The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-01-22
Elsa's Auto
by ALDEN CHAPMAN


tomobllc that had been put up as tho
grand prize nt the street fair at Brook.
ton. Reluctantly she had been pre-
vailed upon 20 buy dollar ticket along
with the other members Of the girls
Dorcas club and dollar was a great
deal 10 Elsa. for she and her father
had between them Just nbout enough
income TO make ends meet. Az II
meant a contribution 10 the local
orphanagc, however Elsa was willing
TO make sacrifice for worthy char
ity.
Everybody congratulated Elsa and
sincerely, too. for sho was general
favorlic. or course sho was excited
and delighted ms the announcement OF
her good fortune was made. Her girl
friends crowded around her. and when
the manager Of the fair told Elsa he
would deliver the machine ut her
homo. II was her eager. chatterlng
chums who crowded into the auto. and
people on the street waved their ap-
probation TO Elsa ns she was driven
homcward. flushed and pleased.
II suppose we had better sell II for
what We can get" suggested her prnc-
teal father. ut would bring enough
TO pay all our little debts and help us
through a hard year"
"Just as you say. father" replied
patient. sclf.sacrlncIng Elsa, but her
eyes rested longingiy on the thing Of
beauty and speed. II just thought
she added coaxingly. shat II we could
possibly nfford TO keep II and use II,
what great pleasure II would be for
both OF us TO take a little drive eve
nlngs and Saturday afternoons. when
you are through with your hard, hard
work"
swell. we can try H." said MFR.
Worth after period OF reflection.
''But who can run itf'
"Mr. Arlington, our neighbor, says
! ought to get the garage man TO teach
me-" suggested Elsa. ale won't charge
much, and II we buy our oil and gaso-
line from him. probably he won't
charge us at ALL"
"very well. 90 and see the garage
man." suggested Mr.. Worth, "and see
what arrangement we can make. You
certainly deserve some pleasure in life,
Elsa, and will admit there Is nothing
finer than automobIling II II isn't too
expensive"
elsa started for the garage. She
knew It's owner. Mr.. Burch, but did
not find him about the place. Instead.
there was a most pleasant-faced young
man potterlng about the tires Of ma
chine, who listened TO her story and
said:
II am working here. Miss" and he
looked It, with his greasy overalls. "As
soon as Mr.. Bureh comes back ! VIII
tidy up and come to your house and
give you the first lesson"
"But the charges" asked Elsa.
"Oh, the privilege will be pleas-
ure," declared the handsome, accom-
modatlng young fellow.
He was stranger In Brookton, for
Elsa had never seen him before, and
was probably one Of the many summer
visitors who came to pass a week or
two up at the lake, which was quite Il
resort. Half an hour later when the
garage man came back, he said:
II was helping to get my machine
in shape when young lady, Miss
elsa Worth, came in. She has got
new auto"
'Yes, l heard of that"
"She wants you to send someone to
teach her how to run it. Send me.
See here, / never have been so at
tracted by young lady, and she sup
poses am your employee. Keep up
the deluslon and / will make 1t right
with you. Seer
The garage man smiled amicably
and an hour later, dlvested Of his
overalls and a model as to attire and
courtesy, Adrian Bristol gave Elsa her
first lesson at levers and wheel. 1t
was a pleasure to set those shapely,
delicate hands Alright in directing the
machine. When she pressed close
against him amid the thrills Of efforts
and errors, as If relying on his pro-
lection, Bristol had to confess to him.
self that he was under spell Of rare
fascination.
He could have taught Elsa all she
needed to know within week, but
he prolonged 1t to two, and she was
not sorry, and he felicltated under the
spell of joyous companionship. She
had marveled at the amount Of free
leisure he had at command, and there
was nothing now to remind her Of the
greasy old overalls in which he had
first presented himself to her notice.
One day he called at the humble
home of the Worths to find Elsa
taciturn and In tears. He finally in
duced her to reveal the reason Of her
mood. 1t seemed that cousin Of her
father to whom they owed money had
insisted on their selling the auto to
pay the debt.
"We thought 1t only right to do so,"
said Elsa, but oh, how we miss it,
Bristol drew nearer to her, his eyes
aglow with loving resolve.
sElsa," he spoke tenderly, Il am
able to afford dozen autos Won't
you become my wife, and let me supply
you with one especially for your own
USE" And Elsa did not resist the