Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-01-18

uTeuTy olu SplHSler.
An acid odor drlfted in from the
kitchen. She rushed thlther.
81 left little something slop over
on the stove" explained Bna. "All
this ridiculous fuss over that scape-
grass of young PENNY You'll be
down sick after this performance.
You're all fevered up now"
Sometimes, Blna," Loretta said
firmly, "you seem to forget that you
are hired to carry out my wishes and
that the place OF even as trusty u
maid as yourself may be rather easily
filed" She went out leaving Blna
green with dismay, jolted for the first
time out of her complacent security.
During her brief absence from the
living room Bert had entered, Lor-
eta found. Had to tear myself
away from that fellow. Great talker.
You know hlm-Tom BascomT
"You-you've been with hlm?"
."Every minute since left you.
Promised to take dinner with him at
the Central. He lives there, you
know"
"But, Bert, you must dine with me.
Blna Is getting ready for you. She
will be terribly angry If"
Bother Blna. What do you care
whether she is peeved or not? Come !
Put on your things. Never mind why.
Hustle ~
Loretta dlved into the hall closet
after coat and hat. she was sudden
ly 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 fan sunshine stood a mar
vel Of lacquer, nickel and glass, a gilt
terlng think like dragon-6y glancIng
above pool.
"What do you think of that?" chuck.
led Bert. "Fhat'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 II during the first mile.
Bert snapped Off his tweed cap and
set II upon her head On they Jew.
Loretta, whose only knowledge Of mo.
tor cars consisted Of cautious drives
in VIII lIenshaws numbering sedan,
felt her blood being whipped TO a
froth by the unerrIng nlmbeness of
this gay sport rooster.
"You ought to have one, Aunt Ret"
"Mew
"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 nre going to learn tO
drlve--Yesl You are. Else you can
walk home" He was laughing yet
purposefully. 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 In.
stlnct for machinery that had charac.
terlzed her race. Besides, she had
ridden n bicycle In her youth. She
heard Bert murmur such things, as,
keep her going You're jolly old
sport" She's a jolly old sport Well,
whatever she was she liked what she
was dolng-llked 1t better and better
She drove all the way home Bert's
cap over one car, her gray crimps
blowing, her cheeks blazing. At one
corner she dlmly gllmpsed staring.
amazed man. Bert chuckled
"Wlsh you could have seen Tom
Bascom's face. lie 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 n roll Of bills he peeled off one
and thrust It into Loretta's hand.
"Itun into that shop--get that red hat
In the window. Put II on. Hustle"
Surely some strange spell was up
on her or she would never have bought
that hat. The mIIIlner tucked every
strand of gray hair out Of sight and
Loretta left the shop glorl6cd Bert
had taken his place at the wheel.
Whskl They were Off, only to stop
few minutes later at the Central hO-
tel Tom BnscOm was waiting upon
the sidewalk
~ brought my aunt to dine with
us, Mr.. BascOm," said Bert, coolly.
"Very glad you did, my boy. Lor.
eta, how are your" "
"Sbe's going to buy Green Baby,
Mr.. Bascom1"
Loretta felt something pop like
torpedo in her breast But she man.
aged TO stammer: Fascinating sport,
driving"
"What about you, Mr.. Bascomf"
urged the young salesman.
Tom BascOm grInned. "I'll trust
your aunts good judgment and--Yes,
m take Green BODY, too"
II was wonderful dinner. After.
ward Bert treated them TO n show.
Tom BascOm acted toward her just
as he used to, even though the Widow
Payne sat right across the aisle watch.
Ing with discontinue In her pretty
eyes.
Yes, Loretta was too happy TO sleep,
yet at seven next morning she was up
and doing. Bert had promised to give
her another driving lesson and she
was all impatlence. When Blna took
her to task she told that exactlng
person that she could have long VA.
cation For she was going to do her
own work, every bit Of IT, why mott
She was n perfectly well woman, al
ways had been She nd not add that
she was going 10 be married presently.
That would come later. Meanwhile,
she must accustom her family to her
new attitude tOwntd NE and II wasn't
going TO be easy even though she pro
duccd such n lively demonstration Of
this fact Ms the Green Baby was sure
20 prove