Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 239, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1912 — THAT TWO DOLLAR BILL [ARTICLE]

THAT TWO DOLLAR BILL

lOr, Lost on the High Road to S Happiness. ■ J '■ ' ' SB By HARMONY WELLER. Irma came hurriedly out of the big department store and glanced along the street. She looked at her small timepiece and her brows puckered. “It is late already!** she said to herself, and made straightway for the imotor car which stood at the curb. Urma supposed It was a taxi. “Drive me quickly to 09 Riverside drive,** she commanded the chauffeur. The man cast a quizzical glance at the dainty person who had taken him lor a taxi driver. “Did you hoar what I said?” Inquired Irma, half impatiently. “Yes —miss.” The man touched his cap, and with another odd smile that irritated the girl he stepped out to crank his machine. Irma settled herself with a Uttle flutter of exhaustion into the corner and took out het. list of purchases. So intent was she upon making out her rather large expense account that ■she did not glance up until she realized that the motor had swung in to [the curb at 09 Riverside drive. She glanced quickly up to see, from Ithe indicator, what her fare was. Her iblood seemed suddenly to .rush over her being In a hot wave. Had she deliberately stepped into a private motor? There was no indicator and no "For Hire” ticket on the front of ithe taxi. Irma stepped out and faced the ■chauffeur. "HoW much do I owe you?*’ ' ehe asked, trying not to color under ithe very steady eyes of the good-look-tag driver. “The indicator is not ithere.” „ She stood there, her lovely eyes iseeming to challenge him to tell her she had made a mistake. Yet stirring within her was a desire to return the smiles that still lurked In the man’s eyes. Because of that desire Irma repeated her demand. “Will you kindly tell me how much I owe you?" Because of the growing wrath in her eyes the driver fabricated quickly. ”My indicator is in the repair ehop. Since I have no idea of the distance we will forget the fare.” "We will do nothing of the kind’” contradicted Inna. She opened her great Cavalier bag and drew forth a , $2 frill. "That is about what, J generally pay,” she said, and extended the money. “I refuse to take It.” Irma looked back at him for a moment, conscious that her cheeks were flaming and her eyes sparkling. After a second she opened the door of the motor and flung the money within. “If you want to do the taxi people out of their money there Is no reason why I should help you,” she said, and went Into the house. It pleased her to notice that the driver was angry. He swung his machine around so suddenly that for a second It was about to tarn turtle, but it kept to its four wheels and went off down the drive.

When it was well out of sight Norman Mac Vane stopped his motor and stepped out. He opened the door, picked up the bill that Inna .Vickery had thrown therein, folded.it carefully and put it in his waistcoat pocket He smiled as he did so. but there was lurking Irritation in the smile. He cranked the engine, lumped in and whirled at the speed limit back to the shop whence he had come. An irate sister was waiting there with eyes that flashed indignantly at him. "Where in the world have you been?” she asked reproachfully. If Grace noticed the flush on her brother’s face she supposed it was dur to herscolding. - ."You said you would be about thirty minutes,” he told her, because he l «Md not know exactly how to mention his escapade. “I am awfully sorry, but you see, sis, I am not used to ’chauffing.’ Where to now?” Grace smiled at her big, good-look-ing brother. “I want to go up to ■Lilly's for tea —but it is rather late.” "And where does Lilly happen to live?” “09 Riverside drive.” Norman started and changed color. Then he smiled. Perhaps ? Yes, perhaps he might see his dainty "fare” again. '■'“'".T./ "Lilly must be having an afternoon tea,” he said without thinking. Fortunately, Grace had been getting into her motor and his words had fallen on deaf ears. Again Norman stopped at 09. “Dear," Grace told him sweetly, "if you have anything else to do you need not call for me at 5. I can take the car home.” , . "I have nothing else to do, sis.” Norman told her with surprising alacrity. "I will be here promptly at Irma Vickery had been sitting in the window. She started and leaned forward as Grace Me Vane alighted* from her motor. Irma’s heart fluttered. The driver was her own special chauffeur and Grace had not even offered to pay him. > Irma sank back with relief. It would be much easier to feel that she had unconsciously used the motor of a friend than that of a stranger. Irma glanced out again and blushed violentJy. The chauffeur had seen her in the window and with, a swift motion had Insured her secrecy by pressing a finger to his Ups. j . ~r The machine glided off and Irma turned to greet the newcomer, , "You are so lata, Grace,” Lilly said by way of w elcome.

"I have a new chauffeur,” explained Grace with a peculiar smile. "He kept me waiting while I was. shopping. Oh, I have the dearest new frock! I must tell you all about It!” And Grace went forthwith Into a long description of her latest extravagance, not knowing that Irma Vickery was palpitating with the force of her curiosity regarding that same chauffeur. An hour or so later It was Irma who made the movement to go. As she arose the honk, honk of a motor horn sounded. . “Oh," exclaimed Grace | remorsefully, “my car was to be here at B and it is now 5:16. Lilly, dear, we have had a lovely time; do coma soon and see me!” Out In the vestibule Grace turned to the other girls: "Come on, all of you, Into my motor. I will drop you all out along the way.” Irma stayed behind hoping to be overlooked, but Grace linked her iarm with that of the shrinking girl and drew her down the steps. "I most especially want you,” whispered Grace so that the others might not hear. "My brother Is here for a few weeks and I do want him. to meet you. He has been a perfect angel today and played chauffeur for me since Jackson is off.” Grace drew Irma close to the motor and Introduced her to the man with his hand on the wheel. “There Is pot room inside for all that bunch,’! Norman Mac Vane said quickly; “some one will have to sit outside with the driver. Do you mind, Miss Vickery?" “I much prefer It,” said the girl frankly. “Besides," she laughed, "perhaps I can inveigle you into giving me back my two-dollar bill." “Never!” decided Norman, as he whirled away from the' curb. ”1 am going to have that framed for my room.” “I would like to bare it framed for my room,” suggested Irma. “Could we not tear It and each have half?" Norman was silent for a moment, then he looked at her. "I know a far better way than that of settling the difficulty.” “And we would’nt have to tear the bill?” asked Inna. "No.” “Norman,” came through the speak-ing-tube in Grace’s laughing voice, “where In the world are you taking us?” Norman looked about. He was far from the right locality. As he spoke back to his sister his eyes were on Irma. “I seem to have become lost on the road, sis.” Then to Irma he added, "On the high road to—to hap plness.” r . (Copyright. 1812. by^/ ssociated Literary