Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-08-31
Cotter Pin or
Fate?
By II. oxLEY STENCIL
O0ce00o00Oo00o0cc0cocc0aS
ICnnYrIRhfl

"PLEAsANT prospect" Nan eI,
claimed bitterly to herself as
she stood ankle deep in mud and sur
veyed the very fiat tire on the left
rear wheel of her little coupe.
"Ten miles from nowhere and rain
ing cats and dOgsl Oh, it's great
life II your tire doesn't weaken! Well,
this one did-so might just as well
make up my mind to take the punish
ment."
Wherewith she proceeded to take
on her new coat, fold 1t carefully and
lay It on the seat, roll up her sleeves
and don a brown smOck.
Quick work needed here" she went
on to herself as she realized how fast
the night was approaching Moth
ing's 80 bad but II might be worse"
The wheel had been lacked up with
difficulty when another car came into
view around the curve. Nan was both
hopeful and a bit worried. II might
be a friend and one In need-if only
for company. There wasn't a house
visible. Only fields and the hills be-
IoFe ana DeIlInu.
at might be"-she shiyered. The
shlver was partly due TO her thoughts
and partly to fresh bath OF muddy
E;il"r which she received as a big car
sped by without so much as slowing
up.
That's thatw Nan grinned ruefully
as she wiped mud from her eye with
s0aking wet handkerchief. Anyway
II wasn't hOld-up men
Everything went wrong. The spare
rolled down into the ditch just as she
Has about to adjust II. That rescued
and AT last fitted into place, the cot
IcI pin slipped from her wet fingers
and rolled Off also Desperately Nan
hunted In the deepening gloom, step
ping into the mud up to her ankles.
All to no avail.
II can't go without It," she almost
walled. "The wheel would he sure
to come off and land me into a ditch
This time.
d. She sat down on the wet mud guard.
II was quite dark now except for the
lights on her car. She knew the road
well lilly as II was and full OF
tempt to drive, however slowly. the
ten miles into town. Al least she
could get inside the car, out OF the
rain while she decided what she would
do.
What was thati Not car this time
but footsteps coming down the road.
Mans Instinct was to cut off her head
lights. But II was too late for that
and not so dark that the car wouldn't
be visible to passersby. She sat tense
and still. Closer and closer the foot
steps came. Queer loud ones. Then
into the line OF her head lights. Nan
uttered shrek OF mingled surprise
and relief as she saw the forms OF two
cows followed by a young boy take
shape out of the shadows. She opened
the door and told the boy her troubles.
"Maybe I can find II for you IL
Queen NAB and Lady Lu don't go too
far" he offered. "ts sure one wet
night"
ut is indeed" Nan agreed heart
lily. "No, don't think you could
find 1t, either. haven't my search
light. How far are you golngT
"Just up the road a piece-to Long
view farm"
"LongvIew
Nan had forgotten Longview was on
this road and she had been certain
there wasn't house within miles
I'll tell you what you can do, Son.
ny. VIII you telephone Mason's garage
for me and tell them just where am
and just what is wrong? Tell them
to send out at once, please, that It's
Miss Henderson's car"
"Yes'm."
A big man was lOunglng before q
great log FIRE smoking a pipe while
waiting for dinner. He heard Pete
in the hall asking Sarah II he might
telephone. "A lady's broke down up
the road" Pete explained.
The big man called out:
$50 ahead, Petel It's shame for
lady to be caught on a night like
this. Is she all alone?"
"Yes, SIR"
"Would go help-but she might not
understand strangers offering aid"
he thought Then he caught the name
Henderson. he was In the hall In an
instant.
Pete What is she likef Is she
small with brown hair2"
Pete stared. "Small, sure. Don't
know about her hair. She's a pretty
lady"
That's Nan" the big man ex.
claimed. "Never mind, Pete. III 20
myself"
But phoned the garage, SIR"
"All right" He had his coat on
and was gone.
A big car drew up beside the coupe
and the big man peered alxlously into
the window. A pretty girl was fast
asleep.
"Nanw he called softly. She start.
ed Don't be frightened It's only
Tom"
Have you a spare cotter piny she
asked solemnly as he opened her door.
mo, but I have an empty car.
Leave yours here, Nan. MasOn's man
will get It."
They had eaten dinner together and
Nan was warm and dry.
"Do you believe In Fate, Nan?"
Tom asked, as he looked into her
eyes, Fate sent you to me. need
you so, dear, but until tonight didn't
even dare to hopeI"
But ! didn't know Longview was
on that road" Nan protested which
was all the answer Tom required Her
ayes told him the rest