The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1924-03-28

ceased to revolve. The automobile
did everything except lie down. 1t was
particularly pig-headed car and right
from the start 1t had been unable to
see the sense in this midnight expedi-
tion. 1t seemed now to have the idea
that IL II just lay low and did nothing,
presently 1t would be taken back to its
cosy garage.
Billie trod on the sef-starter. Moth
ing happened.
You'll have to get down and crank
her." she said curtly.
"All right" said Bream.
well, go on" said Billie, impa-
tiently.
"Eh?"
Get out and crank her."
Bream emerged for an instant from
his trance.
"Ail right" he said.
The art Of cranking a car is one that
Is not given to all men. Some Of our
greatest and wisest stand helpless be-
fore the task. 1t Is job toward the
consummation Of which a noble soul
and fine brain help not at all. A
man may have all the other gifts and
yet be unable to accomplish task the
fellow at the garage does with one
quiet quick flick Of the wrist without
even bothering to remove his chewing
gum. This being so, II was not only
unkind but foolish of Billie to grow
impatient as Bream's repeated efforts
failed Of their object. 1t was wrong of
her to click her tongne, and certainly
she ought not to have told Bream that
he was not fit to churn butter. But
women are an emotional sex and must
be forgiven much in moments of men,
tai stress.
"Give 1t good sharp twist" she
said.
"All right" said Bream.
Here, let me do It," cried Billie.
She jumped down and snatched the
thingummy from his hand. With bent
brows and set teeth she wrenched 1t
round. The engine gave q faint pro-
testing mutter, like a dog that has
been disturbed In its sleep, and was
still once more.
May help"
It. was not Bream who spoke, but a
strange voice-a sepulchral voice, the
sort OF voice some one would have
used In one OF Edgar Allan Poe's cheer
ful little tales II he had been buried
alive and were speaking from the fam
lily vault. Coming suddenly out Of the
night 1t affected Bream painfully. He
uttered sharp exclamation and gave
a bound which, II he had been Rus
sian dancer. would probably have
caused the management to raise his
salary. He was In no frame Of mind
to bear up under sudden sepulchral
voices.
Billie, on the other hand, was
pleased. The high-spirited girl was
just beginning to fear that she was
unequal to the task which she had
chided Bream for being unable to per-
form and this was mortifying her.
"Oh, would you mind? Thank you
so much. The self-starter has gone
wrong"
Into the glare Of the headlights there
stepped strange figure, strange, that
Is to say, In these tame modern times.
In the Middle ages he would have ex.
cited no comment at ALL Passers-by
would simply have said to themselves,
"Ah, another Of those knights Off after
the dragonsr and would have gone on
their way with civil greeting. But in
the present age It is always somewhat
startling to see helmeted head pop
up in front Of your automobile. At any
rate, II started Bream. I will go fur
ther. It gave Bream the shock of life
time. He had had shocks already that
night, but none compared with this Or
perhaps It was that this shock, coming
on top Of those shocks, affected him
more disastrously than II would have
done II II had been the first Of the
series instead Of the last. One may
express the thing briefly by saying
that, as far as Bream was concerned,
Sans unconventional appearance put
the lid on II. He did not hesitate. He
did not pause to mako comments or
ask questions. With q single catlike
screech which took years OF the lives
of the abruptly wakened birds roosting
in the neighboring trees, he dashed
away towards the house and, reaching
his room. locked the door and pushed
the bed. the chest Of drawers, two
chairs, the towel stand and three pairs
Of shoes against II. Only then did he
feel comparatively safe.
Out on the drive Billie was staring
ct the man In arInor who had now,
With Inastertul wrench which In
formed the car right away that he
would stand no nonsense, set the en-
glne going again.
"Why-why," she stammered, why
are you wearing that thing on your
head2"
Because can't get II or"
Hollow az the voice was. Billie rec
ognized Il.
"S-Mr. Marlowe ~ she exclaimed.