Mexico weekly ledger., 1921-05-26
ADIOURNED7
BY ALICE BORDEN STEVENS

Dot and carry, dot and carry Bob,
crutch struck the stony ground and
lifted. as In regular swing he skipped
down the hill road in his own sccen.
trio way, n shoulder lifted BY the
erutch. the other dropping with the
bend Of the well knee.
"Have a rider The sweet voice
rang above the chug Of the engine as
the automobile came to a sudden stop.
'Going to the vlllage7 III give you a
llft.~ She spoke In q careless, CON-
radely voice, as though every day she
took IN unknown eripples and landed
them at unknown destinations.
"Sure" he cried, deity lifting him.
self through the door to the back seat
Of the touring car. Doris Berkeley
didn't offer to help. She released the
brakes aud slid into the road again.
"where to, oh prlncer"
Golf links" he replied
"Golfl All right; here goes" The
road was winding, now through woods
ard now along cliffs dipping TO- the
river. The a ran with an occasional
catch. Brake out Of order? Can I
helpH" Bob Randall listened. knock
ing, isn't she7 oh, all right. l didn't
near to butt in; 80 on, please"
Doris laughed. II ain sensitive
about my driving. ! suppose. I've had
Ill luck all day; now do you dare ride
with met"
"To the death !" said Bob, nor SOL
EMMY than he intended.
Inwardly he was swearing at his
wooden leg and luck generally; but he
did know the value Of a brave front,
and used 1t. With all the money In
the world, had he o right to ask any
wOman to marry half a man? The
dash and snap resolution that had
made him a remarkable aviator gave
him many a jolt as he lImped through
his days, by deciding on a future
course sure to please his glorious
spirit, only to find 1t impossible to his
MANNED body. however expert he might
become in the use of makeslift limbs
and tools. So, with his heart and soul
insisting Thou art the girl" his mind
and will elamped down the Id of de-
sire with the iron of fair play.
There! It's ialnmed againl OH
tan You jump? You can't, of curse p
Doris tugged Mt the wheel in despair
but IL would not move.
"We're going over-rm sorry"
and She held the wheel as the fence
crashed with the impact.
TIL. ear pitched at right angles into
the Top of a tall sapling, and slid,
jerked, bulzed, down its bending
length to tile beach beneath. stopping
with the front wheels in the water.
The Slide of 20 feet was. thus byo!.en.
not more exciting than a good loop
the-loop at the park, but the girl felt
the grip of responsibility hef IRE there
was time for fear, and the man
cursed his impotency to help as a man
who was not a wreck-a thing-an
idiot-might help. To be strong-and
useless what a paint
All was still, Doris unfolded from
the bottom of the car where the dror
landed her. and peeped over the seat
"Whatf Aren't you dead7 Thank
heaven, though I've little right to ever
speak of heaven, after risking you
life this way. How could | guess Il
would act sO7 1t did 1t this morning
and landed me In the ditch, but thu
garage mar said 1t was all right nsw.
"Turned II too hard, thatss~aIf.
Bob unscrambled the real and the
artificial of his belongings and creep
from the car. Holding by the bach
wheel. he handed her the crutch.
"Can you vaultf II you can, yor
won't get wet. l don't know how We
will get ont Of this He looked up ths
sheer face of the cliff, "but first, lett
get out of the machine, anyway. Sure
you're all rightf"
"Why, they're alive"
mot after that fall" The voice.
came incredulously from above theil
heads.
Leaning over the rail, two scared
faces took account of conditions be
low. Can you waikiki
"SureT called Bob, "if we had {
chance" He looked up and down til:
rocky shore obviously.
"How is the carr"
ut looks all right; wet, Of course
swell, wait, and we'll get ropes ant
things from the garage"
When the climb was made with tn,
aid of engines and pulleys and man.
strong arms and Ingenious minds. tw,
people rather shaken now that II wa
over. sat in the back seat, the CIR
smiling TREMENDOUSLY, but finding cour
age 10 the face of the man.
"Do you still want to go to the gol
grounds" she said,
"Well-under the circumstances"
Say broke In a gruff and practi
cal voice, shat engine would go If |
wasn't wet. AS 1t is, we're going t
tow you rome; take the wheel. one o
you !"
Meeting adjourned" whispers
Bob, as he helped Doris over to tn,
drivers seat. There's to be q happt
ending, Isn't therei"
She smiled and leaned a BIT On hi
shoulder as she passed.
"Yes-adjourned," she said, and b
braced his good foot against the iro
rail, and dreamed strong dreams a
they went on their way. Perhap
there was still In him. after Nil.
power to serve.