Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-08-08
The Ickes Way
In SpeIvin's
Trip TO Work
PeqIer Shows Action
on Gas Appeal
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

beoIRe SpclNlH, AliiciiSdi'
felt a glow OF patriotism as he
thought of Harold Ickes' appeal
to the people of the seaboard to
use less gasoline and determined
10 do his bit for his country,
regardless of his opinion Of Mr..
Ickes, which is not idolatrous.
Accordingly, Mr.. Spelvin de-
cided that there was no more
effective way open TO him than
TO lift another patriot on the
way to work, thus saving the
fuel which a taxi or bus might
consume in toting that pas
senger.
He had read that Mr.. lckes
had urged loyal citizens with
ears TO pick up others and II
seemed 10 him that this would
be the most pleasant branch OF
the national defense.
Soon after turning the corner
from home, Mr.. Spelvin saw an
attractive young woman waiting
on a corner and he was men
tally fixing TO pull up with a
polite greeting when it occurred
TO him that his motives might
not be understood.
Therefore, feeling that he was
a coward in the face OF public
opinion and had shirked a pa
triouc duty Mr.. Spelvin stepped
on the gas in time 10 catch out
of the corner OF his eye the fad
ing radiance Of a pleasant smile
of acceptance.
HOWEVER. ne was now pre-
H tending that there had been
no intent whatever in his
maneuver toward the curb. and
he drove on, mentally booting
himself in the flask and specu-
lating whether she was married
and if 50 whether her husband
was a jealous brute or some
weedy squirt who would happen
TO be looking out window.
take the number of his car and
raise a disguiing row.
Or, Mr.. Spelvin thought, he
might have fallen 10 talking
and discovered that she was a
friend of a friend and the talk
might have got around that he
was in the habit of picking up
cuties. using as a mere excuse
the plea Of patriotism.
Or perhaps he would have
said that he was planning 10 do
this every day now. going TO and
coming from work. and she
might have volunteered 10 COL
laborate in this fine loyal pro-
gram and the silly little thrip
might lose control of herself and
Jump of some bridge or take
gas on realizing that IL never
could be and cause a mess Of
publicity and terrible misun-
Outstanding at home.
Things do happen that way.
s MR.. SPELVIN drove along.
"A rcgrettlng his lack OF patr-
otto courage he saw a man
IN overallS who gave him the
thumb. but he was really so
deep in his thoughts that he slid
by without thinking.
And. on the next corner, he
saw an elderly woman he knew
who was on committees and un-
reserved in discussing her trips.
SO Mr.. Spelvin passed her up.
too. telling himself that, not
even Ickes himself would expect
that sacrifice and that. If so, he
would be glad TO send Mr.. Ickes
her name and phone number and
let him do the fetching.
He thought he could wish
neither Of them worse luck and
his conscience let him off be-
cause. after all. the actual crisis
was still far overseas.
IF IT ever came down 10 a
L real national emergency why
he. George Spelvin. would do
his duty. But for the moment
things were not that urgent.
Still Mr.. Spelvin accused him
self of sacrificing the national
interest for his own reputation
and peace of mind when a true
citizen ought 10 brave the jeers
of the rabble IN time of ma
tional peril and even go 10 his
grave diShonored for his loyal
convictions and wait for history
somehow TO vindicate him.
Thereat his body would be
moved 10 Arlington and his
memory honored in death with a
beautiful quotation. cut in stone.
AT this point, only a few
blocks from the office. Mr.. Spell
win. on the impulse of the brave
man, suddenly whipped over TO
the curb and singled out a lady
maybe 35 and neither chicken
nor ostrich, and was about TO
invite her aboard when the lady
called him all kinds of a word
ending in "ouse" and silly
looking ape and told him 10 be
missing or she would slap him
lopsided.
Brother, she told him.
Arriving at the office five
t,,ttotffoc lator Mr. Cnalyi,, intro