The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-02-01
THEY
WERE ON
THE ROAD
t@by D. ). walsh,

ulk1U " uBOAu 0StNyAAA3 NSAtA0AVsso'
The train was gaining momentum.
A quick diagonal squirt and flying leap
carried one foot to the lower step and
a hand to the rail.
= He went through tive cars, to the
door Of a third, when something he
saw inside made him duck suddenly
ana slip back toward the middle Of
the second. There he dropped into
the vacant half Of seat, still breath
ing heavily from his sprint
"a minute or SO, and he looked to-
ward the window-and into the
amused eyes Of his seatmate.
aBlanche!' he exclaimed Billy"
"That's Billy. l like people
TO use that nickname. Blanche would
be all right for woman's apparel, per
fumery and the like. but automo-
bile accessories and hardware ughl
Blanche would kill any such orders,
while. Billy is a real recommends
ton"
Ever capture any Of the Pine riv-
er PLUMP
Billy shook her head, though her
eyes were sparkling. s
aNot yet" she admitted, though
I've tried hard. That's why feel so
good today. But it's tough luck for.
you, Ed, working SO for sure thing
and then finding yourself at the tail
end Of three
Don't quite catch on"
Il saw you duck at the Rext car
door and dodge back. You didn't wanr
Jim Briggs TO know you're on the.
same train" sA.A ssS
,saUm!" mis- face clearing a little.
slim Briggs. with a line Of accessories
and hardware. You ditto. Me like.
wise. .Um Does Jim know you are
on the train2''
"No Isaw him through the window.
He didn't come into this cur. But,
you've heard that Jim boasts no com.
petitbr ever beat him vet. and |, don't
suppose they have. So 1t wiltbe quite
a surprise for him to find me at Hill 4
Co.'S, just closing my book with their
order inside" ? 'S
Eds face grew serious. Couldn't
do it Billy, not with Jim he regret
ted. .I've been after his scalp for,
years and only got few stray hairs
now and then. I'm sorry.
aYou needn't be-" she laughed. "for
I'm going to be in 1t this time. You
remember when"
"We made the trip together" be
broke in eagerly. "and-"
Il didn't mean that trip" a sudden,
color rising to her face. - mean an
average trip and
q THAT trip ! together. firmly. ut
wns your first one. there. and you
knew nothing about the road. Not
/. finding any sconveyance you started on
foot, like the pIucky girl you are. o.
overlook you a mile out and insisted
on sharing my buggy seat. Then the
old horse. seeming to have dream of
his youth. ran away. with Us into a
swamp and smashed the buggy against
a tree, for standing room. We were
there four hours before help came,
and we got acquainted. And you
promised
ST was just the the situation. and
the danger" she interrupted. "You
and would better get tomahawk pins
and wear them, as declaration Of COM
mercial antagonism."
Il The instant the train stopped they
hurried toward the one automobile.
But Jim Briggs had jumped while the
( train was in motion. They saw him
speak toathe driver. spring in, and in
IA moment Inter the car swung round
and started down the street.
"Hey, there. you'll" yelled Ed, as ne
rushed across the platform. But the
machine was a hundred yards away
and gaining speed. Jim looked back
at them and grinned cheerfully. Ed
{ returned with wrathful face.
: 1.-THE skunk r. he exclaimed, .But
+ that's Jim's way. Probably the man
said the machine was hired by tele.
graph. remembering me. and Jim de-
clared himself the man. What now?"
There were tears in Blliy's eyes.
wait for tile next train. suppose,
Ed she answered despondently.
"This was to be my big day. The
manager limited was doing well, and
II ] could capture good big order he
would put me on a regular salary In.
/ stead of on commission as now"
~The skunkl' repeated Ed Then
10 the driver Of a decrepit wagon. and
Strengthening ups suddenly: "Do you.
know where Fork River is-Bary &
Du Bary2"
Eyes, three miles"
swell. gel this, lady there as quick
as you cam" He threw in Billy's case.
No time to explain" he jefked ont
'sGot to beat Jim"
Absurd. He can't That automo
bile"
"Yes-but cars got to go fourteen
miles over a bad road. Only mile
and half by cart path straight
across"
.But d bad river. and no boat. A
swamp. too. You failed there once"
Didn't have a skunk to beat then.
I'm a good sprinters and a good swim
mer. Wait a minute" de scrubbed