The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-11-19
THE DAILY
STORY
A Gasoline Romance
copyright. 1920, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndtcatel

hut before she had gone a half mile
down the road heavy clouds had
rolled UP from the west and 10
the accompaniment Of ominouS
srumblings and grumblings from the
darkened heavens, the rain had be-
gun to fall. Not that Elsie minded
a wetting: she had lived too long
in the country to let damp SHOES
and wet clothes bother her; but un.
der her arm, carefully wrapped III
brown paper. was her new dress.
which she simply had to have. for
the party that Saturday; and while
brown paper Is an excellent pro-
iective against dust, It has never
/, been famous for its water-turntns
Qualities. So Elsie fed precipitate-
" to the shelter OF an Overhangtng
bush by the fence at the side Of the
road and Waited for the shower 10
pags.
But the shower showed no inten-
lions Of passing. The rain contin-
ued to come down, not with It's first
violence. but with a sul!en. steady
lntentness that prcsagcd u long con.
tinued drip. Elsie was wondering
what she could do. She could go
home, but in that ase tho dress
would probably get wet-and It was
a good three-quarterB OF a mile far
Their to the village. Sue wished
that she had hitched mp Dohbin and
taken the Concord buggy; but it
was too late for wishing. There
seemed nothing to do but try and
wait the rain out.
She mad spent nearly half an
hour in her damp retreat. and was
feeling rather cramped and decided
t!y at odds with the weather man.
when %she'heard a mOnstrous chug-
tginE from down the road, inter
kfnersed with the grinding OF gears
gears. In a moment a numbering
truck heaved into sight, its driver
pGrched high in the air on the seat,
and evidently having n certain
yanount OF trouble in steering his
uuRainly charge in the slippery
mud. But what Elsie noticed first
was that while the drivers seat was
high It was also dry-a snug cab,
confined by curtains and protected
by glass. She raised herself 10
ask for n lift when the truck SUD
denly slowed, slid sidcwise to the
adge OF the road and stopped a scant
ward from where she was sitting.
The curtain parted and a curly
shock Of red hair was thrust out.
while q CHEEKY voice cried:
Hello! Coin anywhere? III
give you a lift!"
Elsie waited not on ceremony.
She handed up her precious parcel,
which disappeared into the nav OF
the seat. and then, aided by II
strong tug from the drivers stout
Darm found herself seated beside
linn. The little enclosure Of the
seat seemed coy after the cheer
less shelter Of the bush. The panes
Of the windshield. streaming with
rain, made the view OF the road
ahead blurred and indIstinct; the
light Of day let in a sors
of twilight in. which she could make
out queer levers and buttons and alt
sorts OF funny clock faces on the
dashboard. The driver made mys-
FERROUS gestures with n lever that
projected from the floor. and in a
moment they were rumbling down
the road. Not until then did Elsie
take the opportunity to look at him.
Her look bore out the favorable
impression she had had when he
rescued her. He had a nice face,
she thought. with some very at
tractiye Freckles. a nose that tilted
ever so slightly, and a chin that
bespoke flrmness as we'll as I'M
bounded good humor. He was mut-
lied in, a raincoat and his hands
were encased in gloves; and he
handled the great truck as easily as
Elsie herself handled Dobbin. She
was moved to admiration.
you're an awfully good driver,
aren't you she said.
He grinned, but he did not take
his eyes off the road ahead.
"Oh, | can drive a little" he said
.%rnodestdly. At that moment the
truck Bkidded wildly to the right
and with a quick skilled swish OF
the wheel and a jUdiciOus applica
ton Of power he brought It back
to the road again. ooh, crlcu ri
sie,l 1.-THE young mans grin wtdS"-
cd That's nothing" he encourag-
ed her Bound to skid a little on
n day like this. / reckon l can
Alandle her-you going to town? ?"
"Ycs-to the dressmaker's?'
well, you just tell me where to
drop you and I'll do It. I'm new
to these parts-just got this Job
notwithstanding for Simpson and
Company. make regular trips be-
tween their branch store out ut
Bogg's Corners and the village. Go
past here about the same time ev-
cry day. Say-do you go up to
town often?"
Elsie blushed at the direct ques-
ton, but answered shyly. why, yes
almost every day."
"That's fne!" The young man
said no more, and Elsie did not in
uuire why he should appear so
pleased at her statement. She was
silent, apparently absorbed in her
thoughts. The young man also said
nothing; but he might have been
interested had he known that Elsie
was wondering how she could
square 1t with her conscience for
saving she went to town almost cv-
cry day, when as a matter OF fact
twice q month was almost her lin.
it. They drove on in dead silence.
In a few moments the village ap-
peared, dripping. before their eyes,
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