Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-08
THE EVENING STORY

81 let little something slop over
on the stove," explained Bina. "All
this ridiculous fuss over that scape-
grass of a young Penny! You'll be
down sick after this performance.
You're all fevered up now"
Sometimes, Bina," Loretta said
firmly. you seem to forget that you
are hired to carry out my wishes and
that the place of even as trusty. a
maid as yourself may be rather easily
filled" She went out leaving Bina
green with dismay, jolted for the first
time out of her complacent security.
During her brief absence from the
living room Bert had entered Loretta
found. Had to tear myself away from
that fellow. Great talker. You know
hinton Bascom"
"You-you've been with him?"
Every minute since left you. Prom
| ised to take dinner with him at the
Central He lives there. you know
But, Bert. you must dine with me.
Bina is getting ready for you. She will
be terribly angry if"
Bother Bina. What do you care
whether she is peeved or not? Come
Put on your things. Never mind why
Hustle!"
Loretta dived into the hall closet
after coat and hat She was suddenly
ashamed of these articles when Bert's
eye fell upon them. But there was no
time for apology He hurried her forth
hurried her down the front steps, out
to the grassed-over drive. Against
sedate syringa bush, blazing forth in
the Fall sunshine stood a marvel of
lacquer, nickel and glass, a glittering
thing like a dragon fly glancing above
a pool.
what do yen think of that?r chuc-
killed. Bert That's the Green Baby. I'm
selling them like hot cakes. Get in.
And hold on to your hat"
But Loretta couldn't hold on to her
hat. She lost it during the first mile.
Bert snapped off his tweed cap and
set it upon her head. On they flew.
Loretta, whose only knowledge of motor
cars consisted of cautious drives in
Will Henshaw's numbering sedan, felt
her blood being whipped to a froth
by the unerring nimbleness of this gay
sport roadster
You ought to have one, Aunt Ret"
mel"
Sure. Sold one the other day to a
woman lots older than you She looked
her age, too, which you don't" He
drove to one side of the road and
stopped. you are going to learn to
drive. Yes! You are. Else you can
walk home" He was laughing yet pur-
poSefully. He got out and pushed
Loretta over behind the wheel Now
then, Miss, keep your mind on what
I'm saying"
She tried to-she did. Somehow out
of the past came some rare instinct
for machinery that had characterized
her race. Besides, she had ridden a
bicycle in her youth. She heard Bert
murmur such things as Keep her GO
ing! You're a jolly old sport" She a
jolly old sport! Well, whatever she was
she liked what she was doing-liked it
better and better. She drove all the
way home, Bert's cap over one ear, her
gray crimps blowing, her cheeks blaz-
ing. At one corner she dimly glimpsed
staring, amazed man. Bert chuckled.
Wish you could have seen Tom Bas-
CONS face. He bet me fifty that /
couldn't make you do it." He reached
| over and took possession of the wheel
just in the nick of time. We'll stop
here minute" Pulling out a roll of
bills he peeled off one and thrust it
into Lorettas hand. Run into that
! shop-get that red hat in the window
put 1t on. Hustle"
Surely some strange spell was upon
her or she would never have bought
that hat. The milliner tucked every
strand of gray hair out of sight and
Loretta left the shop glorified. Bert
had taken his place at the wheel
Whisk! They were off. only to stop a
few minutes later at the Central Hotel.
Tom Bascom was waiting upon the
sidewalk
Il brought my aunt to dine with us,
Mr.. Bascom, said Bert. coolly.
Very glad you did, my boy. Loretta,
how are you?"
She's going to buy a Green Baby,
| Mr.. Bascom."
Loretta felt something pop like a tor
pedo in her breast. But she managed
| to stammer: Fascinating sport driv-
| ing"
What about you, Mr.. Bascom?"
urged the young salesman.
Tom Bascom grinned I'll trust your
aunts good judgment, and-Yes, I'll
take Green Baby, too"
1t was a wonderful dinner. After
ward Bert treated them to a show. Tom
! Bascom acted toward her Just as he