The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-05-21

Was advised lldI ne udu DGGIl lllGI4-
toned in the old gentleman's will.
TO my nephew, Kilburn Blake, l
bequeath my Wimple automobile
The news did not set Kilburn's
heart a-Autter with palpitations of
fondness. The Wimple automobile,
to be sure, was a beautiful specimen
of machinery. But the cost of own
ing and operating one was prohlbl-
tive, unless a mans yearly stipend
was in the five-figure class. Which
Kilburn's wasn't. Indeed, on $50 a
week one would no more think of
buying a Wimple than investing in
SIS, 600 house.
Kilburn's first thought was to Of
fer the Wimple as down payment on
a smaller and less expensive car.
Investigation, however, revealed
that the trade-in value of Wimples
was next to nil, due to their lack of
resale value.
1t was all rather disheartening
Here he was stuck with a piece of
machinery he couldn't use and for
which he was paying garage rent
and taxes Why not have the thing
stolen and collect the insurance?
Well why not? A noble thought The
premium was paid for six months in
advance; the $500 for which the car
was insured would buy a new and
smaller machine, with money to
spare.
Kilburn had all kinds of faith in
human nature-so he drove the
Wimple up town the next day and
left it parked in a vacant lot with
the key in the ignition. When he
came for it that night-it was still
there.
The following evening, Kilburn
took his girl to the movies, and left
the WimpIe, key in lock, on the
adjacent side street Hopefully he
returned to the spot after the per
formance-andn not only found that
the automobile was present and in
tact, but ticket tucked under the
windshield wiper, informed him that
the side street had parking laws
and hed better show up at the po-
lice station. AS soon as he was able
to buy gasoline again, he drove the
vehicle into that section of the city
known as the sluns, the underworld,
the tough district. Parking it be-
fore q pool room he stroIcd away
with hopeful nonchaIance.
Refusing however. to permit him
self to become too optimistic. he
remained away from the locale until
after midnight. He had read some
where that crime addicts worked
better in the wee small hours. Re
turning to the ruo1 room at 3 a. m.
he discovered to his DISGUST that
nothing had harpcnad to his legacy.
A fortnight later Kilburn drove to
the neighboring town of Ridcefeld
to attend a party. At 1890 it oc-
CURED to him to 90 home. but upon
attempting to put the plan into exc
cution, he met with an obstacle, The
WimpIe, which he had parked in
front of his friend 5 house, was miss
ing.
At first, Kilburn was elated. Con-
cern, however, followed. There re-
NAMED the matter OF getting back to
the city, 10 miles distant. The last
bus mad gone, the party had broken
up and his friend S house was dark.
Ihefe femaineo out Single alter
tl any a. iAi Ia4 II was 10 Ge4 ~
l@ne ~ ne i0C so "a 'a@l slal.u
transnoTtation for . considoratio9 -
$500. Before leaving, however, he
appraised the local police of the loss
of his car, and during the ride home
he revived his spirits by thinking of
the $500 insurance money he would
receive.
The next morning he notified the
insurance company Of the theft, and
went joVially to work. That night
the Ridgefield police called and adj
vised him that they had located
what was left of the Wimple.
"How do you mean, what's left of
it," KiIburn asked.
Someone took it for a iov ride
and ran into a stone wall. it's pref
ty badly demolished.
ooh - enid KiIb,,rn and b,,,,o ~,
After moments thought he
searched the classified section of the
telephone directory and presently
called a number.
"1s +bis tbo Ridoefe1d i,,,l, ,ord2,
1,o oeknJ ~ '~' '-~'| |''''' O.