THE BRAKES WOULDN’T WORK

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21986, 9 January 1937, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE BRAKES WOULDN’T WORK

tfThe' day dawned, fine and clear; jM green grass fresh dew, and tSe*’whole atmosphere typical of ,those beautiful spring mornings QO&'cften meets. The, birds were itcUung their .sweetest songs, in fact; Everybody was happy, the Smith family in particular. Mother. ifcUthely,- singing, dressed the rest* twins, Billy and Brian, while

purest- of her sunny brood ttusied %’gmselves with' preparations for a "outing on the hills. Yes, they really going out. this time, not ijin.the stifling, fussy old tram, but IjnsDad’s, /latest craze, an ancient ||WfJ?attered Ford car, > blare of its norri fneyer ceased to delight the younger |Smiths,, but Dad just scratched his -head wonderingly,.. and marvelled Ittatlall his ingenious methods of ;v&tjhg cars could not stop that confjlmual noise. |||St last the merry party was off. IfitsiDad clambered into the driver’s a dignified flourish of fhis.haiid in the direction of the plainly saying, ’’l’m You obey!” and’then iM’seated himself primly before the wheel. The sight of him on his high perch, his wide if straw hat askance, and nodding coajoescendingly at his curious neigh|oours; sent Sarah, the eldest of the VBmith children, into a paroxysm of - 1 . . ‘

f \ y :,i This was short-lived how|eyer,ior Dad's stern glance brought |«T;toher senses. The twins tested fthe'springiness of the seat by jumpup- and down, much to the pmusement of the onlookers and the srancyance of Dad. “Keep down, bawled the pestered father. bj-Jfou’ll catch it when- you get '■Home.’’ we do get home,” chanted the viwjas in unison, knowing full well f the car possessed a super|Jatviral power so far as breaking\iuSv was ‘ concerned. Dad said but his compressed lips and face expressed volumes. The imps exchanged meek Sjtoy? 68 * S r^nne d, and ceased talkife- _ , : :■ . . ~.

►.‘fiii *hne they were ascending :' ; ls®.“H| whe r e they intended to hold fc*rJfi;P J e n ic, and round a sharp ‘ they came upon a toll-gate st ? ndin S- Dad muttered, 5. it!” and reached out to pull ? ’ hut to his intense horror, SV-ijjWd not work, and the car went r a l° ng road at such a - the gate seemed to leap occupants. Mother

screamed and clutched frantically, at Dad's arm, while the children’s faces turned grey. TTiere was a

rending crash arid everything went black. ... ? They came to consciousness to find themselves among the debris of the unfortunate gate. An unsympathetic keeper hovered over them and pointed significantly at the wrecked car and then at the gate. “Serves you right,”, he bellowed! angrily at Dad. “Go crashing into my gate; would ye? Now, through your carelessness, both are ruined. Not that I care, about your old car, but to think of my poor gate, it’s—its—l. can’t find words to express my feelings!” Dad just stared round him vacantly and said rather non-com-mittally. “Oh, that' doesn’t matter. My family is all right,” “What a pity.’’., ■ pnuttered the keeper under his breath and he snorted. ~ • ■ —’MATE WALLFLOWER, Spreydon. :■