New Britain herald., 1921-11-07

Despite my resentment against Dcss Dean because of her behavior since coming uninyited to spend her vaca. ton at the CoSgrove's with US, 1 could have hugeed her for the opportunity sho had givon me to drive Dicky's big car on tho fishing expedition,
 As l slipped into the drivers seat [ thrilled as I always do when l put my hands upon the wheel, and then turned the starting key That key to mo always unlocks a new world q fas. cinating world where one'S brain and fingers are pitted against possible dis. aster, world which calls for an alert. ness, technique different from that re. qulrcd by the purely domestic routine. l especially love 10 drive the car where driving Is difficult, in traffic, on bad roads, along dangerous stretches. The mere act of driving is to be excite. ment, danger, gambling with fate, the adventure which life denies 10 women, Especially those who have married and settled down." l wonder if that isn't the reason why these later years see so many women drivers? This settling down" process may be wholesome but for some it does lack zest and flavor.
 I was glad, too, of the maneuver which had put Bess Dean, instead of Dicky, in the seat beside me. She knows nothing about driving therefore I had no fear of her criticism. But Dicky is one of those motorists who drive their cars especial hard when some other person is at the wheel. When l am driving with Dicky beside me l know that subconsciously he feels his feet upon brake and clutch, his hands men, tally upon the wheel, and that he is watching tensely, apprehensively, every movement of mine and of the car, as well as keeping a wary eye upon the speedometer.
 Bess Dean settled in the seat beside me and turned Q sunny, laughing face to me, face from which she had ban ished every trace of the chagrin and discontinue which had flashed across it when Dcky had effectually countered her scheme for setting beside him. A Laughing Threat.
 T break the tenth commandment every time I look at you at the wheel of a car. Madge," she said. You look so contented, so sleek and satisfied, some. way"
 "I'l stand for anything but sleek Bess' I warned her laughingly. That savers too much of the cat and the up. set cream pitcher, and I don't allow any one to call me that without dumping her beside the road"
 l started the car as l began speaking, and was several rods down the road as l finished skirting one of the pre- cipitious gullies which make driving in the mountains so interesting.
 Better keep quiet, Miss Dean" Ted sang out gayly. Tt wouldn't be very good dumping just here"
 "I'll talk to you, that will be better and less dangerous" she retorted, turn. ing around and leaning over the back of the seat so that she faced the ton neau.
 I acquitted her of any deliberate in. tent, but her action brought her arm so near to mine that it bothered me. 1 know that I am fussy, but when l am driving I want ample space for my arms to reach down unimpeded for shifting rod or emergency brake. But after her little speech, which I knew was de. lberately intended to provoke me, I would not have protested if she had put herself even more in my way than she had.
 Watch Him"
 The next minute I was thankful in- deed for the very watchfulness in Dicky which generally so annoys me. He leaned forward, and with a playful, but, I guessed, firm grip, pulled her to the side of the seat away from me.
 When you realize that ambition of yours and learn to drive, young wom- an," he drawled, you'll learn that the driver mustn't be crowded. So restrain those active muscles of yours and exer- else your jaw for while. We're all ears for your impressions about driving through the primeval forests at mid night. You ought to be able to say whole book by the time we get there. You do know lot of words"
 Nothing could be more subtly rritat. ing than Dicky's manner, although I guessed that he was grinnng at Bess Dean with apparent admiring ingenu. ousness. But a tender little smile quirked my lips as I watched the road unroll before me. I knew that his
 in her canity--she cannot help know ing her own tendency to chatter and to gush, and she knew also that Dicky had spoken to her thus solely because of her catty little speech to me.
 It was not the rst time that I had known Dicky to do similar thing. In