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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 18, 1929)
HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1929. PAGE THREE -VTW yTnEnXUSTWATED Bf FRANK. P. PRVKWl)yv, 1 First Installment CHAPTER I. What's the Use? Grandmother Page refused to budge. I turned her over again, but there was no sign of life. I squirt ed gasoline Into her cylinders, but she didn't seem to care for It As you may have surmised Grand mother Page is a relation of mine only by adoption and purchase. She originally was created and assem bled by the Page Motor Company of Detroit, but that was go long ago that her years fully entitle her to the title of "Grandmother." She has had a hard life, too. For four years she has been going near ly everywhere that I go, and for a long time before that she was the traveling companion of a suburban real-estate man who could sell gold bricks to placer miners. I suspect that he taught her some of her de ceitful tricks. It must have been from him that she got her love of the country. She revels in green fields and running brooks and sand-banks and mud holes. Whenever she finds one she always wants to stay there all day. The farther it is from the city the better she likes it. I personally am fonder of the city, and when she decides to remain all night on some road fourteen or fif teen miles from anywhere I have sometimes walked home rather than share the sylvan solitudes with her. Under my breath I murmured: "Durn you, Grandmother," and hit the engine a vindictive tap with a monkey wrench. "Maybe there is no gasoline in the magneto," suggested Maryella, who had watched my struggles from the front seat 1 made no reply. When some one begins offering me suggestions after I have tried every known trick on a stalled motor I And that the only way to preserve my reputation as a gentleman is to keep absolutely si lent Even Maryella, whom I have been trying for two years to persuade to become Mrs. Tom Bilbeck, can draw Are from me on such a dynamic oc casion. "We've got to get home, Tom," she fretted. "There's a rehearsal of 'Pygmalion and Galatea,' tonight and If we're away they can't do a thing." No, readers, we are not actors. I am positive of that Our stage work receives mention only in the society columns. We perform for charity before people who have to like us because we represent such worthy causes. Whenever the So cial Settlement sends up a yell for funds we spend about a thousand dollars' worth of time enticing Ave hundred people to part with fifty cents each to hear us forget our lines. When Belgium needs bread or the Fiji Islanders run out of pants, who comes to the rescue regardless of consequences? The Sheridan Dra matic Club! And now we were doing "Pyg malion and Galatea" for the Old Soldiers' Home, which needed some new window-shades or an electric piano, I've forgotten which. "Besides," continued Maryella, shivering slightly, "It's getting cold er, and I think I felt a drop of rain a minute ago." "That being the case," I observed sarcastically, "we'll start." "LetV she encouraged. Grandmother Page and I repeat ed our Justly celebrated repertoire of tricks, from adjusting the spark coil to putting gasoline In our eye while lying prone under the tank. Each separate adjustment was pre ceded and followed by reduclng-ex-erclses with the starting-crank. "Jim Cooper has a self-starter on his car," Maryella observed sympa thetically while I was trying to catch my breath. "Then why," I Inquired In icy ex asperation that I regretted Instant ly, "why don't you marry Jim Coop er, If you're so crazy about a self- starter? "Oh!" exclaimed Maryella, Inar ticulate with rage at my remark. "You have no right to Insult me like that!" "I didn't mean to Insult you, dear." I forgot Grandmother Page for the moment in my anxiety to square mvself for my tactical blunder, It was the wrong move. My very humility made her think that she really had been offended In some way, so Bhe dabbed at her pretty eyes to see if she could scare up a tear. She could not That made her more angry. "I know one thing," she stated, clambering out of the seat. "I'll never ride In your old car again as long as I live!" She started down the road. "I'll walk home first!" Why are girls of twenty so ador able and why are men a few years older such fools about them? The answer to that question may explain also why I followed her through the dusk that was part twilight and part gathering rainstorm. "Listen, Maryella," I called after her. "Be reasonable." No response. "You can't walk all the way home. It's ten miles." "I'd probably have to walk any way," she observed dispassionately, "so I might as well get started be fore dark." That remark about walking home anyway was the crowning insult to me and Grandmother Page. It hurt the more because it was probably true. I turned back angrily. She motor. I had hardly expected a car to pass that way. I had purposely chosen a back-country road for my drive with Maryella that day. This machine was coming from town. I looked at a turn of the road around which it would presently ap pear. Maybe it was a friend of mine. The car rounded the turn. I swore under my breath. It was the racing runabout be longing to Jim Cooper. No situa tion that I could imagine would please him more and me less than that in which we were placed. He pulled up alongside of Mary ella, who had proceeded about two or three blocks before he arrived. After a short parley she got In be side him. I gnashed my teeth, but thanked Heaven that I would soon be alone to express my opinion on automobiles, nature, human beings and things in general. No such luck. The car was com ing on toward me. It pulled up alongside of Grandmother Page. Maryella looked off across the fields on the other side of the road, but the driver got down from his seat and inspected Grandmother Page. 'What's the matter? Won't the engine run?" Jim Cooper is the kind of a man who would ask a question like that. His sense of humor is very low, just above that of an anthropoid ape. When bromidioms were being pass ed around he took one of each. I'll admit that he is rather a good- looking chap. His hair just escapes being too blond and he has a wisp of a mustache such as you see on the men in the clothing advertisements. Nature did all she could for the outside, but let him go without fill ing In the place which was origin ally intended for a mind. What ever people seem to be doing he does without questioning whether there is any sense in it He plays golf because so many others Beem to enjoy It, not from any love of the game. He is one of Maryella's admirers for the same reason. Maybe I am prejudiced, but I can't believe that he really appre ciates her adorableness. Maryella is flattered by his atten tion, not knowing what a small tribute it is. The fact that he asks her opinion on every .move he makes, from changing brands of tooth-powder to buying a summer home, caters to her love of power. Are you sure you ve got gasoline in the tank?" Jim Cooper continued his ruthless assault on the remaining Bhreds of my temper. The trouble Is in the spark," I volunteered briefly, looking around for a weapon In case he should ask another question. "Oh! Can I give you a lift home, old man? Of course, there Isn't an extra seat, but you could sit on the gasoline tank at the rear. I think It will hold you." He surveyed me doubtfully. A slight snicker from the lady In the car spurred me to a quick refusal. "No, thank you. I'll have my car going in a few minutes." "Oh! Misa Waite told me it wouldn't go at all." "Did she?" I murmured politely. "I didn't know that she was Inter ested." "Maybe we had better wait," he suggested, "until you get started, and follow you into town. Then if anything goes wrong we can pick you up along the road." "Please don't," I urged, with just a shade of feeling showing in my voice. "Just as you say, old top. I'd like awfully well to help you If I could." He got back into his car and in sulted us once more with the sub dued but efficient purr of his electric starter. Then waving at me airily, he turned about and disappeared in a cloud of dust toward the city. I sat by the roadside and told my self that I was probably one of the seven worst "fussers" In the United States and the Dominion of Canada. I had played my game like a fifteen jeweled boob. The first rule for making a girl eat out of your hand is never to let her know when you get mad. The second is not to be sorry if you do. I had a blow-out In both rules. While I sat there it began to driz zle, but I thought too little of my self to care to move, so I didn't In stead I recollected with delightful pain how eminently desirable Mary ella was. Slim and slender and cool-looking, she was obviously the handiwork of a beauty-loving god who wanted to show what he could do. But she had eyes, dark ones, that came from no heavenly work-shop. In them there was a bit of temper, of daring and an invitation to come along that was irresistible. If a man must lose his head over a woman, Maryella's type offers the utmost justification. If you had any curiosity and a wee bit of nerve, you made up your mind that you would have to find out whether to believe her eyes or the rest of her face. Up to that afternoon I had been doing pretty well, too. Not having money in bales, I had started against Cooper with a considerable handicap. He worked short hours in his father's office, which would eventually be his; while I plugged away for a salary a good one, but nothing that would make the mint work overtime to keep up with me. There is no use concealing what my job is. A good many people know already from having seen my name signed at the bottom of a col umn of alleged humor which I con duct daily for a syndicate of news papers. Any one who has read my stuff knows that I work hard for my money, especially when I write verse. Besides my syndicate work I do all the big stories for the Dally Mail, which is the principal morning pa per in our city. It is pleasant, be cause I do no( have to be in the of fice constantly like a regular re porter. When they need me they send for me. When there is a big political convention or a disaster or a sensational murder I usually cov er it I had been offered a job as war correspondent, but I declined. Just because Irvin S. Cobb got back with all his arms and legs attached is no sign that they wouldn't be able to hit the next fat man that went over. When I was thoroughly wet through so that it didn't make any difference what I did, I decided that I might as well start for home. It would be more comfortable to die Rope Climbing Champ James Burfnn nf fh Isic A nr ! Athletic Dub is shown hauling him self UD a niece of hprrm In win h title ofchampion rope climber of the worm, ne made the a foot climb itv six seconds. of pneumonia In my own bed. So I got up and sloshed over to the car to get my coat, which I had laid aside when the contest between me and Grandmother began. Just by way of a passing expres sion of my feelings I gave the crank a turn. "Bang!" The engine started. I Btood in the rain a full minute longer to relieve my mind before I mounted to my seat and steered Grandmother Page back over the sloppy roads to the city. What was the use now? (Continued Next Week) Both the cows and the pasture will profit If the herd Is not run on it until the grass or clover has made a good growth, says the Oregon ex periment station. Too much of the cow's energy is expended in finding food on a short pasture, and the crop itself Is often injured if grazed too early or kept too short Try a G. T. Want Ad. PHONE or leave orders at Phelps Grocery Co. Home Phone 1102 HEPPNER TRANS FER COMPANY Forget Your Feet Wear shoes that are not only smartly fash ioned but are spec ially built to correct and prevent foot trou bles. Offered in pat ent, Black Kid, and the latest colors. SELECT YOUR "Diamond Arch" STYLE TODAY $3.50 to $7.50 E.N.Gonty Shoe Store Shoe Repairing Neatly Done Oh, Boy! They're Good! Have you tried our delicious ice cream so das, Sundaes, or milk shakes? Ice cold drinks of all kinds at all times at our fountain. AND A GOOD MEAL ANY TIME ELKHORN RESTAURANT ED CHINN, Prop. aillllllllllllMllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllliiitiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiw I FELT RUG I I SPECIAL I I 9 x 12 Feet $5.99 I I 3x6 Feet... 99C i I 15x27 Inches.. 9C CASH PRICES ONLY Case Furniture Co. niiiiiiniiiiiii inn i iiiiiinii a urn iniiiiiiiiiiiiii ARE YOU PAYING TAXES N A VACANT LOT? Build a house on that lot and enjoy a nice income from the rent. Somebody will build there some day, and whoever does will make some money. Might as well be you it's your lot I Let us VipI and advice and when you are ready for the lumber we will treat you right. Heppner Planing Mill & Lumber Yard A. R. REID, Prop. Phones: Mill 9F25; Yard Main 1123 A ZimBly Prices mi ii ii ii ii v rrw ii ii t r-mi -9 n srrw SPRING clean ing time is here! And the McMarr Stores every where are co operating with you by making these timely of ferings on clean ing supplies that make your task easy and quick. Super Valves fiNMllMn Stores REMEMBER THE OLD STONE'S LOCATION For Brooms $1.25 Value. 98c C Soap P. & G. White Naptha. 10 bars 38c r Mop Sticks No One Sticks 15c Each L CRYSTAL WHITE 10 MRS 39c BON AMI LARGE CANS .. 13c OLD DUTCH CLEANSER O CANS 19c SPRING CLEANING WEEK AT McMARRS AMMONIA CLOROX BLUEING WHITE KING CITRUS Pint Bottles Large Size Mrs. Stewart's Large 50c Size Large Size 10c 1 17c 19c 43c 25c SIKGADS SKS- 1 7 lbs. $ 1 00 Corn No. 2 Cans, Extra Standard 4 CANS 45c Peas Sifted No. 2 Cans 4 CANS 45c Tomatoes No. 2'2 Cans Standard 4 CANS 45c FLOURWP CpTTnCGoodCookers$1.19 jrUlUNettedGems,Sk. 1 A12QA1 yooOT Phone 1082 STONE'S DIVISION "w "tei uidg. trudired on. . . Down the road came a purring