The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-12-27
= . . a 4 q q TT
The Big Blue
Limousine.
By II. LOUIS RAYBOLD
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


XXIHEN the CARTONS pulled into the
w touring camp their first thought
was for the blue limousine. Had it
arrived ahead of them? A survey of
the small, grassy park set on the hill
top revealed no sign of it among the
few cars scattered about.
Not that there was any hope to be
gotten out of that. 1t had happened
before that they had gone to bed as
sured that they had eluded their camp
follower only to find in the morning
it had arrived sometime during the
night.
But if they were really pursuing
us, MOTHER" had insisted Julie Carl
ton, ''they would make some effort to
become acquainted. But they don't.
They keep by themselves"
The trouble was that ever since
Mrs. Carlton had realized that her
little girl was growing into an eX-
tremely pretty woman she had suf-
fered from the complex that her
daughter would be the natural prey
of all members of the other sex. And
there had been certain circumstances
that almost justified her fears. We're
they not, at the present moment, TAX
ing this trip to cure Julie of an abb
surd infatuation for the boy next
door"
OF course, jules father absolutely
secuted the idea that any car had
deliberately pursued them.
And now he pointed out the proba-
bility of their having turned off on
another road "They've just been
taking a trunk route like the rest of
u.s." he explained. hammering in
tent stake. Haven't seen them all
day, have we? Well"
Daddy" Julie grabbed her IA
TIERS arm. "There it is now-the
blue limousine.'
In cloud of dust from the gravel
road arrived the huge car of ancient
vintage for all its recent coat of azure
paint. Hardly had it stopped before
the lOng-legged youth with whose APP
pearance they had grown so familiar
stepped out, east his glance toward
square of level ground farthest from
the Carlton car, and indicated the spot
to his father in the drivers seat with
a gesture.
"Well," said Mr.. Carlton, very firm
ly, "these tourist camps are free to
all and as I've done nothing to put
anyone on my trail, they're welcome to
track me to Hudson bay-if | go that
far. And, for anything I've seen to
the contrary, that young man doesn't
even know our Julie eXists!'
Yet in his heart the man was puz-
zled. There was surely more than
coincidence in the fact that night after
night the limousine had camped in
their company. Regardless of how
many times day they passed it only
to be passed in turn, always they land
ed up together for the overnight stay.
The next few days. however, could
but show if there was actual intention
behind all this. Did the blue limousine
party time their departure with that
of the Cartons who were remaining
over for several days to take in side
trips? There was little doubt but that
they, the CARTONS, were the object of
an ineXplicable pursuit
On the second night, the blue limou-
sine was still there, but the CARTONS,
spending two days in another city,
We're unaware of the fact. The third
night the car was gone, but not all
of the equipment, limiting at eXpedi-
tions similar to their own on the part
of the limousine's owners.
On the following morning, Mr.
Carlton, rising early for a speedy get
away, saw the long-legged young man
come out of his tent, look around
bit, then start pitching out the bags
Yet it is doubtful if he would have
done what he did, had not he OBJ
served, half an hour later, his daugh-
ter Julie sauntering over from the
pump in the young mans company.
Had there really been other oppor-
tunities for them to meet? Had his
wife been right, after all?
Throwing down the tent pole he was
disjointing, he strobe over to the blue
Limousine and addressed the young
mans father "Sort of funny how you
people are trailing us" he said.
The other man looked sheepish,
then grinned. With a cautious glance
in the direction of his wife's tent, he
came over to Carlton and whispered
in his ear
"Say, I'm glad of a chance to tel
you all about it. 1t was my wife's
idea. We've been doing this motor
camping business for fifteen years.
been everywhere. Got so there was no
kick in it, going the same old places