The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-04-24

The waves from the river. The Cap'n
rushed his barge onto q sandbank
close under the bank. Tempus began
sugiting.
The barge was gradually locked in
by sand and mud, washed around II
by the creek. Ten years later II was
practically on dry land. The Cap'n
was leading peaceful life. But the
great idea still hung on, battered but
grim. Cap'n still dreamed OF speed.
SO he decided to build his an auto
mobile which would be a marvel of
agility, grace and. above all speed.
He got four old harrow wheels
all iron-with broad fiat rims They
were all nearly the same size. Some
one donated axles. and on this crude
running gear the Cap'n mounted an
eight-by-ten platform Of heavy two
inch oak planks. On top OF this he
spiked down another layer OF planks,
running in the opposite direction.
Then the old two-cylinder motor was
taken from the boat. rejuvenated by
some mysterious and inexplicable
process, and hoisted onto the plat
form. The propeller shaft was con-
nected to the axle of the front wheels
by sprocket wheels and chain. A keg
of water. perched on the motor, pro-
vided the cooling system.
SAW TO SCARE KIDS OFF.
Three or four campstools were
placed on the deck, on which an ice
box, a pair OF scales and a buzz-saw.
driven by a belt from the motor, were
installed. The Capn expected to de-
liver ice and saw wood when he
wasn't hanging up new speed records.
The saw was so arranged that IL
would run all the time the motor was
going. Ito keep the KIDS off the back"
AS a final touch, two exhaust pipes
from the motor were turned down in
front of the front wheels, just clear
ing the surface of the road. The
Capn't wasn't worried abou; the dust
they might stir up. Nope. he'd leave
Ii all behind.
He cranksG, up and with a roar the
motor started blowing up clouds OF
dust off the road. The platform
auivered. The machine Iurched and
started forward at a fearful speed.
Fully a mile and a half an hour.
At every explosion the Cap'n's camp
of dust arose above the treetops. The
luxuriant crop just south OF the
Cap'n's nose parted in the breeze. A
gallery OF facetious summer resortera
attracted by the pseudo battle, began
walking around the machine as 1.
staggered along the road. In vain
the ,Cap'n cautioned them to keep
from in front. He was expecting IL
to make a burst OF speed any minute.
Finally the chariot came to a slight
grade. 1t refused to move. The
motor rosred and howled, blowing
holes in the road. The Csp'n strained
forward in his seat and applied will
power Nothing doing. A dozen kids,
a f.ys -
the rear. The thing creaked up the
grade, a
= At the top II caught hre. The skip
per dismounted hastily, ran around -
the front. and ignited his shirttsii at
one of the exhausts. His beard joine
the CONFEDERATION. The old man was
lit up like a Christmas tree The kids
had q fine time.
The Cap'n passed a couple of years
In seclusion aboard his ark. Then
came another glorious idea He would
get his boat ready and cruise AROUND
to San Francisco and exhibit his
craft at the Pan-Americsn exposition.
He expected to hit up 100 miles an
hour-easily.
After terrific labor ne got the boat
Off the bank and into the creek. where
IL Immediately began to sink. The
townsfolk rushed to his aid. Apples.
potatoes, pots and pans foated around
the cabin in two feet of water.
through which the Csp'n splash Cd
desperately. dropping an anchor here,
showing with a pole there.
Water spouted through yawn,ng
spaces between the planking. The
stern, rotted away by years OF
weather, dropped off. The ark was
towed ashore mile down tho
creek. Again the sand began piling
Up.
And every night the Cap'n sits on
the deck. pipe in month, and razes
contemplatively at the following
western sky. Water fowl and frogs
crrak and gurgle from the reedy mar
gin of the creek. The whippoorwills
call and bats begin to fit through
the gathering gloom. Stars CLEAN
above the woods. The Cap'n'5 day
Is passing. And as il goes he sits
and dreams-of speed