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t « 1 4 1 Thursday, September 3, 1931 1 McCOkulICK MESSENGER, McCORMICK, SOUTH CAROLINA’ PAGE NUMBER THRE8 “Don’t begin wrong youngster,"! better than their first experienoe said the farmer kindly! ‘Don’t So when they pulled up to th* hn- make life too easy for ’em right at THE RUMBLE Copyright 1931 by the Author (BY ETHEL HUESTON) SEVENTH INSTALMENT Rackruff Motors hire Rowena to accompany Peter on a na tion-wide tour in their road ster as an advertising stunt. At the last minute Little Bob- l>y is engaged to act as Chap eron. A few miles otit Bobby be comes tearful at being parted from her sweetheart and Row- TTja insists on taking her place in the rumble so^that she can ride with Peter and have him . to talk to about Carter. Row- ena gets Peter to consent to divide the expense money each xveek as soon as it arrives, and astonishes Peter by eating too ee^nomioally. The three toiwists reach T>env«»r, oft-r passing through Ytuffalo, Chicago and St. Louis. V^er and Rowena have many ♦ ffs on the v’nv while Carter 'hcens wipin'’’ Bobb^ to return to New York. The morning after they reach Denver, Peter and Rowena discover Bobby has d-'serted them and return ed to New York bv train. They are faced with the impossible condition of continuing their trip without a chaperon. ''' Rowena suggests to Peter that they make a “companion- nte” marriage. They are mar ried and *o to Cheyenun, where ♦heir actions, when thev ask for rooms. on separate floors, arouse the suspicions of the hotel clerk. They finally suc- i« getting rooms, but not without exciting the laughter of ♦he hotel loungers. Thev resume the trip the next day and are overwhelmed b^ a cloudburst in an arroyo and are thrown out of the car. A party of tourist campers sives them dry clothes and food. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY “Oh. that’ll fix us up just fine,” said Peter gratefully. “Thanks very much. Here you are, Rowena, a la Biltmora.” “Tt will do for you both with a little squeezing,” said the farmer’s wife pleasantly. “Jim and I camp on ope the same size.” “So-so it will,” said Rowena. “Lots of room.” “Make your bed close to the; fire,” said Farmer Jim. “Turns cold up here nights.” “And don’t get nervous if you hear things wriggling around,” culled seme one else. “Sometimes the rattlers go crawling around nights like this.” ‘TPeter,” whispered Rowena, “per haps—perhaps after all—you had better—sleeo on the edge of the mattress—the farthest edge. After all. I suppose we’re as good as mar ried. And—I shouldn’t like to have you bitten by a rattler.” Peter laughed at her. When all the others had said good night and gone away to their beds, he spread one ->f the blankets on the mattress, and rolled up his coat to make a oillow for her. “I’ll just lie here on the grass beside you,” he whispered, “ and th o v’ll never knew the difference.” “Good thing it’s lark!” “Are you comfortable, Rowena?” “Oh, it’s perfectly wonderful.— You take your coat, Peter. You will be cold on the ground with just that one thin rug.” "Nonsense. Why, I’m snug as a bug. Snugger, for that matter. Isn’t this great? Isn’t it just cork ing?” “B-better than last night, isn’t it?” “Well, rather.—Better than al most any night I ever saw.” Slowly the full night settled over the mesa and a crescent moon rode high. Little night sounds echoed loudly in the great silence. Owls hooted. A coyote whined. Now and then a wolf barked in the distance. Little footed creatures scurried past them in the grass. Suddenly Peter felt a little shiver in the blanket roll on the mattress beside him. He touched it gently with* his hand. Rowena was noiselessly sobbing in the darkness. He out his arm over hjer and pulled him self up until his lips were close to her ear—so close that a little bronze perfumed curl touched his . face. “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered softly. “I’m not afraid.” “Please don’t cry.” “I’m not crying. I just feel sor ry” “Because I smashed the car?” “No. Because you are so nice, Peter, and it is so awful to hate a nice person so very much.” Peter laughed. “If that’s all, cheer up. It should comfort you to know that at least there’s no love lost between us.” He patted the blanket kindly. “And I really do admire you, Peter, for ever so many things. No body else in the world could ever make me half as mad as you do. Really, you’re just wonderful.” One slender hand wriggled out from under the blanket and felt about until it found his, which | closed over it warmly. It was hours later when she fell asleep. Although Peter awakened very [ early the next morning, almost be fore the dawn of pale gray light, | he found the big farmer standing near and looking down upon them with a quizzical, friendly grin. Peter got up rather shamefaced- jly, dropping his blanket on Ro- wena's mattress, and the two men strolled down for a look at the I river. first. Let ’em have their share of the hard knocks. Does ’em good.” “Sh-she’s ' not very well,” said Peter, floundering desperately for a suitable excuse. “I—want her to 1^0 careful 99 “Oh. is that the lay of the land, eh?” The man was cordially inter ested. “Golly, I hope that wet ting didn’t hurt her. She’s got ] spunk, that one. You should | ’a’told my wife. She’d ’a’ give you a hot-water bottle and a nip of , whiskey.” | “I think she’ll be all right,” right,” said Peter uncomfortably. “You better take these rough roads a bit easier, youngster. You passed us yesterday like a streak o’ greased lightning. Bumps is the worst thing for ’em. We lost one that way.” “Uh—that so? Too bad,” stam mered Peter awkwardly. The flood had subsided over night and barely a fot of water now trickled over the rocks where the torrential flood had rushed. Camp on the messa was quickly broken. Breakfast was hurriedly prepared and hurriedly eatei\. Cars were loaded, children and dogs col lected, for all were anxious to take to the road at the earliest possible moment. But the big farmer; al though himself as eager as the next to be off, put a peremptory veto on the suggestion that it i would be sufficient for them to send a trouble car back for Peter 1 and Rowena. leaving them a sup ply of food for emergency. | “We can’t leave them kids up .here alone in the fix they’re in,” 'said the farmer firmly. “It’s his wife,”—with a broad wink.— “Wouldn’t be fair noways.” So the men fell to with right good will. Half of them down in the river pried and tugged and pulled at the car while the others up on shore worked with pulleys and ropes and chains, and at last a great cheer went up as the Rack ruff rose slowly, groaning, over the ho tel Rowena stepped quickly out with her bag and hurried up to the desk. She asked for a single room, registered “Miss Rowena Rostand, New York City,” and was taken up stairs. Peter, meanwhile, put the car in the garage and then sat on the veranda half an hour with a said one of the added the oth- “Oh, yes, sir, naids. “Yes, indeed sir ir. But they looked at Rowena and Peter. The manager led the way down the corridor. “Here you are folks,” he an nounced in a voice of haopy cigarette and a paper. When at triumph as he threw open the door, last he ventured in to the desk his “Our bridal suite*” request for a single room aroused ‘< 0 h, look. Rowena! Isn’t that no undue interest, and he was n |,>o9” 5^ p P ter fatuously handed a key and a telegram. The “How lovely!” said Rowena faint- telegram was from Messrs. Rack i y and Ruff, written by the former T he bndal suite was a bower of but signed by both to make it more roses. There was a heap of con- official. He read it and then in- eratulory letters and telegrams quired if a Miss Rostand had reg- niled hisrh on the table and sever- istered at the hotel. Upon being al conspicuous packages, wrapped told that she had and was in her i n n ssi , e and tied with ribbons, room, he called hei on the tele- with gift cards prominently dis- phone and asked her to come down played. to the lobby. “Congratulations, folks,” said the “I have a wire the manager, beaming rosily from one pany,” he explained, “ana I think to the other. “Best wishes of you had better see it.” Rowena left off her unpacking and hurried down. “Did you get a room O. K.?” she whispered. “Yes. Everything’s jake—but this.” Rowena read the telegram. “The red-headed persecution,” it said, “just came in to announce that all is forgiven. Says the chaperon left you at Denver and is on her way back to New York. What do you mean by continuing alone? Entirely against our orders and our wishes. If facts are as stated, please consider contract canceled. Send Miss Rostand to New York by first train and you bring car back immediately.” Peter looked quite worried about it all, but Rowena laughed gaily. “Tish, tosh, and even tush,” she said brightly. “It’s nothing. They don’t know we’re married. Come on —let’s give them the low-down on it.” So they went to the telegraph desk and with a great deal of laughter and many foolish sugges tions and much scratching out of Snokane, Washington.—Not bad, eh? Prety fair!—Well, the Com pany wired us to snare no expense and send them the bill, and T guess we filled the order. We tried to, anyhow. Cigars, cigarettes, c^ndy—and what-not.. And”— + bi*! with a truiv imnres.sive double Pointed bow which included ch»m both—“p. little souvenir from the hotel, at our own expense, for w^ are honored to have you stop with us.” The little present, which ho ^.“ipoted f^om the grouo on the moodily, table and handed to Rowena. vho wild.” onened it, with trembling fingers 1 ■»r>d an air of owlish gra^ijty. orov- to h'> nn immense silver eock- L ail shaker, suitably engraved. “Out he ro we’ r e drv ” r^iii Mr. Meeker. T ”ith a sly • r » , inV. “But oh •"ou New Yorkers'—of the he f el. r^d congratulations,” he added hapnilv. He and Peter shook hands, Pet er very solemn. Mr. Meeker pers piring and jovial. Guess there’s no harm in kiss When he had gone, and the door was closed and locked behind him, Peter looked at Rowena. Ro wena looked at Peter. Both gazed in solemn stupefaction around the flower-laden room. “Of all the damn impositions—” he began. But to his surprise, a sudden rip ple of smiles drove the owlish gravity from Rowena’s face. Laughter gurgled in her throat and burst from her lips in delighted peals. “Peter, Peter!” she cried. “Isn’t it priceless? Isn’t it perfect? Dar ling, though I die tomorrow, I can say I had my moment!—Peter, look at the wedding-ring in yellow roses!—‘Peter and Rowena.’—Look at the little Cupids kissing on the candy box!—Oh, here are sarcastic telegrams from all my ex-boy friends.—And Buddy, too,” she add ed uneasily. “I supnose I should hav6 warned him. How do you suonose they all found out?” “Oh, I suppose those idiots put it in / the papers,” growled Peter. “Naturally they would try to sell cars at the expense of our feelings. We might have known they’d com mercialize us to the last ditch.” “Oh. Peter, isn’t it the corkingest day of your life? When Mr. Meeker, God rest his soul, stood here point ing things out, I kept telling mv- self, ‘Don’t die. don’t you dare die of ecstasy until you see this thing through!’ ” “You’re an odd sort,” said Peter “I thought you would be “Wild? Certainly with sheer delight. not! Except —Why. Peter, this is lust an accident. Accidents never make m® mad.—Oh. look here’s a present from Racky and Ruffy—a great big one.—Cut the string. Peter—break it—I can’t wait!” Peter broke the string. The pres ent from Messrs. Rack and Ruff, and doubtless charged against div idends. was a complete service of solid silver for the well-laid table. “I never knew people could be ro kind,” said Rowena rocks and was -’-awn inch by inch up the side of the arroyo. Both Peter and Rowena were profuse in their gratitude. “You’re lust wonderful,” said ’■’oweno “I never knew that peo ple could be so kind.” And there were tears in her lovely blue eyes, and something of a ouiver stirred the pleasant voice, just because she was so glad to learn that the peo ple of earth were so very good. And they smiled at her and told her to tak rt good care of. herself and not get “run down,” and with many such friendly farewells and admonitions the caravan forded the dwindling creek and wound off over the mesa behind the hills. But before the Kansas farmer and his vords .they finally worked out an announcement to their satisfac tion. “Everything’s jak"* with us. We were married in Denver. Who wants a chaperon on a honey moon? Cody tomorrow night. Love oud kisses from Peter and Rowena Blande.” This disoatched. and pretty well pleased with themselves on the whole, thev ent, into the elevator and went uo to their rooms. Their tou^ the park was un eventfully delightful, ausniciously free from embarrassing complica tions. “Isn’t everything turning out just gorgeously?” demanded Rowena. But Peter and Rowena had not ing the bride, eh?” said the nan- I Rowena was a little awed at its aeer, with a nlavful dig of a sharp completeness and its obvious ex elbow into Retor’s ribs. “It’s a cus- pensiveness. wif^ had gone far they turned lyet come into the fulness of their back and pulled up beside the emotional experience. They left drippjng roadster. The woman got the park by the northern route, out and went close to Rowena. They went to Butte and Helena. . “You mustn’t catch cold, child,” she said in a confidential voice. “Your clothes are pretty short and pretty thin. It gets awful cold evenings up here in this high alti tude and you’re not dressed for it. Now you take this little wool blanket and soon as you feel the cold coming on, you bundle your self all up snug in it. It’s old, but end all was well. They started for Spokane. A succession of un troubled days had given them new confidence and they were sure their worries lay all in the nast. Thev pulled up to the hotel in Spokane without inner qualm or morbid presentiment. Peter asked for two singles and signed the register. The clerk look ed at the names and smiled broad- tom I don’t think "uuch -*f. a usual thing, but brides don’t often come as pretty as this one.” Rowena oblieinelv lifted he** ovelv lips, and Mr. Meeker kissed .'1— with resounding relish. “Now. I’ll tell vou what the oro- js.” he ^aid cheerfully. “The ’ocal Rackruff dealer is going to rive a big dinner dance in our ballroom tonight—especially in bon 0 ”—^well affair. Thev’ve I nvited all the Rackruff dealers Td r‘ 0 3smen in the atate, and they — o cornle flew in from Oregon his morning on purpose to attend. T t’s to be a formal, full-dress af fair. with souvenirs for the ladies '■•nd what-not. And this afternoon four o’clock thev’re Hiving an rn'm fecention to th" city in their oublic salesrooms, with afternoon tea and a band, and they’ve Tot a, car all decorated uo like a wed ding for you two to ait :n and re ceive the guests. And thev’re go ing to present the bride with or ange blossoms sent up bv acroplan Q from California this morning, and a cigarette lighter for you, Mr. B’ande. with a picture of the Rackruff roadster set on it in oearls. I’ve seen it myself end it’s o beautv. but it wasn’t working the dav it came and thev had to r.end it *" , '-*ck to the factory.” “How extremely kind,” said Pet er. “How perfectly sweet,” said Ro wena. “Of course, you both being fam ous characters, authors and art- Gosh, Peter, whatever will w? do with it?” “Give it back.” he said stiffly. “Can’t. It isn’t'good form. Even in a divorce it’s bad manners to re f urn you" wedding presents.—T tell you! We’ll divide it. Af'er all real silver alwavs comes in handy and wo can make good use of it. We deserve some compensation for all the agony we’ve eone through ‘hough as far as I am concerned, this hour has compensated for ev erything a hundred times over.” “You can have the silver,” said Peter. “I don’t want it.” But Rowena would not under any circumstances accept more than her proper half. She immed iately set about dividing it, piece by piece, one for her and one for Peter. “I suppose we could sell it for old silver,” he said. “Oh, you’ll nut it to good use some day,” said Rowena. “When you are rich and famous and have a, studio apartment of your own— first thing you know you’ll be giv ing those fast supper parties that artists are noted for—one for you. and one for me—” “Why not keep it together in the box until the trip is over?” he ask ed. “We won’t be giving any fast sunners on the trip, at any rate.” “You can have the box,” she said. “I’d rather divide it if you don’t mind. Then each of us will be responsible for his own share and if it is lost or stolen neither of us can blame the other.—One “I think I’d rather have the kiss,” said Peter boldly. “After all, a groom should be allowed to rush in where a hotel manager dared to tread.” “I’m very particular,” said Ro wena firmly, “And I’m developing a vast partiality for hotel managers.” His mind relieved as to how Ro wena was going to take it, Peter saw some of humor in the situation, and they made great sport of their predicament. They laughed over the flowery telegraphic congratula tions and dispatched flippant an swers collect. They called the Rackruff salesrooms by long dist ance telephone to thank them for the lovely thought and Mr. Rack was so pleased that he had the charges for the call reversed. They tossed a coin for the cocktail shak er which Peter won, considerably to Rowena’s regret, for she was sure she could have raised enough on it to make sure of the new suit which she needed for the reception that afternoon. (CONTINUED NEXT WEEK) IOUR STOMACH J UST a tasteless dose of Phillips Milfe of Magnfesia in water. That is an al kali, effective, yet harmless. It has been the standard antacid for 50 years. Ona spoonful will neutralize at once many times its volume in acid. It is the right way, the quick, pleasant and efficient way to kill the excess acid. The stomach becomes sweet, the pain departs. You are happy again in live minutes. But don’t depend on crude methods^ try the best way yet evolved in aii the years of searching. That is Phillip* Milk of Magnesia. Be Sure to get the genuine Phillip* Milk of Magnesia, the land that tbo ohysicians prescribe. “Milk of Magnesia” has been the U. S. Registered Trade Mark of The Charles li. Phillips Chemical Company and its predecessor Charles H. Phillip! since 1875. ists, all of our best people will turn out for it, and I understand Tlowena ‘was most of our good clubs plan to be • pa «^ vn w h V there en masse. The Rackruff or Sp0 ^ a P e - dealers are all in a sweat over it s ^ e no more than glanced 111- LIQUID OR TABLETS Relieves a Headache or Neuralgia n 30 minutes, checks a Cold the first day, and checks Malaria in three days. 6 6 6 Salve for Baby’s Cold. NO MORE and say it’s the best break they’ve had since the war when the Army used a lot of their machines in France. They’re coming for you at three-thirty.—Look. This little floral offering here came from them. Pretty nice, eh? We’re go ing to borrow it tonight if you don’t mind, to put down behind the orchestra in the ballroom. Pretty nifty!” side the fat letter from Buddy, but that erlance sufficed to tell her that she needed money. She hoped to get enough for her share of the silver to take care of the distant demands and buy herself a new suit as well. She was really get ting shabby. Daily motoring was hard on old clothes. And how she yearned for the flattering silver fox packed away in moth-balls way back on Third Avenue. it’s all wool and warm as toast. You mind now. Catching cold is ly. the very worst thing you can do.” I ‘“oh, how do vou do?” he ex Rowena thanked her and prom- claimed cheerfully. “Just a mom is^d to be very careful and not ent, please.” c^tch cold whatever she did. and ’ EIGHTH INSTALMENT ♦hen <?tor>d high on a boulder wav- | Thev resume the trip- the ing the blanket after the farmer’s next dav and are overwhelmed car until it rounded the hill and disappeared. Then she turned to Peter with a puzzled air. “Aren’t they all queer?” she ask ed wonderingly. “I don’t look sick ly or anything, do I? They seem to have a complex on catching colds out here. And what differ ence does it make if I do get tired? Everybody gets tired, don’t they?” Peter was working very hard on the car at that moment and mum bled something nuite Indistinguish able about not knowing was all about. “Well, of course, they meant, well,” declared Rowena. “And I’ll be careful to please them. But I do hope I’m not beginning to look anemic or anything.” by a cloudburst in nn arroyo and are thrown out of the car. A party of tourist campers gives them dry clothes and food. Snokane is fin all v reach ed and the hotel clerk smiles when thev register. NOW GO* ON WITH THE STORY Ha retired to an inner office ond came back immediately with the manager of the house. The man ager beamed unon them. He held out his hand, held out both hands what it j and his smile set his rosy fac 0 oglow. Rowena and Peter had their own opinions of hotel man agers and accepted his friendly overtures with watchful coldness. “Meeker’s mv name.” said the manager genially. “And I’m proud A day of ecstatic, heavenly calm ! to meet vou.” The little floral offering was an 1 » T his really puts us in a fright- immense ring of yellow roses, vVith fu i j a m,” said Peter. “I suppose we the words “Peter and Rowena” can bluff through the reception spelled out on the inner side in and ba n a n right—we’ve had plenty scarlet rosebuds. , 0 f experience. But I don’t see how “How marvelous,” said Rowena we can dodge the bridal suite. And soberly. won’t it jeopardize the annulment? followed. Peter worked on the car. Finally they got under way again. At last in the early evening when they approached the town where they had agreed to spend the night, Rowena put her hand on his arm in tender appeal They all shook hands, and Ro wena nudged Peter to be very care ful and not commit himself. “Come right along with me,” said Mr. Meeker. “We had a wire from the company not two hours a»o saying you would be in today “Peter,” she said gently, “I do without fail. But I must say it is realize how very embarrassing it a relief to have you right here on is about the hotels. It is for me , the spot.” too. thbugh I dare say you don’t They gll got into the elevator, believe it. How would it do for us The boy 'at the control smiled at to go in separately and register them—a friendly smile. They got each for himself? I could go in first and ask for a single room and go right on up, and they wouldn’t even know we came together.” Peter turned it over reflectively. On the whole it seemed the best l way out. Certainly anything was 1 right, I hope.” out on the fourth floor. A couple of maids were loitering in the corridor. Their faces lighted up with interest and attention. “Everything ready?” asked the manager anxiously. “Everything all “Peter.” she eried. “Isn’t it pric?l#ss!” . “How unusual!” added Peter. i Of course, I can lock myself into “And now I’m going to leave you the sitting-room—but would any- folks to rest and clean up for the body believe it?” big doings,” said Mr. Meeker. “If “Nobody in the world,” said Row- there’s anything you want, you ena cheerfully. “Well, after the just ask for it. If we haven’t got ball is over, you’ll have to go out it, we’ll get it. And it won’t cost a i 0 ne for a little walk and get lost, you a cent. Well, guess I’ll just Then you go to some other hotel and register—don’t forget to have kiss the bride and be on my way “You did kiss the bride,” Peter reminded him. “Well, I’m partial to brides and I give good measure. It’s a rule of the house,” he said jovially. And once more Rowena tilted her • owlishly solemn face to be kissed. witnesses!—and stay there all night. You can meet me here again tomorrow morning. And be sure to get a receipt for your room. —Oh, Peter, don’t you just adore those kissing Cupids? Have a kiss —I mean a candy.” or mice, after you use RAT-SNAP It’s a sure rodent killer. Try a Pkg. and prove it. Rats killed with RAT-SNAP leave no smell. Cats or dogs won’t touch it. Guaranteed. 35c size - 1 cake - enough for Pantry, Kitchen or Cellar. 65c size - 2 cakes - for Chicken House, coops, or small buildings. $1.25 size - 5 cakes - enough for all farm and out-buildings, storage buildings, or factory buildings. Sold and guaranteed by STROMS’ DRUG STORE McCormick. S. C. Eyes examin ed. Spectacles, Eye Glasses, £yea fitted without Drugs, Drops or Danger. DR. HENRY J. GODIN Optometrist* *56 Broad Street Augusta. Ga. 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