The Coolidge examiner., 1932-11-18
A Certain
Match
By QUEENA POLLACK

Q HIRLEY VAN DORM shifted
- gears, and settled back in her
drivers seat to survey the sur
rounding country with zest.
Don't take it too fast, dear" ad-
vised Aunt Victoria, who had been
her guardian since her own moth
er had died ten years before.
But l can't crawl" protested
Shirley.
you'll be tired by the time we
reach Gardner's, dear, and week
end parties usually have strenuous
athletic programs" began Aunt
Victoria.
"Do you suppose | shall like any
one there?" interrupted Shirley.
''If tiresome Tom Manley attaches
himself to me, l warn you. Auntie,
I'll fly home"
You know" Victoria BrOwnSlee
started. ingratiatingly. Mrs. Gard
ner whispered at dinner the other
night that she expected Ted Far
son. the shipbuilder's son. if he re-
turned in time. You've never met
him. Shirley, and you know he's
quite the catch of the season."
Helplessly, Shirley laugh d..
Wasn't it bad enough to have to
listen to dull conversation of the
usual sort. she thought, without
having to be bored by another
youth returned from Europe and
his tourist impressions?
Dear. I'm thirsty" put in Aunt
Victoria. cant we stop at the next
spring."
Shirley drew up by the side OF
the road and told her aunt to wait
in the car while she brought cool
ing drink 70 her. Crossing a road
to the spring, she narrowly es-
capped being run down by a dusty
blue car that flew with powerful
speed from out side road.
A mild looking youth in drab
hiking costume pulled Shirley to
the other side of the road, and en-
circled her shoulder with a stall
wart arm to steady her.
"Oh. thank you" Shirley said
dutifuly. "You know, America
might have lost one of her rashest
daughters if you hadn't jerked me
aside in time"
"And one of her prettiest, too,
venture" the youth added.
"Tosh," replied Shirley in her
contemptuous manner for flattery.
But | started across this road to
get my aunt drink. Now | see
no cups"
'If l may oblige you," said her
companion, proffering cup from Il
camping outfit. III risk crossing
the road this time for your aunt. "
NO" she countered hastily. not
ing the disapproval on her rela-
tive's face at this prolonged CONVEX
sation.
She bent over to fill the cup with
glistening cool water, and thought
her rudeness to the man who had
saved her life was unworthy of her
real feelings.
Here" he said, masterfUly. LET
me. at least, fill the cup for you,
Miss. :"
MY name is Shirley Summer.
And yours?" she said evading the
question.
Timothy Torrence," he replied,
suppressing a smile. She did not
know whether he was smiling over
her name or his own.
"Well, good-by and thank you for
my life, which | do not value very
much these days." she said, at
tempting to disarm further talk.
"Good-by." he said equally unper'
turbed, 81 hope to have the good
fortune to rescue you some other
time"
Shirley ran back to the car with
out a backward glance. Strangely
her aunt was smiling, and not at
all impatient. AS she jumped into
the drivers seat. she thought
guiltily that she might offer to drive
her rescuer as far along the main
road as she was to travel.
Her aunt voiced the same thought
which surprised Shirley. When she
called the invitation. he accepted
with alacrity.
This is my aunt, Mrs. Rrownslee.
and this is Mr.. Timothy Terrence,
introduced Shirley. "Climb in and
keep each other company. I'm driv-
ing as fast as | can to the Gardner
estate at Langhorn road. If you
want to stop before then please
signal me-"
Once again she shifted gears. but
this time sat forward in her driy-
er's seat. tense. Faster and faster
she found herself flying toward
Langhorn road. She could moi
hear conversation in the rear of the
car, but did hear low laughter
What a sudden and strange CANA
raderie for staid Aunt Victoria