The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-09-28

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out sc the Rttt
] e 9.RAY. aAkER.

al pefeon can scoWl at himself
yley Miller was doing just
Is his hud.bespattered. rat
tn bpdhcing bWsying gasoline
lot snoFted along the rutty.
TfIe scoai WIS occasioned by the
iilct nat HaEley was the road com.
sl6nef into whose care and
had been delivered this
iGilaf Stretch OF undesirable
aySAy. and by the additional
that he realized he must do
s6fd dlaE ia the way OF itnpFove.
"a eat knd that he wondered how he
Ding 20 find the men to do It.
fbsf 81 highway workers was
ut busy overtime patching vari.
Gus pattB 81 the cohnty's turnpike
Btsfa and the funds allotted for
ne piirpose would he totally made
9liat to- pay out additional wages.
SO 4ksEies. scowled at himself.
ne approached the Parker
home marking the beginning OF
Qak Dale, t4awley found his ma:
chine caught In pair Of deep ruts.
rs tfied 10 steer the wheels out Of
the tepfe Bsiohs, but the latter we're
100 deep, 80 he sat back with a sigh
and allowed the chariot to find its
own way. This relaxation was re-
sponSihIe for the accident that oc.
tIrred. There must have been a
break ia the ruts that held the.
wheels for the car suddenly
tlnnnced out Of the road and head
~ tth5 a rush for mammoth oak
tres3 ON the Parker lawn! Before
Haw1ey could retard the gas throt.
tIe the machine crashed into the
3faGs and the concussion hurled the
toad commissioner to the ground.
Somabody appeared at the front
door of the residence, and Hawleys
hefuddIed vision caught flash OF
Are you hurt?" inquired gen.
tleE cob, such gentle voice!
IA sat up, dazed and found him.
setf staring into the eyes Of be-
RftchtnB miss. The expression OF
her exquisite face-that's the way
HSWleya described her countenance
contained something OF solicitude
ana something Of mirth. Evidently
she wanted to laugh, but was unde.
ctdsd about 1t.
Ire you hurt?" she repeated,
whi1e her red lips twitched.
aawIey caressed his head with a
hand The head had not come In
contaet with the ground, but some.
h6 wanted to be hurt.
No. not much" he answered,
rubbing his head again.
You are, too; just know you
ne the vision in blue insisted.
Come on into the house and let
me- brew some tea for you"
Hawiey scrambled to his feet and
followed her, He limped, not be
cause foot was injured, hut ne
wanted to justify acceptance OF the
Invitation.
where had this girl come from?
rs wondered. He had been in the
srlser home many times. for Mr..
barker was county treasurer. bus
ifeHer had he glimpsed this girl be-
sHe placed him at a table, while
Ia went to prepare the tea. While
was going through the brewing
cess, the girl returned and seat.
III herself opposite Hawley, having
placed two cups and sauoers
the spotIess covering.
There Is nothing like good,
trong tea to strengthen person
atfer such a shock" the girl OBJ
served
That's wight" Hawley agreed,
vile he rubbed his head again.
Presently the tea was ready and
siia poured It into the cups. Then
tiiey both slipped. II there was one
66ncoction In the world that Haw-
icy despised It was tea, but ne
managed TO consume a cuptui.
Some more@ she INJURED, and
s. nodded. He would have eaten
mud and asked for more under
such circumstances.
That's a very poor road, the
Rosters observed, as they slipped
agaln. Something ought to be
lions about It. It's disgrace to
Az county. l don't see what the
rosd commissioner can be think
ne bout He must be lazy; don't
YOU think so?"
ISwIey swallowed some tea the
rong way and nearly choked.
IN guess he Is he gulped.
4sffif have uncle get after him, )"
gIrbnron1ised. "You might have
6f0fen some bones. Do you sup.
your car is damaged?"
Ie hoped It was, for that would
necesttate prolongtng his i'm
nfomptu visit.
you couldn't hurt that old
bus Id told her.
80 she was Parkers niece.
sFEon needn't have your uncle
10 the road commissioner"
"a as he prepared to go. 1T
ssunens that I know the gentle
nisr myself, quite Intimately. In
80 I am the road commissioner"
f9er brown eyes took on an ex'
stnn akin TO horror.
Ss0h I'm 40 sorTy!" she exclaim
m tFofftye me. didn't mean
te hnFt your feelings. I didn't
ais's All rtght," ne assured her.1I
III you're right when you say
rotten road and something
s,eHk "a he done. I've been road
ffsiSsioner five years, but I've
etInd q chanceSto repair this
sfeh m see that it's done
sdehoW, though"
In took his departure he could
~ help being grateful because Of
II without them het might
N have met this bewitchirB
- IN county treasurer. How.
~ q ftS9Ilysk1 tVAIyy TuRty1d havn 70