The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 293: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

COURAGE THROUGH A CAMERA. BY MATTHEW WHITE, JR. An automobile tale of love that found the way, not despite, but because, of films intervening. A eR EON was obliged to clear his throat once or twice before he could speak. To be sure, she was un- deniably a maiden in distress, but how- ever knightly his mntentions might be, he must remember that this was no longer the Middle Ages. “TI beg your pardon,” he ventured finally, “ but perhaps I can help you. My car 1s here, and Vinton is not far away by the automobile route.” She started visibly and half turned toward her maid, as if ‘seeking protec- tion from this stranger who dared ad- dress her. But Allerton’s eyes were frankly kind and steady ones. Mildred Kent positively hated men who let their gaze travel up and down a woman’s figure, even in admiration. “ How did you know ” she began. “T must beg your pardon again,” he interposed. “ You remember my seat was next yours in the chair car. I could not help but overhear your anx-- ety lest that beastly slow train should miss connections with the limited. Now that the worst has happened, I’d be a churl if I didn’t try to help you, when I can do it so easily, too. Oh, I didn’t mean that.” He caught himself up quickly. “ That wasn’t very neatly put, was it?” Then this girl he had thought so haughty and unapproachable aston- ished him. She laughed outright. “T’m so glad you did it. Now we can sce a funny side to the thing, and I can accept your offer. Indeed, I don’t see what else I can do, if I’m ever to be one of Ksther Smith’s bridesmaids. The wedding is at noon; it must be nine-thirty now, and I have to dress yet. I ought not to have tried to do it on such a narrow margin, ‘but—but—well, my gown wasn’t finished till late last night,” and she glanced at the dress suit case in the maid’s hand. “‘We’ve heaps of time,” rejoined Al- YA lerton. “We could even stop to pick berries on the way—if this were berry season.” “But won’t it interfere with your engagements———” then the girl broke off to exclaim, as they rounded a corner of the station, “ What a stunning car! ” “Not in the least,” he replied. “ On the contrary, it will give me a very ac- ceptable one. You see, I just came out this morning to try the thing on the fine roads hereabouts.. ’m thinking of entering her for a race next month. You will ride in front with me. We vill put your maid and the grip in the tonneau along with my chauffeur.” Another instant and they were off, Mildred uttering soft purrs of admira- tion at the smoothness with which the great car ran and the dexterity with which Allerton guided it. “It’s simply great,” she remarked presently. “ If it hadn’t been for this kindness of yours I really don’t know what I should have done. The next train isn’t till afternoon, and there seemed to be nothing in the way of a team to hire at that miserable junc- tion 7 | | “That doesn’t ‘junc,’ ” added Aller- ton, with a Jaugh. “ What I’m thinking of, though, is what an utter fool I’d have been if I hadn’t worked up my courage to the sticking point of asking to take you over.” “ Did you really hesitate a long while about it?” “Well, it -took some courage to break the ice,” he admitted. “ You know, vou might have turned me down with an icy stare and a ‘ Sir, I do not know you. How dare you address me?’?” “Well, I was frightened when you first spoke to me. You see, I really hadn’t seen you on the train.” ‘“* For the very good reason that I was seeing you all the time. You must re- member I sat behind you.” (GO) MICO SS (COL