrath was gathering in her eyes
and her cheeks were scarlet with ex-
citement Had she not been the
daughter or a well-known townsman
Helen undoubtedly would have
screamed at the occupant of that twin
! roadster 10 stop and give her her
groceries. Time was getting shorter.
and she realized that her guests
would be cooling impatient heels ON
her massive stone doorstep.
The man, for 1t was man in gray
tweed cap pulled well over his eyes,
was obliviors to the fact that he was
being angrily followed
But suddenly he turned off long
bit Of clear road. and in another sec
ond II would have seemed as IL the
Vanderbilt cup race was on, for the
TWO cars careened along that high
way as II in hot pursuit of a whirl-
wind. 1t was then that the man knew
ne was being watched, but merely as
the occupant of one speedy car try.
ing TO pass the other.
They went hood to hood until about
The finish of clear road :, 1t was then
mat the tweed cap driver saw that
his opponent was girl. He had not
made the observation before, being
well content with trying the full
capacity OF his engines power.
Now, with true gentlemaniy tact
be let off gas, tnued almost inner
ceptibly and let <tri drive we'll
past him, He fen to W.. Ting then II
ne had been racing with :. suad-yo-
man. for she was turning ST. Light in
the roadway SO that collision was
only averted by swift, intelligent use
Of brake and steering.
the sudden stop flung Davis with
bang against his wheel. Ii was then
rhat he heartily gave vent to an ex-
preston not flattering to women
you have my sroceries." the an
sry sentence flashed from one car to
the other. *.
Davis started at the flaming cheeks
and brilliant eyes OF his stormy ac-
cuser, then dragging reluctant eyes
away he glanced down into his car. .
Then he did the most objectionable
thing he had soifar done. He laughed
upfoaringly
simultaneously both engines were
shut of as II to pave the way for a
conversation under less strenuous
circumstances. Having quiet now at
their command it was Davis who
spoke NEXT.
What makes you think 1 have your
property IN my car? Ny housekeeper
vas in the village making an order
ana was going to put the box in here
Helen sank back trife appeased
Tor In her heart she knew the man
wHs in no way responsible for her
predicament-yet she could not helm
alelow OF anger. he might have look
I'd 10 see II the boz was his before
inshing off like a tornado with II.
This much she told him before
even as much as the. ghost OF a smile
U1q nnrfnfffor ~