CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11822, 27 November 1901, Page 3

CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

A RUNAWAY AUTOMOBILE.

■ [by roe l. he.vdbick.]

Mi?. Join* McChesxf.y Alport is a Philadelphia merchant and a man of wealth, who owns a handsome country place called Fairmount, on Tamarack Lake, six miles from Dupont Station. Although the good roads movement so far has made little progress in DeKalb County, and the highways there are still rather primitive, Mr. Alport came out this summer in a new automobile, with his sixteen-year-old daughter, Gladys, as a companion.

Since that time the gasoline machine has been propelled many hundreds of miles about Fairmount, and the residents of the neighbourhood are beginning to believe it can be made to run across lots and jump stake-and-rid<-r ft noes if Gladys so wills. At all events there is no road anywhere in the vicinity bad enough to stop it. Gladys had only the most general knowledge of horseless vehicles before she accompanied her father from Philadelphia to Fairmount, but the two-lniadred-and-hfty-imle trip was one long lesson, and at its end he pronounced her an expert chauffeur- She still had some things to learn, however, although the accident that befell her a little later, of which this is the story, might have occurred to any other rather reckless person.

The Alport automobile is what makers term a naptha runabout. It is a sort of horseless dogcart, with the machinery and tank partly under the seat and in part concealed beneath the top of the box behind. The 'working parts are not accessible when the vehicle is in motion, as the seat has to be turned forward like a lid to expose the mechanism.

Soon after the family reached Fail-mount Mr. Alport engaged carpenters to build a boathouse and pier at the side of the lawn which slopes down to the head of Tamarack Lake, a sheet of water seven miles long and from a half-mile to two miles in width. Dupont Station, the small village where the carpenters, Frank and Amos Lindsley, live, is near the other end of the lake.

The Lindsley Brothers had nearly completed the frame of the boathouse when on Tuesday morning they discovered that a few more timbers and boards were needed. If the order could be got to Dupont at once the lumber might be brought up on the small steamer which was clue to arrive at Fairmount that noon.

Amos Lindsley went to the telephone in the Alport house, but, owing to conflicting earth currents or some other cause, the circuit worked badly. Short as the distance was ,he could not make the proprietor of the lumber yard understand just what he wanted, and' finally lie put down the receiver in disgust and rang off. Gladys had been watching him intently. She was expecting a party of young friends the next week, and it was in her behalf that the work was being rushed. " Wait ! " she exclaimed. " I'll get out the auto, and take you down therj in a jiffy." Her parents made no objection, and in a few minutes the two were off at a 20-mile speed, Amos clinging to his hat as they described a wide semi-circle .n passing from the driveway out upon the valley pike. This formerly was a toll road, anil is still the best-kept highway in DeKalb County. For four miles south from Fairmount it is almost level, the ground rising and falling only a few feet as the shallow creek vallevs are passe - !. No bridges are needed, all the tiny brooks being crossed on solid culverts. At the end of this four miles, however, and about half that distance north, of D'upont Station and the railroad, is Breakneck ill. Indian Bluffs, about 200 ft, in height, frown down upon tbe water, and the pike no longer can follow the shore; so it turns inland, climbing Iroquois Ridge diagonally. The rise is fully 180 ft here, and is nearly a fourth of a mile in length, with three level terraces to break the ascent. The middle stretch is "the steepest grade in the county. On the plateau-like summit the road again approaches the lake, finally descending in a huge capital "S" that brings one to the four corners near the water's edge, about which the village clusters. The railroad line cuts two streets just beyond the public square. Once on the highroad Gladys said to her companion, " Now I'll show you how superior this is to a horse, or even a pair of them. On such a road as this one can rival an express train." She grasped the speed lever and thrust it forward to the farthest notch. The automobile sprang ahead like a living thing. To their previous rate of a mile in about three minutes, fully 50 per cent, was added on the instant. Along the level road they flew, with now and then a sudden lurch as a rut was crossed, but otherwise smoothly, except for the all-pervading sense of vibration which made every fibre of the vehicle quiver beneath them. Amos, although still in his twentieth year, was a sober, steady-going young fellow, who | took no delight in risky exploits. The : pace alarmed him. " Is it safe?" he asked, looking steadily at his companion.

"Perfectly," she replied, with a merry laugh. " Besides, we must catch that steamer, you know."

" There is plenty of time," he said, after glancing at [bis watch. Then he added quickly, " If you can stand it, guess I can." He did not wish to appear cowardly before this bright, courageous young girl, however little he might relish the experience.

They were approaching Breakneck Hill. Till now they had met no one, for the turnpike is not greatly travelled, but near the foot of the slope they saw a farmer approaching with a heavy load of firewood. Although his load entitled him to the main roadway, he took no chances of a collision, but swung far out to the right. They shot past him like a rocket, the slight swerving nearly throwing Amo3 from his seat. Gladys was clinging to the levers.

"I think we'll slacken up a little here," she said; " pub on more power and less speed."

Amos was well pleased to hear this, but in a moment he noticed that their progress seemed to be checked very little by the ascent.

Gladys was tugging at the speed-lever, by means of which the automobile is also stopped and started. She did not seem able to move it.

The young carpenter sat still. He had been taught that, as a passenger, he must not interfere with the driver, even of a runaway team, under any circumstances, unless the latter calls for help: and he sensibly concluded that automobile rules should be the same. He was not enjoying the ride, however, especially when they dashed across the first terrace, and be clung to the seat only by grasping its front edge with both hands. His hat blew off, but he had neither time nor inclination to notice where it went.

"I-I'm af-raid vou'll have to hel-lp me!"' Gladys ejaculated, between bumps on the stony hills. "This thing's s-stuck !" Amos grasped the lever, first with one hand, then with both, and pulled his hardest, bub it refused to budge. "Hur-ry!" his now. thoroughly alarmed companion gasped- "We-'re al-most at-t the top I" The sturdy young man braced his feet and pulled with back and legs, as well as with arm*, like a rower. Suddenly he sat down verv hard, and but for the stout, back of the seat would have tumbled out. behind. The lever had bent toward him at the floor, and as he attemntKl to thrush it back it broke short off. * He held the Mow useless bai 01 stee) in his hands, and sUred blankly at the girl. " We're in for it!" he ejaculated. They had reached the level summit and were rushing headlong towards the " S" that led down to the valley beyond. Could they make it at that express-train speed? A breakdown or a collision meant almost certain death.

The automobile did not jolt so badly now, and by speaking quickly a whole word could b& uttered unbroken. ' How much gasoline's in the tank?" Amos asked.

"Filled last night; enough for ninety or «ne hundred miles."

"Keep running till it's v.-ed up, I suppose':" "I'm afraid so."

"Well, there's nobody on the hill that 1 can see"—he stood half-erect for a second and surveyed the slope. "Hold her in the centre and swing the corners as widely as possible, while wo throw our weight to the ir.side. If we can make this hill we'll head for Salem on the straight mad west, and then come back Newbury way. Two hours should tire her out at thi.< rate."

Amos would have taken masterful possession of the steering-lever but for the expression on the girl's face. " She's a thoroughbred!" he said to himself, forced to unwilling admiration by her courage. She rully realised their peril, but her first, momentary alarm had been succeeded by a determination to do her best, and thus atone as far as possible for her previous recklessness. This Amos saw, and lie believed she wotiiu be equal to any emergency. Besides, he felt th.it her experience better qualified her U>: guiding the machine. This was his first ride in an automobile. and he mentally resolved that it should be his last.

(To be continued.)