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Saturday, November 29, 1924. ; Hniiimiimnimimimxnn N N - PHINEAS AND ► THE MOTOR CAR - y r> In Which Gasoline Takes Over the Job ail Furnishing * Motive Power of Mr, Cupid ' By ELEANOR PORTER Author of “Pollyanna, n u Just David," Etc. >< Copyright by meaner H. Porter. N XXXYI I I nnm n in xwmwm P HINEAS used to wonder, times, just when It was he began to court Dlantha Bowman, the rosy cheeked, golden-haired idol of his boy hood. Diantha’s cheeks were not rosy now, and her hair was more silver than gold, but she was not yet his wife And he had tried so hard to win her! Year after year the rosiest ap pies from his orchard and the choicest honey from his apiary had found their way to Diantha’s table; and year after year the county fair and village picnic had found him at Diantha’s door with his old mare and his buggy, ready to be her devoted slave for the day. Nor was Dlantha unmindful of ail these attentions. She ate the ap pies and the honey, and spent long contented hours in the buggy; but she still answered his pleadings with her gentle: “I lialn’t no call to marry yet, Phineas,” and nothing he could do seemed to hasten her decision in the least. It was the mare and the buggy, however, that proved to be responsible for what was the beginning of the end. • They were on their way home from the county fair, The mare, head hanging, was plodding through the dust, when around the curve of the road shot the one automobile that the town boasted. The next moment the whizzing thing had passed, and left a superannuated old mare looming through a cloud of dust and dancing on two wabbly hind legs. Plague take them autymobilesr snarled Phineas through set tefeth, as he sawed at the reins. “I nx pardon, I’m sure, Dianthy,” he added shame facedly, when the mare had dropped to a position more nearly normal; “but I hain t no use fur them ’ere contrap tions !” Dlantha frowned, She was fright ened—and because she was frightened she was angry._____She said the first *thing that came into her head—and never had she spoken to Phineas SO sharply. “If you’d have some use for ’em, Phineas Hopkins, you wouldn’t be crawlin’ along in a shiftless old rig like this; you’d have one yourself an’ be somebody! For my part, I like’ ’em, an’ I’m jest achin’ ter ride in ’em, too! h Phineas almost dropped the reins in his amazement. “Achin’ ter ride 1 ln ’em,” she had said—and all that he ! could give her was this “shiftless old 1 rig” that she so scorned. He remem bered something else, too, and his face flamed suddenly red. It was Colonel Smith who owned and drove that au tomobile, and Colonel Smith, too, was a bachelor. What if— Instantly in Phineas’ soul rose a fierce Jealousy. u I like a hoss, myself,” he said, with some dignity. “I want somethin’ that’s alive!” Diantha laughed slyly, The dan ger was past, and she could afford to be merry. it Well, it strikes me that you come pretty near havin’ somethin’ that wa’n’t alive jest ’cause you had some thin’ that was!" she retorted. “Really, Phineas, I didn’t s’posa Dolly could move so fast!” Phineas brindled. , “Dolly knew how tev move once,” he rejoined grimly, ’Cause nobody pretends ter say she’s young now,'any more’n we be,” he finished with some defiance. But he dropped visibly at Diantha’s next words. <( Why, I don’t feel old, Phineas, an’ I nin’t old , either,. Lo ok at Colonel Smith; he's jest my age, an’ he’s got a autymobile. Mebbe I’ll have one some day. To Phineas It seemed that a cold hand clutched 'his heart. “Dianthy, you wouldn’t really—ride ln one!” he faltered. Until that moment Diantha had not been sure that she would, but the quaver in Phineas’ voice decided her. “Wouldn’t I? £ou jest wait an’ see!” And Phineas did wait—and he did see. He saw Dlantha, not a week later, pink-cheeked and bright-eyed, sitting by the side of Colonel Smith in that hated automobile. Nor did he stop to consider that Dlantha was only one of a dozen upon whom Colonel Smith, In the enthusiasm of his new possession, was pleased to bestow that attention. To Phineas it could mean but one thing, and he did not change his opinion when he heard Diantha’s account of the ride. “It wa* perfectly lovely,” she breathed. “Oh, Phineas, it was Jest like fly In'!” tt i Flyin!' t* Phineas could Ray no more. He felt as lf he were choking —choking with the dust raised by Dolly’s plodding hoofs. “An’ the trees an’ the houses swept by like ghosts,” continued Diantha. • • Why, Phineas, I could a’ rode on an’ on furever! •> P.efore the ecstatic rapture in Dl arithn's face Phineas went down in de feat. Without one word he turned away—but ln his heart he registered a segemn vow: he, too, would have an automobile; he, too, would make Dl antha wish to ritle on and on for ever 1 Arduous days came then to Phineas. Phineas was not a rich man. He had enough for his modest wants, but un ;«. 4, [®now an automobile—until those wanta had now not he included had not ! kmwrn tbat Dlantha wished to fly. All through the antumn and winter ! Ph!neas pinched and economized until he had lo PP ed off 11,1 of the luxuries and raost of the P*easu«« of living. Bven then lt la doubtful lf he would liave accomplished his purpose had be no *’ * n * be s P r *ng, fallen heir to a modest legacy of a few thousand dol lars ’ The news of hu good fortune wus not two ,10urs old when he sou S ht D,an,h * “* cal’iate mebba I’ll be gettln’ me one °’ them ’ ere autyraoblles this s P r,n «-” he 8J ' ld , us l f casually filling a part of the conversation, “Phineas!” At tI,e awed ln DIan tha’s voice the man ’ 8 heart glowed within him. Thls one moment °f triumph was worth a11 th e long miserable winter wlth lts butterless bread and tobacco less plpes - But 1,e carefully hid his ^ oy wllen he 8 P°he. “ Yes " he said nonchalantly. “I’m goin’ ter Boston next week ter pick one out. I eaTIate on gettin’ a purty good one. t* “Oh, Phineas! But how—how you goin’ ter run lt?” Phineas’ chin came up. “Run it!” he scoffed. “Well, Ihain’t had no trouble yet steerin’ a hoss, an’ 1 cal’late I won’t have any more steerin’ a mess o' senseless metal what hain’t got no eyes ter be seein’ things an’ glttin* scared! I don’t worry none ’bout runnin’ it. : 1 But, Phineas, it ain’t steerin’,” ven tured Diantha, timidly. "There's lots l* M. // (• s Vi TV'/* Just Ahead There Wa* a Sharp Curve. of little handles and things ter turn, an’ there’s some tilings you do with your feet. Colonel Smith did.” The name Smith to Phineas was like a match to gunpowder. He flamed in stantly Into wrath. •. Well, I cal'lnto what Colonel Smith does, I enn,” he snapped. "Besides,” —airily—“mebbe I shan't git the feet kind,^anyhow; I want the best. There’s as much as four or five kinds, Jiwi Blair says, an’ I cal’late ter try ’em all. Oh-h!” breathed Diantha, failing back in her chair with an ecstatic sigh. “Oh, Phineas, won’t it be grand!” And Phineus, seeing the joy ous light in her eyes, gazed straight down a vista of happiness that led to wedding bells and bliss. Phineas was gone some time on his Boston trip. When he returned he looked thin and worried. He started nervously at trivial noises, and his eyes showed a furtive restlessness that quickly caused remark. «4 Why, Phineas, you don't look well!" Diantha exdluimed when she saw him. Well? Oh, I’m well.” An’ did you buy It—that autymo bile?” “I did. I’hineas' voice was tri urnphant. Diantha’s eyes sparkled. «< Where is it?" she demanded. [ "Cornin’—next ■ An’ did you try week.” 'em all, as you said you would? ■ Phineas stirred; then he sighed. “Well, I dunno,” he acknowledged. *T hain’t done nothin’ but ride in ’em since I went down—I know that. But there’s such a powerful lo‘t of ’em, Dianthy; an’ when they found out I wanted one, they all took hold an’ showed off their best p’ints—‘demon stratin’,’ they called it. They raced me t up hill an’ down hill, an’ scooted me round corners till I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t have a jolnute ter my self. An’ they went fast, Dianthy— powerful fast. I ain’t real sure that I’m breathin’ natural.” But It must have been grand, Phin eas I I should have loved it! M Oh, it was, ’courseT’ asserted Phineas, hastily. “An’ you’ll take me ter ride, right away? •• GRIFFIN DAILY NEWS It Phineas hesitated it waa for only a moment. ‘‘Coarse,’’ he promised. “Er—there’s a man, he’s cornin’ with It, an’ he’s goin’ ter stay a little, Jest ter—ter make sure everything’s all right. After he goes I’ll come. An’ ye want tf> be ready—I’ll show ye a thing or two!” he finished with a swagger that was meant to tilde the shake in his voice. In due time the man and the auto mobile arrived, but Dlantha did not have her ride at once. It must have taken some time to make sure that .. everything was all right,” for the man stayed many days, and while he was there, of course, Phineas was oc cupied with him. Colonel Smith was unkind enough to observe that he hoped it was taking Phineas Hopkins long enough to learn to run the thing; but ills remark did not reach Diantha’s ears. She knew only thut Phineas, together with the man and the auto mobile, started off early every morn ing for some unfrequented road, and did not return until night. There came a day, however, when the man left town, and not 24 hours later, Phineas, with a gleaming thing of paint and polish, stood at Diantha’s door. Now, ain’t that pretty,” quavered Dlantha excitedly. “Ain’t that awfully pretty!” Phineas 4 beamed. “Purty slick, I think myself," he ac knowledged. An’ green is so much nicer red,” cooed DIaiitha. Phineas quite glowed with Joy— Colonel Smith’s car was red. Oh, green’s the thing,” he retorted airily; “an’ see!” he added; and forthwith he burst into a paean of praise, in which tires, horns, lamps, pnmps, baskets, brakes and mud-guards were the domi ,aant notes, It almost seemed, in deed, that he had bought the gorgeous thing before him to look at and talk uhout, rather than to use, so loath was he to stop talking and set the wheels to moving. Not until Diantha bad twice reminded him that she was long ing to ride in it did he help her into the car and make ready to start. It was not an entire success—that start. There were several false' moves on Phineas’ part, and Dlantha could not repress a slight scream and a ner vous jump at sundry unexpected puffs and snorts and snaps from the throb bing thing beneath her. She gave a louder scream when Phineas, ln his nervousness sounded the siren, and a wall like a cry from t he spiri t world shrieked ln her eats. ____________________________ • I Phineas, what was that?” she shiv ered, when the voice hud moaned into silence. Phineas’ lips were dry, and his hands and knees were shaking; but his pride marched boldly to the front. “Why, that's the siren whistle, ’course,” he chattered. “Ain’t it great? I thought you’d like it!" And to hear him one would suppose that to sound the siren was always a neces sary preliminary to starting the wheels. They were off at last. There was a slight indecision, to he sure, whether they would go backward or forward, and there was some hesitation qs to whether Diantha’s geranium bed or the driveway would make the best thoroughfare. But these little mat ters having been settled to the ap parent satisfaction of all concerned, the automobile rolled down the drive way and out on to the main highway. Oh’ ain’t this grand!” murmured ' Diantha, drawing a long but somewhat tremulous breath. Phineas did not answer. Hi? lips were tense, and his eyes were fixed on the road ahead'. For days now he had run the car himself, and he had been given official assurance that he was quite capable of handling It; yet here he was on his first ride with Dlantha almost making a failure of the whole thing, at the start. Was lie to be beaten—beaten by a senseless motor car and Colonel Smith? At the thought Phineas lifted his chin and put on more power. “<)h, my! How f-fast we’re goin’ 1" cried Dlantha, close to his ear. I’hineas nodded. Who wants ter crawl?” he shouted; and the car leaped again at the touch of his hand. They were out of town now, on a wide rond that had few turns. Oeen sionally they met a carriage or a i wa K°n, but les8 the frightened horses and the no frightened drivers .gave the automobile a wide berth—which was well; for the parallel tracks be* hind Phineas showed tbat the ear still had Its moments of indecision us to the course to pursue. The town was four miles behind Tor them..... when time Dfanthn,......w hffi.._had some vainly clutching at flying ends of ‘her veil, called to Phineas to stop. The request took Phineas by sur prise. For one awful moment his mind was a blank—he had forgotten how to stop! In frantic haste he turned and twisted and shoved and pulled, end ing with so sudden application of the brakes that Dlantha nearly shot head first out of the car as It stopped. Why, why—Phineas!” she cried a little sharply. Phineas swallowed the lump in his tliroat and steadied himself ln his seat. “Ye see I—I can stop her real quick If I want to,” he explained jauntily. “Ye can do ’most anythin’ with these 'ere things, if ye only know how, Dian thy. Didn't we ipotne slick?” • * Yes, indeed," stammered Dlantha. hastily smoothing out the frown on her face nnd summoning a smile to her lips—not for her best black silk gown would she have had Phineas know that she was wishing herself •afe at home and the automobile back where lt came from. “We'li go home through the holler, M id Phineas, after she had retied her rrell and they were ready to start. *It’s the Ion* way round, ye know, I ain’t goin’ ter give ye no snippy little two-mlle run, Dianthy, like Colonel Smith did,” he finished gleefully.' “No, of course not,” murmured Dl antlia, smothering a sigh as the auto mobile started with a jerk. An hour later, tired, frightened, a little breathless, but valiantly declar ing that she had had a ‘‘beautiful time,” Dlantha was set down at her own door. That was but the first of many such trips. Ever sounding in Phineas Hop kins* ears and spurring him to fresh endeavor were Diantha’s words: "I could ’a’ rode on an' on furever”; and deep in ills heart was the determina tion that if it was automobile rides that fche wanted, it was automobile rides thut she would have! His small farm on the edge of the town—once the pride of his heart—began to look forlorn and deserted; * for Phineas, when not actually driving his auto mobile, was usually to be found hang ing over It with wrench and polishing cloth. He bought little food and less clothing, but always—gasoline. And lie talked to any one who would listen about automobiles In general and his own In particular, learnedly dropping In frequent references to cylinders, speed, horse power, vibrators, carbu retors and spark plugs. As to Dlantha—she went to bed every night with thankfulness that she possessed her complement of limbs and senses, and she rose every morn lug with a fear that the coming night would find some of them missing. To Phineas and the town in general she appeared to be devoted to this breath less whizzing over the country roads ; and wild horses could not have dragged from -her the truth; that she was longing with an overwhelming longing for the' old days of Dolly, dawdling, and peace. Just whefe It all would have ended it is difficult to say, had not the au tomobile Itself taken a hand ln the game—as automobiles will sometimes —and played trumps. It was the first day of the country fair again, and Phineas and Dlantha were on their way home. Straight ahead the road ran between clumps of green, then unwound in a white rib bon of dust across wide fields and open meadows. It • Tain’t much like last year, is it, Dianthy?" crowed Phineas, shrilly, In her ear—then something went wrong, — Phin e a s • kn o w it Instantly. Thc quivering thing beneath them leaped into new life—but a life of Its own. It was no longer a slave, but a mas ter. Phineas’ face grew white. Thus far he had been able bo keep to the road, but Just ahead there was u sharp curve, and he knew he could not make the turn—something was the matter with the steering gear. «< Look out—she’s got the bit ln her teeth!” he shouted. II She’s bolted! Then came a scream, a sharp report, and a grinding crash—then silence. From away off in thq dim distance Phineas heard a voice. • 1 Phineas! Phineas 1" Something snapped, and he seemed to be floating up, up, up, out of the black oblivion of nothingness. He tried to speak, but he knew that he made no sound. “Phineas 1 Phineas! The voice was nearer now, so near that lt seemed just above him. It sounded like—With a mighty effort he opened his eyes; then full conscious ness came. He was on the ground, his head in Diantha’s lap. Diantha, bonnet crushed, neck-bow askew, and coat torn, was bending over him, call ing him frantically . by name. Ten feet away the wrecked automobile, tip-tilted against a lnrge maple tree, completed the picture. With a groan Phineas closed his eyes and turned away his head.* “She’s all stove up—an’ now you won’t ever say yes,” he moaned. “You wanted ter ride on an’ on furever!" “But X will—I don’t—I didn’t mean lt,” sobbed Dlantha incoherently. “I’d rattier have Dolly twice over. I like ter crawl. Oh, Phineas, I hate that thing—I’ve always hated it! I’ll say yes next week—tomorrow—today if you’ll only open your eyos and tell me you ain’t a-dyin’l n I’hineas was not dying, and he proved it promptly and effectually, even to the doubting Dlantha’s blushing con tent And there their rescuers found them a long half-hour luter—a blissful old man and a happy old woman sit tin i? ba nd in hand by, the wrecked au tomobile. “I ral’lated somebody’d be along pl ’ ea ^ 1 hl “ ea8 ’ riaing Afit at don t go, so we couldn’t git help; ^ buf we ‘du’t minded the wait—not a m ite!” Women Patients Lee* Fussy. Landladies may find men less trou ble than women as roomers, hut when they’re sick it’s an entirely different question. At least, so think* the towsle-headed proletarian who keeps the floors clean in a wing of one of the hospitals, and whose relaxation lt Is to exchange gossip with any pa tients well enough to stand the strain. “I'd rather clean up for a whole floor of women than for one ward of mm," he observed. “Men are an aw ful nuisance when they’re sick, fuke lt from me. They scatter cigarette nshes on the floor, and they have news papers and magazines all over the place. Why; a person could clean np every half hour ln that men's ward upstairs and still they’d have It mussed up. “Now, the women never give any trouble at all. They’re Just us neat even when they're sick. The best thing I ever dW was to get trans ferred down here from the wen’s ward.”—New York Sun ♦ ♦ < K DALTONS AND THEIR. LEGACY The Story of What Happened When the City Called and the Country Called Back Again By 4 ELEANOR PORTER Author of “ Pollyanna,” “ Just David,” Etc. CepyrUrlit by Eleanor H, Porter. I fpHE x and legacy dollars, amounted kind com ting to ten at thoua- it did from a little known, sea red y remem hered relative ft seemed even more unreal than the man who had be queathed It. u Now we can leave the farm, ** ex ulted Mrs. Dalton. Why, Sarah, do—do you think that is quite—wiser’ asked her husband, "Wise? Of course it Isl” she re turned decidedly. “Why, Caleb, don’t you know?—we’ve always wanted to go to the city; and Cousin John said he’d give you a place in his store any time, so you’ll earn something to start with right away. We never dared to before, you know, for you wa’n’t sure how- you’d do; but now we’ve got all this money we shan’t have to worry a mite. Oh, isn’t lt Just splendid, Caleb? r ?cs ; but—” he hesltatefl. But there isn’t* any ‘but,’ Caleb,” laughed Sarah, and turned to a boy of twelve and a girl of fourteen who entered the room at that moment. “We’ve got it all settled, children. We’re going to Boston, sure, this fall.” ■ Oh, mother!”—Ethel's hands came together in ecstasy, while Fred whooped ln glee. "There, Caleb, I told you how lt would be,” smiled Mrs. Dalton as the door banged behind Fred; then, anxiously: “You wouldn’t want to spoil lt all, now, would you?” “N-no; but—no, no, of course not,” murmured Caleb. This was ln August. By the middle of September such household goods as the Daltons had planned to take with them were packed, burlapped, crated and labeled. It had been Mrs. Dalton’s idea to sell the rest of the furniture on the farm at auction, but in X > i T f la RS a £0* ’ I ^ /’V*' ‘V/J “Oh Come, Now, That Ain’t Going to Do, You Know." just here she encountered an unex pected but stubborn resistance from her husband. Consequently, the re mainder of the goods were stored in the attic, and the farm was rented until the first of May. * • Cousin John” in Boston had re ceived the news of their intended com ing with cordial interest, and had al ready procured for them a six-room apartment in Roxbury; and it was in his thriving market and grocery store on Warren avenue that Caleb was to have a position as clerk. Some weeks later when Mrs. Dalton snw h<>r new home ghp dldn . t knott . whether to laugh or to oan’i cry ,.fo hy> CaleU . I-I breathe the rooms are so small!” she gasped. ^B U ifl A ' s e t tl ed W a a wonderful ex. " . At last the tiny "parlor” with Its mirror-adorned mantel und showy gas fixtures—the pride of Surah's heart-* was In order; and, after that, Sarah made sure each day that three o’clock found her dressed in her best and Hit ting in solemn state In that same par lor waiting for the calls that were ! surely now long overdue. Days passed, and her patience was unrewarded save for a sharp ring from a sewing-machine agent, and an other from a book canvasser. Sarah could not understand It. Sure ly, her neighbors in the block must know of her arrival even if those in her immediate vicinity on the street did not. Meeting a tall, slender wom an, whom she had already seen three times, she spoke.. “How—how d'ye do?” she began timidly. Tha tall woman started, threw n hurried glance around her, then came to the conclusion that the Habitation was meant for herself. • • Hood-morning,” she returned, then hurried along through the hall. Sarah stood looking after her with dazed eyes. *:•«* p,„, “Why, how funny 1” she murmured. Three days later the two ladlm again met at the outer door. “Oh, how d’ye do? Nice day, stn* it?” began Sarah, hurriedly. “You— yon live here, don't yon? •* Why—yes," said the woman, smil ing a little. “I do, too—on the top floor. “I—I’m all settled, now,” announced Sarah, stumbling over the words a lit tie. “Is that so?" returned the woman politely, but without enthusiasm. Sarah nodded. “Yes, all ready for callers. I—I hope you’ll come soon," she finished with sudden courage. “Thank you; you are very kind," murmured the woman, os she smiled and turned away. The tall woman did not call, and Sarah never asked her again. A fear words from Cousin John’s wife at about this time opened Sarah's eyes, and taught her not to expect to be come acquainted with her neighbors. Sarah was not the only member of the family who had found trials by the way. Ethel and Fred had entered school, and at first they came home each afternoon with Woeful faces. New methods of study, recitation, discipline, and even of recreation puz zled and frightened them. To Caleb, the city was a thing of noise, hurry and more people than he had thought existed. Early and late he worked In the store. “I don't like it," he would say some times to his wife; "X don’t Hka it, Sarah. December, January, February aad March passed ; and the first of April brought a letter from the lessee of the farm asking lf he was to have the place through the summer. “Of course he ran have it," declared Sarah. “Just as If we wanted it again!” • • Yes, yes, of course," murmured Caleb. “1—I’ll write later on. It was an early, and a wonderfully beautiful spring that year. Sarah grew restless indoors. Downstairs, on each side of the big front door was a square-yard patch of puny, straggling grass; and it was these two bits of possibilities that put a happy thought into Sarah’s head. She bought a trowel and some flower seeds and set resolutely to work. She had dug the trowel into the earth four times, and wag delightedly sniffing the odor from the moist earth when the janitor appeared. Did ye lose something, ma’am?” he asked suspiciously. Dose something?” laughed the woman. “Of course not! I’ve found something, William. I’ve found a flower bed. I’m going to have the prettiest one ever was. **’T won’t do, ma’am,—’t won’t, real ly. now. I’m sorry, but the boss won’t stand It.” It was that night that Caleb brought out the paper and pen to write the let ter which would lease the farm for another six months. Twice he dipped his pen In the ink, and paused with word written. Finally he spoke. - no "V—I’u^ going to give him some hints, Sarah. He won’t know how to run some of the things, I'm sure, lf he should plant the meadow lot to potatoes, now, it—— 1 “And, Caleb,” cut Irt Sara% "be sure and send word to ids wife about the roses; lf she don't spray ’em real early, the bugs and worms will get an awful start. There was another long silence, broken this time by the children’s entrance. “Mother,” begun Fred discontented ly, “don’t they ever go Ashing down here, or swimming, or anything?” Sarah sprang to her feet with a nerv ous little laugh. “Caleb, we—we might go up home Just for—for a visit,” she said. “Hurrahi—let’s!"■ crowed Fred, and Ethel clapped her hands. It was a jubilant four that lef t the NO'rth' Vfatlon a few days later, and It was a still more Jubilant four that arrived ln the village at the foot of the green hills, ■ • Oh, don’t lt look splendid and roomy!” cried Sarah, as they reached the turn where they could see the farm-house, "Aud don’t the air smell good!” Just at dusk on the third day Caleb found bis wife in the old summer house. Wrapped in shawls, she was fastening vines to the trellis. “Well, Sarah, I—I s’pose I’d better settle up with West, now. I haln’t yet, you know. I Surah nodded, without speaking. Tilings look first-rate, now. but— I’ve got my doubts of West, wish I could handle them myself.” Sarah threw a quick glance at his averted face. "Well— why—don’t yon?” she al most whispered. “Sarah, would you?—would you come hack? Do you mean It?” cried Culeb, w*»h a swift Joy In his eye* ’ So rail burst Into tears, ami threw herself into her husband's arms. “Oh, Caleb, I—just would! I—I’ve wanted to ever so long, but—I Juat wouldn't own up.”