Richmond planet., 1925-07-04
"But I want you to UNDERSTAND"
"You dear idiot, I understood loag

"But I want you to UNDERSTAND"
"You dear idiot. I understood loag
ago."
The BARN. lay before them, e..
most at their feet. The ranch build.
ings huddled close to the ridge on
the eastern side of the wide coulee,
and the flivver was poised at the
top of the ridge. Into the hills be.
yond the sun was dipping. To the
north lay the summit Of Black Top.
Nearly home.
I'm afraid we ought to have
stuck to the road" said Sally.
The Wreck had insisted on cut.
ting across the range, when they
reached a point opposite the BARN.
coulee.
miles around the other way" he
said. And here we are. almost
there"
But it's pretty steep, Henry"
She looked down the long green
slope with a calculating eye.
Its nothing" said the Wreck.
Just watch"
The fivver dipped into the grade,
slowly at first, then with growing
speed. 1t was travelling like a wild
thing.
The Wreck had the service brake
jammed down as far as 1t would go.
He hauled back on the emergency
brake. The fivver plunged onward,
her brake bands screaming and
smoking.
Were going to hit sonething!"
cried the Wreck.
Sally opened her eyes.
Don't hit the kitchen!" she cried.
MAS in there! Hit the corral"
He could at least steer. and he did.
They hit the corral. A section Of
fence flew into kindlings and the
fivver charged onward. The sorrei
horse, directly in its path, lifted his
head, snorted, wheeled, dashed out
with his heels and missed 1t BY
inches. The fence on the farther side
doomed. There was a second crash.
a lurch, a splintering Of various
things. The fivver stopped.
Dad Morgan, who was Ieanins
against the fence a few yards dis
tant, removed his pipe from hin
mouth and examined the situation
with interest.
II see you made good time gettip'
back" he remarked.
unolpp &~ta1 CALI,
"Howdy, Sally? Howdy, Wreck?"
He strolled near for q better look
at the fivver. One Of the wheels was
crumpled, both mudguards were
curled up. the windshield was gone
and there was a rivulet Of steaming
brown water dripping from the radi'
ator.
"f reckon" said Dad, that her
nervous system is kind Of shot up"
"Oh, Dad"
Sally leaped clear Of the wreckage
and had her arms around his neck.
cit the trousseau?" he asked.
whom she let go Of him.
"Trousseau!" cried Sally. "-"hy,
lin marr!edr'
well, III &c durned!'
Where s Ma! 7 want &c 81 =.
"Well, III * drraed," j"
Dad. Your Mas over to the 49,.
I reckon. Where's Bob?"
Sally began 10 laugh.
I'm not married 20 Bob. In
married to Henry Williams"
Dad Morgan's glance wandered to
the Wreck. who "a s1,l sitting in
the fiivver. gloomNy uu,veylng his
work.
Now ] Will be :.urS~A." he saH',
thoughtfully. Com. IT, .hinA OF l..
I reckon IN be canne5
You'd better &c nic> g him
warned Sally 10 = wh:Ars, Mes
the dearesf hing N the worii."
She raced away ! n the G.rec:ion o.
the house. whsre the a..si.t E5a:o
Ma Morgan stood framed r.
kitchen doorway.
Dad watched her 80. Well. woine'
were queer folks Blu: :: Sally said
it was all right. thu. settled Il. Ma.
ried. eh? The Wreck was his son-in.
law! Fair enough. he mused. Sally
always insisted the Wreck was game
His own course 0. conduct was cleai.
Wreck" ne said, "pro".din' =
amt necessary for you to sit ther
watchin' the remains, there's a bottjr
up at the house."
Sure" said the Wreck, az T.
climbed down. "Only don't grin :
me. Hear me? Don't grin! II a.cs
nae nervous"
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