The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-09-21

QrlVer leaneO u TO o as ne
passed:
"Want a lift? Hop on! Can't
stop-too much grade"
A running leap. and Fairchild seat
ed himself on the tailboard of the
truck, swinging his legs and looking
out v the fading plains as the
truck roared and clattered upward
along the twisting mountain road.
Upward, still upward! The town
below became merely a checkerboard
thing, the lake a dot Of cleaning sill
vel, the stream a scintillating ribbon
turn, and they skirted a tremendous
valley, its slopes falling away in sheer
descents from the roadway. A dark
ened, moist stretch of road, fringed by
pines, then a jogging journey over roll
ing table-land. At last came a voice
from the drivers seat.
Turn off up here at Genesee noun
tain. Which way do you goT
"Trying to get to Ohadi." Fairchild
shouted it above the roar of the en-
CINE. The driver waved a hand for
ward.
keep to the main road. Drop Off
when I make the turn"
THANKS for the lift"
Jaw, forget it."
The truck wheeled from the main
road and chugged away, leaving Fair
child afoot. making as much progress
as possible toward his goal until good
fortune should bring a swifter means
of locomotion. Suddenly he wheeled.
Behind him sounded the swift droning
Of a motor. cut-out open, as it rushed
forward along the road-and the noise
told a story of speed.
Far at the brow of a steep hill 1t
appeared, seeming to hang in space
for an instant before leaping down.
ward. Rushing, plunging, once skid
ding dangerously at a small curve, it
made the descent, bumped over a
bridge, was lost for a second in the
pines, then sped toward him, q big
touring car, with a small, resolute
figure clinging to the wheel. Then,
with a report like a revolver shot, the
machine suddenly slowed in drunken
fashion far to N side of the road,
hung dangerously over the steep cliff
an instant, righted itself, swayed for
ward and stopped, barely twenty-five
yards away. Staring, Robert Fair
child saw that a small, trim figure had
leaped forth and was waving excited
~ to him, and he ran forward.
His first glance had proclaimed it a
boy; the second had told a different
story. A girl-dressed in far different
fashion from Robert Fairchild's um-
tied specifications of feminine garb-
she caused him to gasp In surprise,
then to stop and stare. Again she
waved a hand and stamped a foot ex-
citedly; a vehement little thing in a
snug whipcord riding habit and a
c~heckered cap pulled tight owe close
ly braided hair, she awaited him with
all the Impotence of impetuous wom-
anhood.
"For goodness sake, come herel"
she called, as he still stood gaping.
"I1l give you five dollars. Hurryl"
Fairchild managed to voice the fact
that he would be willing to help with
out remuneration, as he hurried for
ward. She dived for the tonneau,
jerking with all her strength at the
heavy seat cushion, as he stepped to
the running board beside her.
Cant get this dinged thing upl"
she painted. always sticks when
you're in a hurry. That's 1t! Jerk it.
Thanks! Here!" She reached for
ward and a small, s%un-tanned hand
grasped a greasy jack, "Slide under
the back axle and put this jack in
place, will you? And rush til I've
got to change a tire in nothing fiat!
Hurry !"
Fairchild, almost before he knew It,
found himself under the rear of the
car, fussing with a refractory lifting
jack and trying to keep his eyes from
the view Of trinity clad. brown-shod
little feet, as they battered about at
the side Of the car, hurried to the run
ming board, then stopped as wrenches
and a hammer clattered to the
ground. Then one shoe was raised,
to press tight against a wheel !: metal
touched metal, a feminine gasp sound
ed as strength was exerted in vain,
then eddying dust as the foot stamped,
accompanied by an exasperated ejacu-
lation.
ding these old lugsl They're rust
ed! Got that jack In place YETI"
Eyes! I'm raising the car now"
. "Oh, please hurry" There was
pleading In the tone now. please"
: The a creaked upward. Out came
Fairchild, brushing the dust from his
clothes. But already the girl was
pressing the lug wrench into his
hands. &
Don't mind that dirt" came her
exclamation. "T1l-IM give you some
extra money to get your suit cleaned.
Loosen those Tugs, while I get the
spare tire Off the back. And for good
ness sake, please hurry z
AsInnlshment Ind taken away