Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 183, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1916 — A City On Wheels [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A City On Wheels

By Olive Melville Parsons

(Copyright, 1916. by W. Q. Chapman.) “Too bad!” uttered Pierce Maclay hnd stood regarding an untoward mishap in dismay. A hind wheel had come off the light wagon he had been driving. The whole body of the vehicle seemed jarred out of place and as the box landed in a rut he saw that he was not enough of a mechanic to adjust the difficulty. “Pretty nearly the wilderness,” he soliloquized, “and something better than thirty miles to Malden. Back the route to Warrentown it’s an equal thirty. What am Ito do?” Maclay removed the horse, tethered him and set at work to remedy affairs. In a very few moments, after a close Inspection of the vehicle, he declared definitely.: “I give It up. No tools, no blacksmith within reach, I’ll have to abandon the wagon and do the rest of the journey on horseback.” He stood ruefully summing up the situation, his hands thrust deep in his coat pockets, when he started at the sound of an unexpected voice, clear as a bell, musical and friendly. It revived his drooping spirits magically quick. “In trouble, stranger?” Over the soft grassy trail a great covered wagon had come noislessly upon him. Occupying its front seat, clad in sensible khaki costume, was a young girl with a rosebud face, bright eyes clear as crystal and fearlessness and human interest in her entire manner as she halted a great staunch span of horses. » “I declare!” involuntarily exclaimed Maclay—“this is a pleasant surprise. I was getting gruesome in my forlorn position.and you can probably tell n)e exactly where I am marooned.” The girl sprang down nimbly from the wagon seat. She advanced to the wreck and viewed it with a practical searching eye. Her hand was small but sinewy. She pulled aside the dropped axle with a strength and celer-

tty that was amazing. She looked over the wrenched hub of the wheel critically. "If you care to carry the tools from our wagon,” she observed, “I think I can soon mend things somewhat.” Maelay stared, marveled, but followed her with a polite bow. She went around to the end of the big wagon she had driven and opened a door. Maclay was further bewildered. The capacious space within was fitted up like a room. It had bunks at the side, a folding table, stools hinged to its side, an oil stove and a wardrobe. His fair companion opened a heavy box. She took from it a portable jack, several other tools and some pieces of metal. She handed them to Maelay. Then, armed with a hammer, she led the way back to his broken vehicle. “Now, then,” she remarked in a brisk businesslike way, “you try and lift the end of the wagon box while l set the screw under it.” She had rolled up the sleeves of the Jacket she wore. She pushed baclj fugitive golden ringlets under the close cap she wore. The air rang with the true rapid strokes which she delivered upon the bent axle. She replaced - the cracked hub iron with a new one. She tightened up dislocated odds and ends. She worked like a beaver —and also as an expert. “There! that will last you till you reach a better workman,” she observed, in a satisfied tone and with a pleasant smile. “A better workman!" cri|d Maelay spontaneously. “Why, you are a wonder! Are you some good fairy, devoting your admirable energies toward succoring the unfortunate in distress?” A ringing laugh greeted the fanciful words. The'‘bright eyes half mischievously, half triumphantly glowing youth and beauty and comaraderie into his own, made Pierce Maelay glad for the breakdown. “Oh, dear, no!” declared the girl. “! am only plain Lura Wooster. We ah have learned to work down at. place—or did,” and the sweet face shadowed.

“Your home” —began Maclay. "We have no home.” came the speedy interrupting response. “We are seeking one now.” " ‘We?’ ” Insinuated Maclay. “Yea, eighty of us. I am afraid yon do not understand. There are nineteen other wagons. They will be along soon. You see, my father is Robert WOoster. He built the wagon plant at Chester, put in all his money and brought all our eastern neighbors out here —a happy family. Last week the plant burned down. Father could get no Insurance way out here away from fire protection. All we saved uvas some wagons. We knew enough to make comfortable houses of them Just like this one. Father feels a moral responsibility In caring for his workers. So, we are tramping, as you may call it, till we find Just the place where they will encourage a willing industrious group like us to locate and help build up the community.” “Eighty of you?” spoke Maclay, with neVv animation. “Why, that is jnst what I am looking for. Dear young lady, I roust see this enterprising father of yours.” “He and the others will soon be along,” replied Miss Wooster. “I drove ahead to sort of blaze the way. There Is the first of the wagons now. There is father. Yoo-hoo!” and the young sprightly voice rang out in a mellow hall. Maclay drew aside as several vehicles came Into view. They all halted. It was near the noon hour. In a few minutes Miss Wooster approached Maclay with a sun-browned sensible looking man. “Father,” she introduced, “this is the young man I spoke to you about He said a strange thing that may be interesting to us. Anyhow, we must show him what a good dinner we strollers know how to enjoy.” “Your daughter has explained your situation,” spoke Maclay at once. I hope our accidental meeting Is as fortunate as I have hoped. I come from Warrenton and I was on my way to Malden to try and induce the furniture factory there to remove to our town. The employees number only twenty, though. We have a big vacant building at Warrenton. In fact, I own It. We need new industries and we are disposed to encourage and finance them. “That looks pretty attractive to me,” spoke Mr. Wooster, "Our main reason just now is that, if we can get a working factory and fifty or more new residents, the county seat choice will fall on Warrenton.” “We make a pretty thrifty city on wheels,” said Mr. Wooster. ‘The prospect looks decidedly favorable. I should like to consider it.” Warrenton stared hard when “the city on wheels” came rolling Into the public square, Pierce Maclay leading them. Warrenton hurrahed enthusiastically, when it was known that the new contingent increased the population of the little struggling burg to a point that awarded It a selection as the county metropolis. Some of the machinery back at the burned out town was found in condition for utilization. Young Maclay secured the capital co-operation of the local hank and w’ell-to-do citizens. His own pleasant share was to build some twenty neat cottages for the workers. In the course of a year his construction views expanded. This time it was a more pretentious house that he planned. For it was to be a real home, and its mistress was the bright energetic girl who had brought to him "the city on wheels.”

Ruefully Summing Up the Situation.