The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-09-07
Magazine Section for the Home Circle
" " "
CALEB WINS
BY DOROTHY poNAHuE

Sss---....a.- :;
&c By Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
TALEB started the car and stepped
- back to regard the quiyering
choking, consumptiye but useful little
animal-with dubious eyes.
Caleb's son, Lonnie, came TO the
door of the little cottage with frown
always inevitable when he heard the
smooth, steady hum of the motor.
There were three things upon which
the elder and younger Evans failed
most disturbingly TO agree. The first
was Lonnie's name Mrs. Evans had
most decidedly wanted a girl and
planned carefully the name of Lorna
But the desired girl had turned out 70
be decidedly q boy, and Mrs. Evans
had substituted an sc" for the "a and
achieved Lorne. Later, with the com
pliments of the village youngsters, he
became LOnnie.
Caleb always addressed his son as
Lonnie, but he always thought Of him
as John or Bill.
q
sion was the car. Lonnie wanted a
better car.
Lonnie had girl. The girl was an
other innocent subject for deep
thought on the part Of both-father
and son. She was pretty, blonde,
round-eyed and giggling. She had con-
flded to Caleb that she adored candy
and Lonnie Caleb had decided right
then that she could keep the candy,
but not Lonnie. He needed Lonnie.
He knew, too, that Lonnie was too
young for marriage. Lonnie was nine
teen. The fair Gwendolyn, at any
rate, would never do.
Lonnie had bought the new machine.
1t hadn't cost so very much more than
the other car, but II was a brighter
color and as yet unscratched. The
motor in it did not hum so pleasantly
as the one IN Caleb's. but Lonnie
didn't notice that Gwendolyn liked
It and he was going to take her for a
ride-out in the country. He told
Caleb about 1t as he stood In the door
way looking at the battered machine
and wondering why on earth his IA.
Their didn't sell it-or give it away.
After Lonnie had gone In Caleb
planned.
Out in the country, after miles of
struggle in deep, soft mud ruts, the
brand-new car Of Lonnie's gave it up.
Weary, from the top OF its cheap
black top to the mud-caked tires, and
delicate In constitution TO boot. IL
wheezed pafnfully-and stalled. Lon
ME smiled at Gwendolyn. A car that
wouldn't go meant not a. thing TO
Lonnie-with the girl Of his heart so
near. But Gwendolyn surprised him.
She didn't smile back. She frowned-
q little.
Gwendolyn twisted in her seat and
flushed angrly but did nothing useful.
She finally could stand the monotony
Of waiting no longer
'Lonnie Evans! Don't you know
anything bout car? Anything"
Lonnie looked up at her She had
shrieked that last Anything" II
might have been the unharmsnious
voice Of sleep-provoking cat. Under
ordinary circumstances Lonn,e would
have spoken softly and consoIingly.
I'm in No hurry" he said evenly,
his eyes unwavering In their boldly
direct gaze into hers.
Really" Gwendolyn offered, her
head high. Blue, furious blue eyes,
swept the car and the soiled Lonnie-
scathingly. Gwendolyn had not been
TO the movies for nothing. Her ex-
preston was faultless.
Lonnie glanced at her again, secret
ly, and wondered why his father
hadn't told him that Gwendolyn was
sugar-coated only. Pills are sugar
coated; but, even In his anger Lonnis
could not refer to Gwen as such. He
was sure, though, that Caleb had seen
through the candy coating to the bit
ter and distasteful substance beneath.
Caleb had a way of finding out things
like that, but usually he waited until
Lonnie had seen 1t before they talked
It over.
go ahead and walk" Lonnie said,
ungaIlantly and abruptly.
Then GwendoIyn hamed-unbecom-
ingly. She stood up in her seat and
delivered lecture concerning the
conduct of Lonnie and the car. Then,
probably because of Lonnie's lack of
response, she slumped down into her
seat and beat her fists on the leather
cushion. Gwendolyn was an only
child. So was Lonnie He told her to
stop before she wore the finish com
pletely off.
Then Caleb came along. His car
was fitting merrily over every rut In
existence and didn't care. Caleb had
fixed Lonnie's car so that II wouldn't
go very far. He looked at Gwendo-
lyn's flushed and disagreeable counte,
nance and at Lonnie's sober, disillu,
stoned one, and decided that the car
would be sold the next day and he
and Lonnie would begin search for
dark-haired girl with sweet, wise eyes
and similar disposition.
Lonnie got In front with his father.
Gwendolyn climbed In back. unas-
sisted.
HIN, Lonnie" Caleb looked side
wise at his son. "Not very p'lite, now.
be We. Better get in back. don't you
thinkY'
"Shut up!" Lonnie said darkly, but
he SuueQzod hfs fathers arm en- ho,d