The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-01-25
LEsLIE's DRIVER
BY KITTY PARSONS.

Leslie groancd. Right In the middle
Of the traffic on fremont street she
had stalled her engine. Nobody knew
how she hated getting out and crank
ing In such a frightfully public place
with machines thicker than flies on ev.i
cry side Of her. =
There was q large truck standing
beside Leslies fllvver, and the blond
young man in overalls who was driv-
Ing 1t looked down and saw that some
thing was the matter.
"Want any help?" he asked her
cheerfully.
"Oh, can you crank Forl?" she
iinplored, In the most woebegone tone
imaginable.
Nothing easier" he laughed, and
Immediately jumped down and suited
the action to the word. Leslie's spir-
its rose rapidly when she heard the
reassuring chug OF. the engine.
"In so grateful to you!" she cried,
and wondered II she should pay him
for his kindness. Finally she decided
in favor Of It and produced n shining
quarter from tile depths Of her purse.
"Please take It," she begged. tits
been worth ten times that to me-"
The man in overalls drew back
involuntarily. and then laughingly
held out his hand.
'Thank you, miss" Then he climb
ed back on his truck and leaned over
the edge. 4.
an always carry 1t for luck If you
don't mind" he told her. "Good-by."
"what an odd fellow" mused Leslie,
as she turned down the first quiet
street to avoid another chance of stall
ling her engine In the middle of traf-
fic. "He didn't seem bit fresh and
what wonderful eyes he had, too"
The next week there was Il big drive
to raise money for charitable organ
ization and Leslie and Betty were Civ
en- the job Of soliciting funds at the
Square theater at the evening per-
formances.
"This man looks prosperous-let's
tackle him." suggested Betty, as a
good-looking young man, with stun
ming girl OH his arm, came towards
/ them. Leslie -gasped as her eye fell
upon him. There, all dressed up In
the most irreproachable evening
clothes in the world, stood her beau
tful young truck driver-masquerad'
Ing with an equally beautiful compan
ion.
"Please help the babies,' Betty sang
cheerfnlly, in her sweetest tone.
"Tommy." cried the girl on the truck
drivers arm, as he pulled a $40 bill
from his pocket, ''lf you give any more
you'll be absolutely bankrupt" *
He had not really seen Leslie at
all, ana just then the girl on his arm
pulled him back to their seats. Les
lie noticed that the hand of the girl
was sparkling with gems. including q
diamond wedding ring. 1t certainly
was a queer business.
'How quiet you are, dear" sait
her aunt, us they drove out Beacon
street In the direction Of the Newtons
"Are you very trel?"
"Just thinking Of frenzled finance,
reassured her niece, and continued 81
lent. When they were out In the
country they met fewer machines. nnt
| just beyond Hammond street Uncle
Joe slowed down for u minute. There
was a Cur standing nt the side of thu
road, and man and girl looking
rather forlornly at It, Uncle Jo'
spoke to them, and moment late
they came over and climbed in will
Leslie and her aunt.
"rhe front axle's broken" he ex
| planned, ''and told Mr.. and Mrs. Cor
day we would give them llft-the.
live rather near us 1T seems. Won
you sit here in front with me, Mrs
Cordny-there is less wind in th'
| 'front.'" I'll sfSa
She did, and the young man settle,
himself between Leslie and her aunt
"You are certainly showing us tina
'one good turn'--of the engine--de
serves a'rewnrd," he whispered TO TIL
girl beside him. ''It's most awful
kind of you."
mot me-" she contradIcted him
my uncle is the kind one"
II see you are driving a new styl
car tonight" she ventnred. mOmen
later. "Have you Men promotedg"
"No such luck,n he laughed. "I'
been trying out trucks that Pm think
Ing Of buying for my business, and
kept on my working clothes to do 1t.
! "Is your wife pleased with 1t ou
here;"
"She hasn't had chance. I'm nc
married yet-are your"
"Of course not but do you like IT
"Yes, I'm very pleased with |
thank you. I've lived here for twent
years. Is the lady with YOU your stel
mOther?"
mo, sister-inlaw; my brother ha
mumps."
"Wduld you 20 for a ride with m
tomorrowAabout fouri" he asked |
relevantly.
"In one of yonr new trucks?"
''In anything You'll ride mas Ion
as yon'll go" Aunt Minnie was Quie
ily sleeping. =
II get of here-please don't get o,
-Uoo1 ptvht ayarvhn1yb cha cullo