The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-08-24
: BY Courtney RyIey Cooper
Copyright BY Little, Brown D O..

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
ly to him, and he ran forward.
His first glance had proclaimed 1t a
boy; the second had told a different
story. A girl-dressed in far different
fashion from Robert Fairchild's linn.
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 q
snug whipcord riding habit and a
checkered cap pulled tight over close
ly braided hair, she awaited him with
all the impotence of impetuous wom-
anhOod.
"For goodness sake, come here ~
she called, a he still stood gaping.
I'll give you five dollars. Hurry"
Fairchild managed to voice the fact
that be 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 up :"
she painted. always sticks when
you're in a hurry. That's it! Jerk it.
Thanks! Here!" She reached for
ward and a small, sun-tanned hand
grasped a greasy jack, aside under
the back axle and put this jack in
place, will you? And rush it! I've
got to change a tire in nothing fat
Hurry"
Fairchild, almost before he knew it,
found himself under the zeal 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 Tugs! They're rust
ed! Got that jack in place YETI"
Yes! I'm raising the car now"
"Oh. please hurry" There was
pleading in the tone now. "Please!'
The car 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. "Tll-In 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"
Astonishment had taken away
speech for Fairchild. He could only
wonderland obey, while behind him
a girl in whipcord riding habit and
NAoSS p0iACu zap AuSClCA uLSl OA UuG
tan-clad foot, then on the other, anx-
iously watching the road behind her
and calling constantly for speed.
At last the job vas finished, the girl
fastening the useless shoe behind the
machine while Fairchild frightened the
last of the Tugs. Then as he straight
ened, a small figure shot to his side,
took the wrench from his hand and
sent 1t, with the other tools, clatter-
ing into the %tonneau. A tiny hand
went into a pocket, something that
crinkled was showed into the mans
grasp, and while he stood there gasp
ing, she leaped to the drivers seat,
slammed the door, spun the starter
until 1t whined, and with open cut
out roaring again, was off and away,
rocking down the mountain side,
around a curve and out of sight
while Fairchild merely stood there,
staring wonderingly at a ten-dollar
bill!
A noise from the rear, growing
louder, and the amazed man turned
to e a second machine, filled with
men, %careening toward him. Fifty
feet away the brakes creaked, and the