Gilpin observer., 1920-02-12
A License to
Drive
BY R. RAY BAKER

1
AL Winton reclined In a lounging
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 personified 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 prospective wife. The speed
well, it 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 gasoline-pro-
PEELED vehicle
| He knew that in order to shift
gears it was necessary to throw out
the clutch; he understood that in
climbing a steep hill a retarded spark
is of great assistance; in fact, he 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 passenger, and
he could not travel too fast. He said
that speed helped to solve his busi-
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 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 have a chauffeur?
Well, during the last year he had en-
ployed just six chauffeurs, each of
them resigning after 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 it was
fully materialized it turned to 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 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 buggy?"
called n 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 it. The car
came to IA stop and II young woman.
clad in n brown tailored suit. crawled
from behind the wheel and stepped to
the walk.
AL advanced to the walk
"Why-yes-yes, to be sure, it's my
car. Dd-dld you rescue it? Well.
thanks. ever so much obliged"
We'll, all l got to say" the girl OBJ
served with enthusiasm. ''is that it's
some bus. I've driven about every
kind there is, but this has them all
beat. let her out on that side street
| while going round the block; and she
| travels well, ia say"
Rather than jarring on him. the
slang. with its mixed pronouns. was
rather refreshing. 1t was not much
| like Leona Lowell's well-modulated.
perfect English.
| We'll, how-how did you catch the
runaway" he inquired. Somehow he
felt abashed before this active young
| woman.
"Oh. just saw IL ambing along by
itself. 1t looked lonesome so | hoped
in and took charge. If | hadn't it
would have smashed up couple of
| limousines that were in its way. Well
must be going. SO long. Better