Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1919 — A Gasoline Road Agent [ARTICLE]

A Gasoline Road Agent

By Mary Roberta Rinehart

(Copyright.) “I don’t know what possessed you to take the river road’anyhow." Garretson’s voice was distinctly aggrieved. “This is the fourth time we’ve been stuck in the mud. and it’s getting worse every minute. Besides, we’re going to be late.” Jimmy Garretson jstooped and carefully turned up his dress trousers to a safe height. “It’s the deuce of a place to have a dance, anyhOw. If people will entertain fool English noblemen, they might at least have the sense to do it in town.” Arbuthnot and Garretson peered into the machinery. “I can’t see anything wrong. Awful reek of gasoline, though. You’d better get out yourself.” Arbuthnot threw off his big leather coat and crawled cautiously down. “Don’t you know why I want to meet this English lord?” ’ “Not the least idea —cross my breast.” “It’s not.funny”—witheringly. “Don’t you know Marjorie Laue is going to marry him?” r “Phew, you don’t mean it! Why, I thought—that is, you know—” “Yes, I know. I thought it, too. But it seems a title , carries a good bit [Of weight. And there were other reasons. Let’s have a look at this thing now.” “Engine nothing,” he said wrathfully. “We’ve been leaking gasoline.” “If only it wasn't the river road we’d run a good chance Of another car coming along. We might borrow some gasoline, or if they wouldn’t give us any we could hold them up. I saw in the paper where some fellow did that not so very long ago.” “We might try it.”

As the extent of the damage done to his clothing revealed itself to Garretson he became more emphatic. “Stop swearing,” said Arbuthnot, “and listen to me. Do you remember the night you were to take Edith Armstrong to the Adams theater party? And do you remember that that was the night of Graham’s bachelor* dinner?” “I don’t remember much about that night. Remember the next day, though —had an awful, head. What about it?” “Well, when It was time for you to go for Edith, you wouldn’t go. Said you were having a good time where you were.” “I did?” Jimmy Garretson groaned. “You did. So like a fool I made up a little story about your not feeling well, and took Edith myself. She may have understood, but Edith’s a trump, you know. Never asked questions.” “Why don’t you talk about something cheerful? This is the devil of a place.to bring up a fellow’s past sins to him. It’s going to rain, too.” . “Well, you wanted to know why Marjorie Dane has turned me down for this English fellow. I had an engagement to meet her at the club ball that night, and when I got there at midnight some lunatic had evidently told lier, for she cut me dead, and I haven’t seen her since.” “I’m awfully sorry, old man. I wish you had told me sooner —it was really up to me to fix things. My reputation is too far gone to. be hurt, anyhow.” “Listen.” Arbuthnot held up a warning hand. In the distance could be heard the chug-cMWg of an auto, growing louder as it approached. • “Hello! Walt a minute,” called Garretson. “We’ve had an accident and need a little help.” “Haven’t time,” came surlily back. “Fix it yourselves." '

“Yoh don’t seem to understand what I said.” Arbuthnot’s voice was thick with passion. “I told you to stop.” “Remove your hand, sir! What do you mean by detaining me?” “You infernal little puppy!” He turned savagely on the stranger, and taking him by his ulster collar, tossed him into the mud. “Now walk.” Then Arbuthnot proceeded deliberately to empty the gasoline tank of the strange automobile. “Edward!” Arbuthnot raised up in dismay. “Are you going to sit there quietly and allow an outrage like this?” ’ “A woman, by Jove!” Jimmy Garretson almost fell again in his astonishment. “What can I do?" came weakly from the embankment. “Aren’t there two of them ? Do you think I'm a fool ?” There was a very audible sniff of disgust from the tonneau. • ‘Tm afraid I do. You brought this whole affair on yourself by being anything but a gentleman. It’s a charming situation for me.” But Arbuthnot stepped forward, cap in hand. . “I assure you, madam,” he said, addressing the voice, “we had not the slightest idea that the gentleman was not alone or this disgraceful affair would never have happened. The least we can do now is take yon to your destination, if you will allow us that privilege.” . •• “I much prefer to walk,” said the voice stiffly. s. “But it’s damp here, dnd the roads are ankle deep with mud. It’s going to storm soon, too.” The girl shuddered a little. t Tm afraid it is going to storm, and Un growing hoarser every minute, I

suppose I am forced to accept your offer, although your conduct was been outrageous. I hope you do not 'think I countenance it by going with Vou?” “Not- at all,” said Arbuthnot gravely, and Garretson chuckled. “Good night, ah, Edward,” he called, as they moved away in the darkness. “Have a pleasant walk, and don’t hurry.” ’ • • “In one Way,” began the girl constrainedly, “I owe you both a service. 1 didn’t qijite realize before what an awful cad that fellow was. And worse than that, he’s a coward. lam pleased to find him out.” “Don’t be too hard on him.” Arbuthnot joined in the conversation —if such it cobld be called —for«the first time. “Some people are constitutionally averse to playing the good Samaritan.” “Don’t altogether blame* him myself.” Garretson was trying to put the girl at her ease. “There’s never much in it for the good-Samaritan. Fellow once took a girl to the theater for me —I had a headache, you know, and couldn’t go—and. by Jove,*tiidn’t the girl he was in love with hear about, if and give him the cut direct!” “Indeed,” said the girl languidly, “it must have been a bad headache.” “It was,” said Jimmy untruthfully; “fearful, and the next morning—” “There’s the gate.” x She had been gently lifted down and carried through the mire to the gate before she could remonstrate. Arbuthnot bowed and turned back. “Now make it go like the devil.” Mr. Garretson was plainly ill at ease. A few minutes later Arbuthnot, clothed in evening garb, left Garretson to thetender meitits of Charlie Courtenay’s man and started down the broad Staircase. Just at the curve he me‘t a rather flushed, very pretty girl, still in her wraps, who was coming breathlessly up. She bowed, to Arbuthnot’s delight, and hurried on. Whereupon that young gentleman sat down on a window seat and watched for the girl’s reappearance. She came soon. As she reached the landing Arbuthnot rose, and she was suddenly conscious of his presence. “Marjorie”—his voice was very gentle, but even in the half light his face was pale and drawn —“ won’t keep you long, and if you tell me that you really care for that —that English fellow, I’ll let you go at once. But Marjorie, if it’s only the glitter of the title —I don’t want to hurt you dear, but such things do happen —and I’ve been breaking my heart for you these last days—Do you love him, Marjorie?”

The girl looked up, and down the stairs. There was no one in sight. From the lower floor came the sofi strains of a waltz and the low murmur of many voices; but they were alone. With a little contented sigh she slipped her hand into his and leaned to him. “Idetest him,” she said softly. “You may kiss me if you like —you look as though you are going to any-’ how—” naively. “I am,” he said promptly, and did. A moment later she raised her head and laughed a little. z “Never, as long as I live, will I forget the way you threw that little cad into the mud.” “You knew me?” gasped Arbuthnot. “From the first minute,” she said calmly. • “ Later in the evening, Marjorie having been claimed for a dance, Arbuthnot met Jimmy Garretson In the smoking room. “The Courtenays are growing anxious.” said the latter, with elaborate carelessness. “Lord Hyne isn’t here yet.” •Abuthnot looked him squarely in the eye. > “It was a long walk,” he said. Mr. Garretson looked at him oddly and mysteriously. “You knew him?” Upon my word. Arbuthnot, I believe you arranged the whole affair.” •Tdjd,’ r said Arbuthnot shamelessly. “Our gasoline tank was half full.”