New Britain herald., 1921-12-30

| when she moved forward on the pre- tense of making room for Boss Dean | in the tonneuu of the eur, do not think Bess noticed either, | but l comprchcudcd both, and knew that Lillian was registering both amusement and approval Of my ruse, which clfcctuauy thWartcd the girls palpable purpose Of trying to rouse my temper by talking at me, Your hardly qualify as a motorlor- ry driver Madgc, if another war should hit us,' l|ess gibcd as she de- scended from the seat beside me and arranged herself beside Lillian in the tonneau. "Im disappointed in you. I've seen fat, fusy women of fifty who couldn't stand anybody near them when they were driving, but l thought you were a better driver-and- Il better-sport"
 She drawled the last words slowly and significantly, l caught her mean ing, and reioiced that she could not see my eyes, for l could not control the hot anger that had leaped into them. l made no reply however, but, throwing in my clutch, sent the car on again.
 And then l heard Iillian's voice. ow, clear incisiye
 Any lack of sportsmanship in your friends must cause you great anguish )f mind, Miss Dean,"
 An Encounter Just the slightest most delicate tress on the last pronoun, but with he power of a stiletto thrust. 1}css )can's boise was not disturbed, to all outward seeming. Her laugh was like | merry child's as she answered:
 Just uses me up for the day" she
 gred gayly. "Oh, girls. Look at that jew across the hollow"
 From that moment she chattered all most constantly of anything and noth- ng, light, frothy babble of which l understood the purpose. Lillian's sti- etto point had struck home, and had nadeher change her tactics. That she vas inwardly raging at both of LIS l knew, and was equally positive that, lid the slightest opportunity arise, ihe would anoy us in any way she possibly could. But at least her claws were sheathed for the time, and with lillian beside her l was quite sure hat I would not be further bidgered turing the drive.
 Thankful indeed was l that l had persuaded Lillian to accompany us Without her l would have been de- 'enceless against Il ass Deans harass- ng verbal thrusts, and I felt that the lnder-the- surface mental controversy with the girl was just what my friend needed to divert her mind from con
 emplation of the vagaries of Robert iavarin's jealousy. It was with a mind tt ease that l shut both friend and leckler from my consciousness and put my whole attention upon my driv- ng. .E
 It was well that I did so, for a monster agricultural show at Kingston lad made the curving roads unusual y full of cars many of them bent )n speeding and, therefore. on passing lny car going at anything less than 'orty miles an hour. l did not mind a car passing me on the level stretches, but when around the dangerous ,curves they nosed up, compelling me -o get over with two of my wheels but a few inches from the edge of the precipice, my blood chilled.
 Bcss Dean Retorts
 This happened twice, and when, as approached a particularly danger- ous spot known as Dead Mans Curve" l heard the sharp honk of a horn behind me. I deliberately my car in the middle of the road so there was no possible chance for the car to get by on either side. At the same time l sounded my own horn Nigor- ously to signal any one on the other side of the curve, and cautiously crept around it until l had reached a level stretch. Then l swung my car quickly to the side of the road that the driver behind me might pass.
 He was a fattish, arrogant person in a car of q mai.e that l had heard Dicky say was built more for show than for real performance, and as he passed slowly he leaned from his seat and yelled turiously at me, his face al- most purple with passion:
 "Why don't you learn 10 drive?"
 made him no answer, but from the seat behind me I heard a high ,eamiu-like boot from Bess Dean;
 "Why don't you?"
 "Ah-h-r!" he sputtered, but the cars were too far apart by this time for fur rcpartec.
 Fresh thing" Bess comented in disguestcd assents, and l realized that her hatred of being distanccd or beat en by anybody had led her almost unconsciously to range herself upou my side against the inconsiderato driver. And was surprised to hear the eaEerness Of desire in her voice as she added
 Its a wonderful long level stretch here. and you car is better than his.