The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-11-28
Motor Charity
and Cupid
BY JANE OSBORN

Wink hiouB tne smooth country turn-
pike, fresh autumn air blowing In his
face. bringing back half-shaped recol-
lections Of autumn days of his boy
hood. AS 1t was Ben felt wrath and
dignation-wrath at his younger
brother for having driven Ben's car
across country and back the day be-
fore without replenishlng the gasoline
supply. and indignation at himself for
not having noticed so important a de-
tail before starting out If things had
gone as he expected he would have
had ample time to get to Hillcrest for
that important legal conference at the
appointed hour.
Finding himself without gasoline,
with his car stopped dead still on the
roadside just Ave miles from any
where. didn't seem like so great an
obstacle at first Ben had an idea
that all he would have to do was to
hall the next car, beg some gasoline
and then go on his way.
The first motorist he had hailed
proved to be a pretty girl. driving
alone with her dog. At sight Of the
tall. broad-shouldered young man sig
mailing for help at the roadside the
pretty girl pulled her soft hat down
over her nose and sped along all the
faster. A mlddle-aged man and wom-
an came along next In suffering old
touring car. At sight of Ben the wom-
an held her hands up to her face In
apparent dismay and her companion
at the wheel squeezed what speed he
could out of his old vehicle.
Ben had locked his car and had
started Off walking in the direction Of
a farmhouse some miles back, hoping
that there he might be able to tele-
phone to garage for help or other
wise find a solution for his problem,
when Margaret Oliver came spinning
along in her comfortable little road
ster. He hailed her, but barely ex-
pected response. To his surprise she
drew In to the roadside and asked Ben
II she could give him a lift. Ben ex-
planned that the abandoned car further
along was his and that he wanted to
get to Hillcrest or to a garage.
garet, opening the door of her little
car. you get In here and I'll drive
you to Hillcrest."
'But you're going In the opposite
direction" said Ben, who nevertheless
took the proffered seat at Margarets
side. you don't want to turn around
and go to Hillcrestl"
at won't take long," said Margaret.
"That certainly is mighty kind Of
you" said Ben, sincerely grateful.
Its most uncommonly considerable"
ITS only what you'd do for a fellow
motorist yourself" said Margaret. II
thought 1t was a sort of unwritten law
of the road to help each other that
way"
"Not on this road" said Ben en-
phatically. i've called out to every
car or truck that passed and you were
the only one that stopped"
Margaret laughed. probably they
are afraid" she suggested. Haven't
you heard of our gentleman bandit
that's been holding up motorists
lately?"
AT least you weren't afraid" said
Ben. 81 should think people could
tell bandit when they saw one"
"Oh, but the people who have been
held up say that this one is very good
looking. Anyway, bandits never look
the way you expect they are going to.
might be one, too, but I'm not. and
don't believe you are, either" They
sped along together in silence for a
few minutes. Then as they neared the
group of country homes that marked
Hillcrest, Ben noticed with satisfac-
ton that he still had time to arrive
at the home of his client Mr.. Matthew
Clark, ten minutes before the hour set
for the conference.
"You could just drop me at the
Clark place." suggested Ben as they
drew into Hillcrest. I'm no end
grateful to you. It's an important bus
mess appointment, and l understand
he's rather easily irritated. If I'd been
late might have lost out entirely"
Margaret laughed. "Yes, Uncle Mat
thew is easily irritated," she said.
81 ought to know. because 1 happen
to live with him. I'm his ward. He
hates people to be late. But he has
his good traits-Uncle Matthew has"
Ben felt some confusion and showed
II. Margaret let him out at the road
entrance, not wishing to drive up to
the house.
'Don't let uncle know how you got
here" she said. "It would make a bad
impression. Besides, he'd have a fit
IL he knew I gave a stranger lift.
He was warning me about that bandit
only this morning. Now, I'll run over
to the garage and get 'em to go bring
In your car. It'll be here waiting for
you when you want It,"
Mr.. Clark was so well impressed
with the young lawyer sent out from
his law firm that he insisted on having
him stay for dinner, and 1t was there
that Ben was formally introduced to
Margaret oliver, Mr.. Clark's very
charming niece and sole heiress.
A month later when they announced
their engagement Mr.. Clark chortled
to himself He had played match
maker for the first time In his life