, 1920-02-12
A License to
Drive
By R. RAY BAKER
&c. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate)

al "ilioh CCiiicu III d lOulSluS
chair, a newspaper dangling from his
hand, and through the window of the
club admired his new eight-cylinder
touring car.
In this world there were two per-
sons and one thing that AL really
cared about. The persons were his
mother and Leona Lowell. The thing
was speed, as personifed by the new
car.
His mother he loved as any regular
son loves his mother. Leona he
loved-at least he was under a
strong impression that he loved her
AS a prospective wife. The speed
well, 1t was the only thrill that
thrilled him..
And yet AL could not drive that
automobile, Or any other automobile.
He was one of those strangely con-
stituted persons who cannot master
the art of managing a g~asOline-pro-
PEELED vehicle.
He knew hat in order to shift
gears it IA necessary to throw out
the clutch; he understood that in
climbing a steep hill a retarded spark
u VI great dSSlSldhCt III ldCl, lie was
fairly well informed as to the principle
of auto mechanism; but once he got
behind that wheel and felt the re-
sponsibility of guiding the car through
the fitting, dashing turmoil of traffic,
he began to shake. 1t was some pc
~culiarity of his nervous system. Most
people like to drive, but AL detested it.
But let somebody else take the
wheel, with AL as a passenger, and
he could not travel too fast. He said
that speed helped to solve his bust
ness problem, and it really was neces-
sary to the successful management of
his big furniture factory. Whether it
was speed or common sense that was
responsible, AL had a neat little for
tune that was expanding rapidly. He
was not as timid about business ven
lures as he was about driving a ma
chine.
AL sat at the window and admired
the big blue car and dreaded the
hour, which was fast approaching,
when he must pilot it to the office.
Why did he not ave a chauffeur?
Well, during the last year he had en-
ployed just six chauffeurs, each of
them ~resigning after a brief term of
service, complaining of a nervous
breakdown or something of the kind.
AL kept them going at such terrific
speed that they could not stand the
strain, veterans though they were.
"Open the throttle a little wider;
give her more gas; I've almost solved
this problem" was the song he sang.
AL started to sigh. but before 1t was
fully materialized it turned to a gasp,
for he had seen his new car start up
suddenly from its place at the curb
and roll gently down the street, there
being considerable of a grade in front
of the club. He had forgotten to set
the emergency brake properly or else
had not jammed the front wheels suf-
ficiently tight against the curb.
Al sprang to the door and looked
out IN time to see the auto vanish
round the corner. He knew the grade
continued for several blocks on the in
tersecting street and he feared the
consequences. He started in pursuit,
but when he arrived at the corner the
car was not to be seen.
He stood there undecided and wor-
ried, his black locks blowing from his
bare head.
Hey, mister, is this your buggyT'
called a shrill little voice, and AL
turned to see his machine roll up to
the curb from the direction opposite
to that in which it was going when he
caught his last glimpse of 1t. The car
came to a stop and a young woman,
clad in a brown tailored suit, crawled
from ehind the whee and stepped to
the walk.
AL advanced to the walk.
"Why-yes-yes, to be sure, it's my
car. Did-did you rescue 1t? Well,
thanks, ever so much obliged"
We'll, all I got to say" the girl OBJ
served with enthusiasm, us tina it's
some bus. I've driven about every
kind there Is, but this has them all
beat. 1 let her out on that side street
while going round the block and she
travels well, I'd say"
Rather thar Earring on him, the
slang, with it's mixed p%ronouns, was
rather refreshing. 1t was not much
like Leona Lowell's well-modulated,
perfect English.
well, how-how did you catch the
!, runaway" he inquired. Somehow he
felt abashed before this active young
woman.
"Oh, just saw 1t ambling along by
itself. 1t looked lonesome so l hoped
in and took charge. If l hadn't 1t
would have smashed up "A couple of
!, limousines that were in its way. Well,
I must be going. So long. Better
watch your boss more closely
She started to walk away, but Al
, called
: swat a minute! Can't ! do some
, thing to show my Appreciation"