The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-11-09
Ten Dollar. or
Night in Jail
BY r. RAY BAKER.

EXCUSE me for laughing. Jerry, bu
e's really funny. Jerry Holmes max
- proposal Of marriagel Can yor
omagine it, But It's true. l heard |,
With my own ears. Oh, dear!'
And again Betty laughed. while
Jerry looked glum and crestfallen.
whats SO funny about itY he
growled. Haven't l known you Ions
enough. Betty? Haven't we lived nexI
door to each other oil our lives? Who's
got q better right to propose to you
than II"
She became more solemn, although
traces Of smile remained on her at
tractive. rather pert countenance.
why. It's So foolish, Jerry. Think
Of you, Jerry, looking out for a wife
you who never did days work In
your life. who have no responsible
ties. Jerry. you're not the kind a
girl wants to marry-at least, not my
kind Of girl. You're too easy, for one
thing. Most girls like to be bossed,
though they won't admit 1t. Can you
picture yourself making me do some
thing? No. Of course you can't. At
least ! can't, and II could l might
picture myself marrying you. I'm fond
OF you, l admit, but can't take your
proposal seriously, because l can't
cake you seriously. You don't your
self. so how can II No, Jerry, forget
IT.; 1t can never be-"
Jerry picked up his tennis racket
and walked slowly away, scowling
dercely at Betty's big roadster resting
0ear the. porch Of her home. He was
Always beaten-at everything he I'M
dert0ok. When he tried to take Betty
TO Mrs. Longworthy's ball he was
beaten by Henry Twite. who had a
more commanding way. This after.
noon he was beaten by Betty herself
on the tennis court. and now he was
beaten for sure In the game Of love.
He went to his room. banged his racket
into closet and flung himself discon-
solately on the bed.
He was discouraged, and at the
Mme time he was desperate. He
thought of hiring gang Of thugs to
kidnap Betty, just so he could rescue
her and be a hero. His brain framed
up other wild schemes, all of which
ne abandoned. He terminated his fren.
Eied conjecturing by arriving ut the
determination to get job and 20 to
work and prove himself worthy. He
had In mind no particular job; the
urst one that happened along would
satisfy.
Down into the city went Jerry
Leaving his car in a garage, he started
out Job hunting, wandering rather
afmlessly. He happened by a police
station ut time when file Of blue
coats was coming out, and 1t made him
stop and think.
That's Il good chance" he told him.
self. "Why not he policeman? Per.
maps 1t would make me more COM
manding It's worth a trial, anyway"
Into the police station he went.
found the captain In charge and asked
Tor job.
The captain smiled rather perplex.
edly Mt the go0d-looking. well-dressed.
Gather large youth.
"A Job. ehf Well, we need men. Can
you manage motOrcycle?"
Jerry nodded vigorously. A motor
cycle was one Of the few things he
ever had been able to manage.
"Well, we'll give you a trial."
Jerry went through the formalities
necessary to become guardian Of the
law. was equipped with q four-cylin.
der racing motorcycle. and In due
course Of time was sent ont to Gran.
dall park to patrol the boulevards in
guest Of speeders. He felt misgivings
aplenty, but his nice blue suit i'm
parted a certain degree of confidence.
He stood for some time In the shade
Of big tree and meditated. While
he stood there at least three big ma.
chimes whizxeA by. going at least forty
miles an hour, And he was supposed
TO catch these demons. Well, he
couldn't perform his duty by standing
there. so he started the engine of his
motorcycle, mounted. let In the clutch
and started down the boulevard.
The job was not exactly to his lik- |
ing. In order to make arrests he
"OusN uAvU " upkpCuE StcTn, even pug
naciOus. And that went against Jer-
rvs grain.
AS he neared curve In the drive he |
heard u Cur coming. with the cut-out
open. He knew 1t was a speeder by |
the sound. He supposed he would |
nave to make an arrest. and yet he
II.
Around the corner came the auto
and plunged straight ut him. He
swerved his cycle and the speeding
missed him by an inch. Then
Jerry became angry, probably for the
irst time In his life. If he hadn't
Deen quick he would have been q dead
policeman now.
He turned about and gave chase. The
notOrcar was far along the boulevard
row, but Jerry opened the throttle and
began to gain. Presently he could see
hat he was holding his own, and his
registered forty five miles
IN hour. He Increased the speed to
lfty, then fifty-five. and finally sixty.