University of South Carolina Libraries
m mrf ly, August 20, 1931 McCOlu^CK MESSENGER, McCORMICK, SOUTH CAROLINA’ PAGE NtJMfiEft IMfeS mm ' " ~ M RIDES THE RUMBLE Copyright 1931 dy the Author (BY ETHEL HUESTON) THIRD INSTALMENT Rackruff Motors hire Row- ena to accompany Peter on a nation-wide tour in their road ster as an advertising' stunt. At the last minute Little Bobby 'is?engaged to act as chaperon. A few miles out Bobby be comes tearful at being parted from her sweetheart and Row- ena Insists on taking her place in the rumble so that she can ride with Peter and have him to talk to about Car ter. Rowena get" Peter to con sent to divide the expense money each week as soon as it arrives, and astonishes Peter by eating too economically. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY To his intense amazement Row ena flushed hotly and bit her lip in some confusion, and most sur prising of all, said nothing. Al ready Peter found it amazing when Ro^rena had nothing to s^y. Certainly she had plenty to say at Niagara Falls when Peter pre- pgured to do his picture of the Rackruff roadster, with her at the, wheel, both showing faintly under a fine mist of falling water. When it came to doing pictures, Peter was unbearable. Carter himself could not have been more hatefully dictatorial. He told her what to wear, how to sit, how to rouge her lips. He told her how to hold *he wheel, which way to turn her head, just where to fluff her hair and where to draw it back. “Oh, Peter,” protested Rowena faintly. “Please don’t do my pro file. I’m terrible that way. My face is too thin for a side view.” “Oh, I’ll fill it in for you,” said Peter comfortably^ “It shows up letter in the car.” “Oh, the car, the car,” muttered Rowena crossly. “It’s all you think of.” “It’s all I’m paid to advertise,” said Peter cheerfully. When he had finished the pic ture Rowena wrote a brief adjectiv- orous story to go with it, and both were dispatched to Rackruff head quarters for immediate release. In addition to the :notor story she wfot6 a ‘short skit every day for use in the newspapers of different cities as they passed through. At Rackruff ; headquarters in Chicago they received their - first mail from home. There was one fat letter for Rowena, addressed in a big boyish scrawling hand. And there was onq for Peter from the company with instructions for the tour and a check for the following week's expenses. Bobby was thrilled with a huge package of telegrams, twenty in all, and every one from Carter. It seemed that every one of Carter’s finer feelings was highly outraged, for each of’the twenty telegrams ended with a stern command for her to come home at once. Even in his wildest nightmares, he said in the telegrams, he had never conceived of a horror equal to that of seeing her much-loved features on public posters and monstrous billboards on every con spicuous corner in town, adver tising a cheap new roadster. Et bby’s first intention was to ignore each and every one of these telegraphic outbursts, but by mid afternoon she had relented so far as to s£nd him a five-cent post card picture of Lake Michigan. At supper-time she sent a telegram saying they had arrived safely and were leaving early the next morn ing; and then kept Rowena awake until three o’clock in the morning with the scratch of her pen as she wrote him a detailed account of everything that had happened so far. After Rowena had read her single fat letter and smiled over it, and frowned over it, she went to her pocketbook and counted her graph pole—he made hopeful in- “And he forgot we W3 . r 1 e .. a I quisles for short-cuts-for side- ^noe way o-t in th* middle of a roads—for country lanes away deep river. He dropped the saddle from the traveled thorough-fares, overboard and oorinded dmvn or Bobby, as became a professional the cushions beside ne. Darlin^. chan won, was non-committally herald, vou dn love me, don t vou? neutral. But so far from appre- And plash! Over \ve went, canoe, iaung her clisinceresoed amiauihty, cushions, luncheon and all. But a it seemed more irritating to the little thing like being upset m a others than the outspoken opposi- I co*d river didn^t bother carter. He tion they met in each other. And went right on kissing me and said often they turned upon her sharp- ! over and over, ‘Darling, you do ly as if she were to blame for the love me—vou do love me, and it entire argument. 'wasn’t until I promised to marry It was in an exquisite wooded him that he^ swam off after the dell in southern Illinois that Row- canoe and—” ..... . ena had her revenge. They had “The poor fishes lived haonv for stopped at a quaint roadside log ever after,” said Rowena softly, cabin for luncheon, and Peter, gkz- i There were five telegrams for ing oensively through a wide-open Bobbv in St .Louis and, curiously window, decided to do a oicture on enough, five for Jeter a i s . < J that very spot. Rowena had spent ena, he noticed, had another fat the morning in the rumble seat m- letter addressed in the boyish diting swift notes on mid-western scrawl and watching with some motoring and was anxious to tran- I curiosity as she read it, he saw that scribe them to the typewriter be- j while her brows frowned over it fore her memoranda froze on her. ever so slightly, her eyes smiled to So she asked Peter, very politely, if ; their sofest hazel. Immediately she he would pleasd do the picture of finished reading, she counted the the roadster and the wooded dell bills in her purse and asked the H- most the first 'dm?. Rowena sat alcra? at her window, little and high up, for sue hai frugally changed fu.m a ouble ; > ^ single room 4r — ^aie./ after the desertion of Bobby, She was not one to give up with out a struggle—nor to give up at all, for that matter. It was: yearly midnight wlien she way to the telegraph office “Oh, listen to this!” chortled Bobby ecstatically. “Darlings, he’s wild! He’ll never forgive me, nev er. He threatens to send the police after me unless I come right straight home. He calls me a lit tle devil in plain English by West- first, while she was putting her notes into permanent form, and then paint her in behind the wheel later on in the afternoon when the rest of the picture was done. Pet er was perfectly willing, even eager, to lay over for an extra day, thus to allow time for her work as, well as his, but he said a picture j em Union, never turned out as well when a i “Oh, Bobby,” begged Rowena, ladv. or a house, or even a dog, was I “please spare us until we get a lit- added to a finished product. Said j tie of the well-known fine, black, it always stuck out like a sor? | sandy loam of the Middle West out thumb and never looked just right, of our ears.” Rowena put up a good argumen* ! When they stepped into the ele- —Rowena always put up a good vator, Bobby stumbling blindly as aigument—Rowena lost her tern- she continued to devour the pass- . •«* m m MM' 4 izmwm; iiMf m Peter was unbearable when drawing pictures. per—she usually lost her temper— ionate phrases with her avidly and the delicious log cabin waffles shining eyes, Peter motioned Row- and honey were ruined. ena back. When, very sulkily, but prepared “I want to speak to you just a to pose, she flounced down where minute—about business—if you’ll Peter had parked the car beside a | excuse us, Bobby. ‘But I’m in bed!’ (CONTINUED NEXT WEEK) iad driven fully twenty miles ! t^emely pleased vith h? characte* , f ^.. -'o:s f si Vo so^t of cf the work that had been curned •o'^try Trad he ‘ound that a out. and enclosed check for next -"t, tha + ther* vas no i week’s expenses. Peter was extre- ’etour, and the oniv nossihie way 1 mely grateful for that check, for o go on in the direction of Kansas Uobby had spent the last cent of was to po back to the main her week’s allowance by W brines - mad and start over. Very meekly day, after which time he and Row- he turned around to pay homage ena had been obliged io carry her to her better judgment, but .stopped br’^m hnn. short, staring ooen-mouthed. Bob- “Chaperons come high, don’t slmok eff her final hes itation, V\ who always looked wh°re others they?” grumbled Rowena, as she with a mind made up. An Idea ^id. tnm«d too and her amazement counted out nickels anu limes „o had come to her, terrifying and surnassed his cwn. ■ make un her portion of Bobby’s tremendous, hours before. She had The rumble seet was empty, i 'ast manicure. toyed with it, weighed it in the Rowena . was not there. It was a genuine hardship to balance and, finding it wanting, Peter slowly returned over the them to be obliged to contribute so pushed it resolutely away; but had mads to where the self-styled ex- I extensively to the maintenance of permitted it to work its way back, pert had given him his directions, i luxury-loving Bobby. On the other insidiously sure. At twelve o’clock Twenty miles! hand, her presence was so essential she colled Peter on the telephone Rohbv closed her eyes. Peter to the all-important tour that they an( ? that was an end of her hesx- honed she was nraving. He would were in no position to quarrel very tation. have prayed himself except that seriously even with hev extravag- “Listen, Peter. You meet me? the hard driving over The had road ances. downstairs in the lobby, ri^ht, away, reauired his comolete attention. “For my part, I’d rather pay her will you? I have an idea.” But he did keep breathing over bills than read Carter’s telegrams,” “But I’m in -.nd over in his heart the one word, said Peter moodily “O^d* God! Ood!” and trusted the “I wouldn’t.” disagreed Rowena Infinite would understand it for promptly. “I’ve learned to read apnecl. ^ with one eye and listen with one ’ TnsMnctiveiy his foot lifted fmm ear, and that way I get dhough the accelerator and at a noiseless with only half the mental strain.” c’-awl the car rolled uo to the “Yes,” but you’ve got a rumble shadowy bank under the willow to retire to.” tm« where the stranger with the i “So I have. But I have to sleep staged motor had mapped out the with her.” futile short-cut. One thing was certain. Her pres- “Oh!” whisnered Bobby weakly.! ence was essential, and Carter and “T ook—look! Rowena!” bis telegrams, she and her extrav- Rowena indeed, lying motionless agances, were alike to be endured, beside the road where the after- At Topeka she was startled to noon sun slanted behind the trees find but one telegram awaiting to throw protecting shadows over ber—a ten-word, straight day mes- her slender figure. Peter was out sage. of the car long before it had come I “Are you taking first train to a stop and was up the bank and borne or are you not?” kneeling beside her. He lifted one It was not even signed, limp slim hand. It was stained Bobby’s fright was so genuine, red. - i her disappointment so real, that “Rowena!” he whispered. Rowena and Peter tried to console Rowena opened her eves. “Oh, | ber. hello,” she said cheerfully. “Gosh. | Peter took them out to a movie you were a long time coming back.” and Rowena—with her own money “Are—are you—hurt?” stammer- —bought her a cunning little ed Peter. Kansas souvenir, a flask carved out “Hurt? Why. no! What do you °f a corn-cob—and she seemed mean, hurt?” She licked a bit of slightly more resigned, red raspberry juice from her finger She was very quiet as they cross- as she spoke. ed Kansas, and when they com- “Did you fall out, darling?” plained of the notoriously hot shadowy pool and was setting up his easel, he said he thought better of it and would not use her in that picture—said Bobby was willing to substitute and the change would be a good thing all round. Peter was quite pleasant about it, really thought he was doing her a favor, but Rowena, from being merely sulky, was suddenly furious. She said she had been hired for no oth er purpose than to serve as a dumb model for his art and that she would jeopardize her contract by accepting this substitute. But Pet er insisted that Messrs. Rack and Ruff had left everything about the pictures to his own exclusive judg ment, and this was his judgment. “Bobby is putting on her little red snort < mit. ” he said, “and the costume will show up nicely in this green dell.” “I know Bobby’s clothes are much better than mine,” said Row ena stiffv. “I know my things arc very shabby and threadbare, but it reems scarcely necessary to throw it up to me.” “That is very, unfair of you. Row ena,” said Peter gravely. “You are very beautiful in everything you put on, and you know it. I couldn’t speak unfavorably of your appear ance if I wanted to.” Rowena, without another word, plumped herself down behind the wheel with a set chin, a stern glint ,in green eyes, and a death grip of her slim hands on the wheel. Peter walked slowlv up to her and look ed her steadily in the face. “Then if you will have the truth. Rowena,” he said gently, “I would see you hanged before I Rowena turned back at once and hfe handed her the five tele grams without a word. They were all from Messrs. Rack and Ruff, saying Rackniff Motor, Inc., was in a state of persistent persecution at the hands of a red-haired chem ical engineer who had threatened to sue the company, to bum down the factory, and to beat up every member of the firm.” “\7hat the douce do you suppose it’s all about?” wondered Peter. “Oh, it must be barter ” sai^ Rowena brightly. “He’s mad at Bobby.” / So they went up to have it out with her at once. They toM her she must auit tormenting him. and write him all the details of their trip, how she came to be a member of the party in the :irst place, and to send him a copy of their com plete itinerary. Especially she must call him peremptorily off Messrs. Rack and Ruff, who were likely to become annoyed at such persecution and cancel the trip. Bobby finally agreed not to tantalize him further and promised to write him a complete account of the adventure. asked Bobby in fatuously anectioii- ate tones. “Fall out?” repeated Rowena “Certainly not.” She stood up, lift ed her arms, stretching her slender figure comfortably to its utmost h^ht “Had a grand nap.” she id. “And wrote out lust what I think of Missouri. Poor dears, you must be dreadfully hot and tired, ^ome and sit down—a nature’s feast to feed you. Berries and cold wo ter. T knew <rou would be e '' w ishsd so i nicked heaps.” “Y<"' d*rlin'\” said lobbv. and o Teedilv fell to. “But will you olrase tell us,” she mumbled, with winds, she smiled patiently and said she didn’t mind. She ate very little, and had fifteen cents of her allowance left at the end of the week. When they reached Denver they hurried at once, as they always did. to get their mail, and there was nothing at all for Bobby, not a letter, not a telegram, not so much as a souvenir postcard. She said nothing but turned pale and a lit tle sad smile froze the dimples in the soft face. When Rowena went down to din ner she made excuses not to go- said she was very tired, said she a full mouth, for she was very ! wanted a hot bath and a good sleep, said she would just read a magazine she had picked out at the news-stand. They went up to the room :m- mediately after dinner with all hungry, “how you fell—how you go f —out of the rumble seat’” “I climbed out.” said Rowena cheerfully. “It’s the only wav you pan get out of a rumble seat.” “%ut when- “But how- good intentions, and Rowena I Knocked. When there was no answer she opened the door and broken- tlie y went in. The room had a de- FOURTH INSTALMENT The three tourirts reach St. Louis, after passing through Buffalo and Chicago. Peter and Rowena have many tiffs,. while Bobby i s enraptured at the way Carter is fuming over her flight from New York. There were bound to be ever so vvuiwcuwwa. anu uuuulcu ner x x * x * xi~t i , many pleasant, cool, shadowy money, down even to nickels znd 1 £ OU ‘ d ot try l am so d^usted 3 with s K h a ° n rt -^tf. between St. Louis and dimes. Then she called Peter’s t K Q n the wav between St Louis Peter’s the way you act sometimes that I if he would pfias^ give her her ^ ould pr 2 babl t y ,P ain ^ yo " . wlth and Kansas City. Peter asked about share of ne P xt week’s expense X often iusnect voS ^ CUts , at no end ?! fUlin S money right away. t^°t stat i° ns and garages as they went “Of course,” replied Peter “If ha . ve . concealed about you. If I west, but no one seemed very well you need more I ?an let you have fn^Ut^ow thev^^eTr relfan 0 - ab °; ,t by - roads - andf °V it-Dont ever run short of money., She^Rackrfff Ton of Gehenna"’’; against^tC^tfnra^v^suchth’n" Rowena’s lovely red bos parted, j , it was well on toward noon when ^hen closed with a^aidden ^ click. Peter found a man in a garage who ... - ~~ * 1 thought there really was a short est just as Peter wanted. He wasn’t altogether sure it was a direct “We didn’t see you!” “When Peter and th? down gent we r e dusting off Miss- ! sorted appearance. Bobby’s hand- ouri in the middle of the road I s °me articles of toilet were gone noticed the wild berries up on the ff°m the dressing-table. Her beau- bank among the rocks. I must have tiful dressing-grown was gone from got myself out of sight of the car I* 16 h er satin mules -^t/hout knowing it. for the first fi’om beneath it. Her imported 'hing I knew, I heard the usual j traveling bag no longer stood be- **acing of the engine with which s i de N Rowena's shabby suitcase on ■i.ear Peter gets under way, so I ran tl:i ® oaggage rack, d^wn and there you were—tearing Peter and Rowena looked at each off among the ruts in a cloud of 1 0 ^ er hi wide-eyed consternation, metaphorical glory. So I picked !. There was a note, written on some more berries, and the brok- hotel paper in Bobby’s round child- ?n-down gent and I shot craps un- ish haiH. It was pinned to Row 'll the man from the garage came | jna ^ Pikow . ond tow°d h ; m in. He invited me 1 “Darings, I’m going home. I’ve to go with them, but I knew you If I don’t. I’ll never get would be back for me when you alm ba £ i: - 111 send Peter the money I borrowed as soon as I get my allowance. I’m going on the seven o’clock train and I have al ready wired him to meet ne. You are both just sweet and I love you. But I do wish you didn’t quarrel so. I’m glad Carter and I get along oetter.” -And that,” said Rowena flatly, “is that.” “It’s all of that,” added Peter When BABIES are Upset jgABY ills and ailments seem twic* as serious at night. A sudden cry may mean colic. Or a sudden attack of diarrhea. How would you meet this emergency—tonight? Have you a bottle of Castona ready? For the protection of your wee one— ’or your own peace of mind—keep th» old, reliable preparation always on hand. But don’t keep it just for emergencies; let it be an everyday aid. It’s gentle influence will ease and soothe the infant who cannot sleep. It’s mild regulation will help an older child whose tongue is coated because of sluggish bowels. All druggists have Castoria. Schedule Of Services At Colored Churches Schedules of services at the Col ored Churches are as follows: Young Mt. Zion, Chappell, First Sunday. Old Mt. Zion, Epworth, Second Sunday. Bethany, McCormick, Third Sunday. New Hope, Plum Branch, Fourth Sunday. REV. J. F. MARSHALL, Pastor. Rowena, we can always squeeze out a little extra some way.” “Thanks a lot, Peter,” said Row ena gratefully. “I think x can manage after this. But you’re sweet to make the offer.” Even Rowena was amazed at th? number of things about which Pet er had his own ideas ,all bad mes. The roads provided an unfailing source of dissension. Their rout? Her eyes grew so wide, and turned so dpep a hazel that Peter marvel ed he had ever thought them „ ,, • , J route to Kansas Citv, but at leas’: S v, t t rf an-1 vent, H did not lead back ioward s; up to the log cabin where she met Louis v’obby coming o-.t ? f They had driven about twenty dre-sina-room, all dimpling smiles miles along this rambling line Veasant o-osoect of oosing. which at times seemed ir* ♦h- j cnaaiii u ji tjusuig. wnicn at to turn was clear and definite. From Chi- | “Peter is terribly tirei and oross uncertainly toward Kansas 0™ cago they were to go south to St. M^-da”. poor dear,” said Rowena and then made a dead run for thp ...m Su Louis to Kansas: f monthly. “Try to cheer him up. j Nebraska linf when they saw a "•"7 : ;’OM- furling? Hes very olue. stalled car in the road before them T? I him about Carter. The driver lay rt^pTchPd out on “T will,” said Bobbv -wectly. “I’ll ~ v cnea on cn ' i -''U T-nm abmT the drv' h? vooos?d to me. It was terribly hrilling. We were out in a canoe—” „ ... ‘•Peter’s waiting" interrupted er'ask advice of a broken-down Po-vem—sitting Roweny ouicklv. “Yes. tell him.driver, she warned him dnrktv" Pool d-a.. He 11 be -.OjiTf kn^w whit he was doing, he wouldn’t be broken down.’ *'t * f "arsas City to i'lenvor. : thing could be o’ainer. Between ■‘V**' cities stretched a broad highway, h ~ .v dly traveled, ex- pendvelv paved. The car vas r.up- ; a i ^ vith the best rf motor maps, t.nd <.he roads vere elearlv marked r t r ' r, erv turoin^ :*? he mu'* "had? of th? stout um- about that. 7 bought, was com- 'nt^a^ted ” beak with his hat over his face. ^*' , tor slowed uo. Row°na leaned forward and rapoed sharply on the glass. “N?v- go* around to P ” “There was a bridge out on the short-cut,” exolained Peter quickly. “I know. The broken-down gent remembered it about ten minutes after you had gone . But of course it was too late then.” “You’re very game about it. Rowena. Very sporting. I wouldn’t blame vou If you didn’t speak co me again from here to the coast.” “Oh, nonsense!” said Rowena gloomily, pleasantly. “This wv lust an ac-i ' Nothing, declared Rowena i cident. Accidents never make me \ d J? ard y» , c 1 9 uld be . more irretriev- mad. It’s just,” she added mean- ably fatal than this.” ingly, “just—certain—people.” I was S rea t sport while it last- in Kansas City, Bobbv found ed,” said Peter. “You have been thirty-one telegrams from Carter, Pretty game all the way through, each increasingly immoderate in Rowena. its commands for her to give over , ‘ was corking good business, this outrageous conduct and re- said Rowena. “And taking it turn home at once. ! a ^ ln a ^» y° u are n °k half bad to j Rowena had the usual fat one ^ ‘ na '^hh, Peter.” addressed In the boyish scrawl, and V/ell, it s all over now,” said mrely she had read no further ! - et P A '. than the first paragranh when she “You don t suppose we could pick! began counting out her money. ? ne u Pj iere » Y 011 ?—By advertis- Peter had a comforting telegram j ir }%- TJ 16 way we got Bobby in the from Mr. Rack, with a friendly ; D^st Place.' oostscript by Mr. Ruff advising.. B u t they both knew it was pret- that the red-haired siege was lift- -y oopeless. ed afuT that they had been honor- i ; ^hey said good nig.it with some- ed with a sort of an aoologv. but thing vaguely suggestive of affec- warning them to be careful of their tionate regard, for this killing, future conduct. kindred disappointment gave ohem , M- Back also said th°v ^ ; Springfield, First Sunday. Ebernezer, Second Sunday. Shiloh, Third and Fourth Sun days. REV. DOUGLASS, Pastor. Zion Chappel, First Sunday. Piney Grove, Second Sunday. Bailey Bethel, Third Sunday. ( REV. W. S. MIMS, Pastor. China Grove, First Sunday. Liberty Spring, Second Sunday. Mt. Moriah, Third Sunday. Springfield. Fourth Sunaav. REV. WILLIAM PETERSON, Pastor. Cedar Spring, first Sunday. Shady Grove, second Sunday. Mt. Herman and Mt. Lebanon third Sunday. Carry Hill, fourth Sunday. REV. C. M. MIDDLETON, Pastor. ^v. oVy p .0 rgv*! tfriv. HtFe later, her portable type- But Peter for once had s+m-k • c ?aiy a;ong the nain lighways writer in her hand, she passed the right oartv. The nan knew! :* "■a one objective point to an- that way to s^ek a secluded spot ro*d in the state. * v ' n ' r th? for h^r own work. Peter thanked him for his ca^e- Tut Petzr was all for short-cuts Bobby dimohng and delighted, sat ful directions and returned to the ! rr'0>s coun.iy. •.! » xy. p. . j low behind the wheel. Peter, ^qok- car. Hewastoomuehofagentle- **'7^~ !- '!> v i’ r e. 'Tr of 1 ^ 4 ‘*’ ? v V. T “*'r entrenched in his r,-Tia 1 nrefererc^s. At every ’’"*** ^ canvas. Rowena’s eyes in the rumble seat. He just got in t-vr?—"ot. *3 Rowma rnov-i clondy Tam? in blue when behind the wheel and started the’ dlsuj.-j-JteV oh- ..-•n; ,jj. 1 notor . ; V x . •W v \ < St. Charlotte, First Sunday. Mt. Moriah, Second Sunday. Hosannah, Third Sunday. New China, Fourth Sunday. REV. E. D. TALBERT, Pastor. ' l i NO MORE m .uvv wo*ixA*-« x v*vv.x, . wx/ix- wai. lie wets lllU'Iil UI a. genLie- a Jit grim, moved restless- man to leer triumphantly back at ftw>t td'the other be- Powena wv^v th? awning unbrella pie»or»VQ<i F?aauoa ir* fHo rumKln t x x or mice, after you use RAT-SNAP It’s a sure rodent killer. Try a Pkg. and prove it. Rats kilted wuu RAT-SNAP leave no sm» 11. Cats or dogs won’t touch it. Guaranteed. 35c size -. 1 cak 1 ' - enough for Pant'"'. Kitchen or Cellar. C5c size - 2 - fir ^hickcn Hous'% coops, or small buildings. 1.25 siz - 5 - onou^b for °^ f--ro a.ni -v.'-Vv 1 ' , i~»“-s. storage buildinrs. or t *n<rs. c ’"» r l an 1 ’ Vv STROMS’ DRUG STORE r “A* --w—* .tiinici* .iter. M 3. C.