The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-02-03
AT HIS PERIL
BY JACK LAYTON.
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| aimless himself. To have Saturday
| half-holiday in which to amuse ones
self and then to find nothing amusing,
was predicament.
Billy wondered what was the matter
with him anyway. Golf. and the Conn.
try club failed to entertain. Young
women of his acquaintance seemed all
at once insipid. Shows held no
charm. What possessed him?
Impatiently he asked himself the
question, and as If In mocking answer
came flashing memory Of certain
girls witching face. Billy had passed
| This girl days ago in the city park. She
had been learning to run a little road
ster, and his prolonged and interested
scrutiny was overlooked by its object.
Billy envled the instructor. Thereafter
he found himself feverishly speculat-
Ing as to the personality of this broad
shoudered confident fellow. He might
be brother for his mntter-of-fact ac-
eeptance OF his position, or hus-
band. Billy dismissed the husband
idea--he didn't like It. Because her
eyes reminded him of Natalie Burke.
he took Natalie to the theater that
evening and was disappointed.
Natalie's upward glance was very
different from that of the other girl
with her lashed lids. Billy couldn't
get this girl ont of his head, and his
was practical, well-balanced head,
at that. Then, just as her pretty fea-
lures were beginning to haunt him
less Billy ran across the girl again in
the lobby Of a theatcr.
Fol- one breathless moment her eyes
met his steadily as. recklessly he drew
near. she vanished through doorway
and was lost In the theater crowd.
That 1t would have awaited him moth
Ing, had he found her. lessened BIlly's
disappointment not bit. He had read
bad scoffed at their impossibility Yet.
now, as he rode along. the girls face
seemed to laugh at him, Reckoning on
ward.
Billy frowned; also he drew up alb
ruptly before n looming sign. dan
gerous," warned the sign. Proceed
at Your Own Peril"
Bily's frown changed to grin.
Here was venture at least suited to
his mood.
Sounds like blacs-hand COM
munication," he muttered. as his ear
ratified over the railroad ties, continu-
Ing up the narrow path through Il new
cut way.
proceeding at his own peril
proved but monotonous after all. vari-
Gus trees alternsted their lines upon
either side. while the rough solitary
road stretched ever above. At the first
chance of turniog he decided to re-
verse, and come back down the trail.
But as he glimpsed a widening space
above. he saw ybat another venture
some one had been before him, and
had come to grief.
small car blocked the opening
while a figure bent over its uncovered
engine. AS the figure Strengthened at
his approach, Billy gasped In surprise
and drew up with a jar. for 1t was
tie vision girl who looked back at
him across her disabled car.
Billy was at her side Immediately,
boredom already far away.
Can l." he asked eagerly, 'be OF
ossistance?"
The girls dark eyes were troubled.
"Will you be SO kind as to look this
thing overg she asked. you can't
believe how relieved was TO see some
one coming. have just learned to run
the car and 1t was idiotic to bring II
up this way. But" she paused.
Didn't you read the warning sign7"
Billy asked.
The girl nodded her adorable head.
~ couldn't seem to turn the car
around" she confessed. Billy laughed.
80 you had to Keep on &ping?"
The girls laughter mingled with his.
'Yes," she said. Already he was
bending over the machine. 1t appeared
TO be in perfect order. There was no
reason why the car might not start at
once on It's downward trip. Still Billy
fingered Some verse about "Never
the time, the place. and the girl al
together" flashed through his brain.
Here was his golden hour and he
meant to keep ii. So Billy br.skly
opened the tool box, tinkering lightly
around the engine. while the wonder
full girl sat on The grass nearby, ar
ranging flowers she had gathered.
Billy lounging over The car and the
girl gazing idly at her flowers, talked
OF many things, while Billy's heart
sang the while.
you'll have to let me lead the
way down" he said. land superintend
your return. shan't feel that I'VE
done my duty either, until I've left
you safely at your own door"
"All right" the girl agreed. She
seated herself in the roadster.
II was slow and circutous route
which Billy led. AT sight Of the sign
he paused at last abruptly.
Il understand the thing now" he
fought to post them every
where you CO."
Dangerous" read Billy. Proceed
at your own peril" His eyes sought