Evening star., 1927-10-14
THE EVENING STORY

talk much. Do you know any such
person.
Miss Liddle smiled with one side of
her mouth.
Rufus Todd would just suit you"
she said.
Rufus Todd" exclaimed Mary.
1--WE don't know him at ali. Will you
speak to him for US, dear Miss Liddle?
For If our car comes this afternoon
we would like to try it. And you'll go
with us, won't you?"
Miss Liddle recoiled.
I'D love to, but | can't take the
time she said. However. when I
go home I'll send Rufus over. He
lives next door, you know, and I've
known him all my life"
Rufus came presently. He was
young, small, sandy, with pink, shy
eyes and an easy flush. The sisters
interviewed him .tremblinsly. Yes,
Rufus could drive. Yes. he could drive
a High FLYER. Yes. he could drive for
them at so cents an hour as long as
they wanted him.
Miss Martha clasped her slender
hands.
Rufus" she pleaded with her blue
eyes full of entreaty, you won't drive
fast, will you? II am very timid
You see, we've aren't used to
motors"
Rufus sandy eyelashes fiickered.
II see. Yes Wen take it slow, :"
he said.
"And-and, Rufus" appealed Miss
Mary with the wistfulness which
everybody but Miss Liddle found so
charming, II hope you don't smoke
those nasty cigarettes. / hate
smoking"
Rufus flushed.
"No I don't smoke" he said.
He got the car and took them for
drive. 1t was delightful, Rufus drove
so carefully, slowing up at curves and
easing over every obstacle. He sat at
the wheel as prim and attentive as
if he were in livery drawing $1,000 q
year. He was ideal in his capacity.
II think Rufus is lovely" Martha
whispered to her sister.
II am so glad to have him."
whispered Mary.
Rufus may not have heard, but his
ears gloWed.
The Misses Slawson enjoyed their
fine coupe very much. but they en-
ioyed their chauffeur still more. Never
were two delicate little ladies so beau
tifully waited upon. 1t was a pity.
Mary thought. that nearly all their
friends save Miss Liddle had cars, so
they could almost never get any one
to go with them. AS for Miss Liddle
she always had some excuse.
But one day they caught her down
town and insisted on taking her home.
II want you to see how nicely our
hav drives" Martha said. beaming
You needn't he a mite afraid, Miss
LiddIe"
Still Miss Liddle entered g1ngeriv
Size sat on the edge of the seat poised
as it were. for mishaps AS they
smoothly slided her eyes opened wider
and wider. and her mouth. also.
'Is thot really you, Rufus?" she
demanded.
Yes, ma am" murmured Rufus
politely
We'll don't recognize you"
shifted Miss Liddle.
$50 you like Rufus. eh?" she de-
manded of the sisters the following
dav.
I'VE adore Rufus" Martha was
quite vOciferous in her praise. HE
drives so carefully, he never bumps
us and his manner is perfect. And
he never smokes. I couldn't endure
a chauffeur who smoked. Mrs Beals'
man bumps her dreadfullv. she SAYS
never stopping for anything. Rufus
is perfect. See how beautifully he
keeps our carr
Miss Lidde went home utterly
suhduad
1t was Mrs. Rooney who told the
truth of the matter to the sisters.
For once Amy Liddle has failed in
her joke" she said. do YOU know
why she recommended Rufus Todd to
YOU? Because he was a perfect little
hounder. speeder and cigarette
fiend. Why, his own mother didn t
dare to ride with him. Didn't you
know it?"
"It doesn't seem possible" gasped
Mary. Our Rufus"'
"Why, he's the incest boy" walled
Martha.
Mrs. Rooney laughed.
oh. yes. he Is now. You have
reformed him. II over boy turned
over new leaf it's Rufus. He'd die
before he'd touch a cigarette, and his
mother says he goes to church every
sunday regular. So YOU see, dears.
whatever Rufus started out to be with
you. he isn't that now He's exactly
what you would like him to he, and
I'm sure will continue so. But how
did you do it?"
The sisters didn't know. But if
Rufus has been asked he might have
answered that he had merely tried to
Justify their faith in him, which had
been. as far as he was concerned. a
brand-neW experience.
fConvright 1927