The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-03-06

hastily into public garages and indeed
into any kind of shelter they could
get. Travel was impossible for most
people. but he kept steadily on, though
necessarily slowly. Just as he was
thinking that now surely he would lose
the blue car, he suddenly caught a
glimpse of II in the procession ahead
II was making toward the covered
bridge
He lost the car again and edged his
way gingerly out of the procession.
He at once discovered why he had not
seen it. Roberta and Jack were the
center of an excited and jabbering
crowd. Jack had crushed the mud
guards of dilapidated machine be-
longing to family of vOluble Polish
Americans out for their Sunday ex-
cursion. Jack was hurriedly taking
their names and addresses and giving
them his own. From the expression
on Roberta's face Sir George won
dered whether the name Jack had just
given was the one with which Roberta
was familiar.
They were so deeply engrossed in
the accident that no one paid any at
tentiOn to him, as he worked his way
around on the outside of the group
and made for the covered bridge lie
did not go at once to the bridge en-
trance. He drew up where he could
watch the crowd about Jack, without
attracting Jacks attention.
The storm ragged. Fortunately Ray
Brownies car was not an open car
and. in comparative comfort. Sir
George settled himself and lit a ciga-
rette, waiting for the moment when
Jack would move. At present he felt
he could do nothing that would make
Roberta's escapade public property.
Jacks temper was growing edgy, he
could tell by his insOlent attitude and
his snarling voice, which occasionally
carried above the roar of the storm.
The rain saved him. for the Polish
Americans hastily piled into their car.
and the spectators scattered to seek
shelter. Suddenly Jacks car shot past
Sir George. 1t was raining too hard
to 90 at that rate of speed, he decided,
anywhere except on the covered
bridge Evidently Jack had this idea,
too, for he swung around, narrowly
missing Sir George. Jack was paying
no heed whatever to the bridge rules
and regulations, which called for a
speed of only ten miles an hour.
Jacks infringement of the rules an
NH hol nj
to stop him in the middle of the
bridge and have it out in comparative
seclusiOn.
Roberta was having her first active
misgivings. Surely Jack had con-
Quoted the negotiations with the owner
of the dilapidated car in an unneces-
sarily harsh manner. She simply could
not imagine her father, or even ar
rogant Sir George, speaking to those
people in the way Jack had spoken, or
giving them his name in such fashion
as to make it almost impossible for
them to get it correctly. Then his
sudden and abrupt way of giving in to
all they asked, with snarl, and DASH
ing away. She had not time to wonder
any more, for she caught glimpse
of Sir George as she looked back.
"Jackp she screamed out, so that
he might hear her above the roar of
the thunder, the reverberatiOn of their
swift progress along the loosely fitted
boards of the old bridge, the rain and
the, to her. almost audible crack of
lightning. "We're being followed"
Jack swore.
1t was a simply disgusting oath
Roberta told herself. She might be
too modern to be shocked at little
profanity, but he simply should not
say such things. She would see that
he never said that again. But Sir
George! What earthly right had he to
follow?
Sir George, only too anxious to an
swer that question, was following as
closely behind them as Jacks speed
permitted.
The old bridge, one of the few an
cient wooden covered bridges left
Whereabouts. was long bridge. cross
ing the river at it's widest. The quaint