1929-10-12 — Page 15

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. MOTORING SUPPLEMENT

MARJORIE.

A 'PRESENT FOR

Telling of An Old Stager Which Emerged

from Obscurity for One Glorious Day.

By P. A. Reynolds.}

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1929.

closed the door, that car le near Ilke this," he went on, but aing the floor, and it seemed to me marvel. It ain't what you might loud bang, followed by a succes-that if the wires were tighter it call recent, but it was built whension of wheezy thuds, interrupted wouldn't shake about go much. cars was built. As I said before, his words, and with a gleam of Joe explained what everything was. it ain't much to look at, but the recognition in his eyes ho went to for. This fere pedal is for the body is roomy and comfortable,. the door, "Jou's got it a-goin,'" first gear. that one's the brake, "It was made for people who he bawled above the din, and I and the other-well I don't really wanted to see the country, and not followed him through dense bluo know what that's for. You see, it all deponds wot you did last. for them as goes around like mad." clouds into the workshop..

"What horse-power is it?" ` 1}] I was rather disappointed with Twice I went backwards, once the enquired. Well. it is supposed to the appearance of the car.

front wheels turned inwards, and I may bo eight." "And the age have been wrong, but there seemed the last time I used it, it busted Whittingham leaned forward and to be sonfething strange about it. the back tyres, so it ain't exactly laid his hand on my arin, his voice Of course, I know that there was not wot you'd call a reg'lar job. I knew directly Marjorie sat on He smothered his astonishment growing husky with emotion us be an engine somewhere, for 1 am Howsammever, I suppose it does the arm of my chair and Logan and puffed slowly at his pipu. spoke. "Mr. Wren, I'll tell you not so brainless as some people come in useful at times like."

That ear is old-very might think, but where I thought run, just to see that everything Joe offered to take me for a trial. stroking my hair that she wanted "So you want a car, do you, Mr.summat. something. Of course I told her Wron? What sort of one? old, but when I bought her, nigh the engine should have been was that I couldn't possibly buy There's a new Morris Six over on twoand-twenty year ago, she a large brass-bound box.. Joe Cort me a hundred explained, however, that it wasn't another thingummy, or whatever there, only £375, or there's" was a corker. it was that she wanted, at least "Mr. Whittingham,” I sald and fifty of the best, she did, and a luggage box at all, for he opened Bemly, "I want a choup car, that ain't all. Do you know, that the lid to show nio. Inside, and turi oldenr. car is a Ploddit-Slowly-and it hanging on by some wires, was u I was broke dead broke, and if second-hand car she hadn't any clothes to wear she Something the wife and I can would just have to "You deur tootle around in-something for old silly." she replied, patting my about fourteen pounds or so." hand, don't want anything for He stuffed a grimy finger into myself, I'm thinking of you." This the bowl of his old clay, and pon- About fourteen- was quite a new one, so I waited. dered. "I'm.

for another ten weeks.

2

"Perhaps

"You see," she went on, "I think fourteen pounds you said, didn't nodded. His you work too hard. You don't go you, Mr. Wren?" about enough, You are looking face brightened as an idea struck quito pale and ill." There was a him. "I've just the very thing." cartain amount of truth in what He went to the door of his office. "Joe, clear that muck away"from she said.

want to show Mr. I was just going to ask her how the corner: she had noticed it when, "John, Wran the old Ploddit. Be quick, dear, you ought to buy a car. now," he added, as an incredulous Only a small one," she added whistle rent the air. quickly, as I took a deep breath. you would like to sit down while "Do please think about it, Johnnie Joe gets it ready?", darling. Consider your health." I tried to explain that with poor| health I would need every panay, but she wouldn't listen. "It wouldn't cost much, and you could drive it yourself. You are awful ly clever, you know."

Preparations,

Being anxious to see the car, however, I went over to where Joe was pulling away some old parta from a heup. The thrill of the moment gripped me, and, seizing. It was the first time since wela rusty piece of iron, I began were married that she had referred tugging as hard as i could." Old to my cleverness and-well, what ard," ejaculated Joe, that's one con a' follow do! The result wasof er wings. They'll come off that on my way home from the fquite soon enough without you station on Saturday I called in to a-pullin' of 'em." see old Whittingham, our village Whittingham touched my arm. karage owner, and told him what "Come into the office and have a Rip of the best?" he said anxiously I wanted, "A' car," .' I suid,

That car," he remarked as cheap car."

A

I was rather disappointed

about the appearance of “

the ear... there appeared

to be something strange. about it.

It ain't lives up to its name. done three hundred miles, that car ain't."

Viewed coldly in the light of re- cent events, I am not at all sur- helprised. You'll never get another

Extra

big round fat thing, which, he said, was the cylinder.

An Accommodating Pedal.

was all right, and I agreed to pay 12:108 for the car if it ran satis- factorily. "Of course," said old Whittingham, "you mustn't expect a lot from it at first, but when once is does get a-goin' you'll be surprised at what it can do."

EXTRA WHEEL FOR SAFETY.

A few moments later we drove out of the garage, and when clear, of the villago I took the wheel, A new safety device for prevon- whilst Joe told me how to drive tion of accidents caused by tyre and what to do in cases of omer-blowouts is being exhibited by its gency. "It ain't only the actual

drivin' wot wants learnin, it's inventor, F.H. Bachrach of Ocean knowin' wot to do when things Side, Calif. It consists of a small- "appen." He suddenly clambereder rim and tyre attached to the axle on to the running-board and. ht Inside the regular wheel. In case the engine vigorously with his cap. "The best way"climbing back again to stop a fire is to 'it it with your 'at."

It wasn't until we started to go down Crown Hill, however, that anything exciting happened, but

of a blowout, the weight falls on the spare wheel, enabling the driver to keep his car from awerving of the road. In the upper picture the device is shown after a knife had

as soon as we were a dozen yards caused a blowout in the right front down, and I tried to put on the tyre. The weight of the car is rest brake, our run of good luck ing on the extra wheel. At the right vanished.

One of the front mudguarda fell off and punctured a back tyre, Then the horn fell through a hole in the floor into the tray, where something or other pounded at the bulb,

is shown how the extra wheel con be run on a block, enabling an easy. tyre change:

COMPARE YOURS.

pany, walked out of the "dock." were going fast very fast, in fact us out of the field on our homeward It was then that I realised we Members of the assembly escorted

and that somehow the brake way, while the village band played "Don't you think you could pull wasn't working. I trod on every that old favourite, "Get Out and of speed at which a car must stop

pedal I could find, and pulled every Get Under." it up higher," Lasked him, for the lever and knob in sight, but, only bottom seemed to be almost touch-succeeded in removing the top of the oil tank, the contents of which played havoc with my trousers.

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Danger Ahead.

Joe tried everything he could think of, but only loosened the ex- haust pipe, thereby adding to the din. We lurched round a bend, gathering speed all the time. One thing alone comforted me. If the road was clear, and we made the next bend safety, all would be well. Joe grabbed the steering wheel and took the corner, while I pulled lovers."

1

An exclamation brought my eyes to the road again, and I saw with horror that numbers of people were lining the roadside, whilst away in the distance, crowds were blocking the road itself. Surely the infernal din made by the car would be sufficient warning of our approach? With set teeth, Joe looked around for a place, to ditch the car, for we saw that in the front of the seath- ing crowds was a burly policeman. With a fearful lurch we awung round

into two wheels .on 11 gateway, and

“ plonged, bumping, heaving, rattling mass, decidedly uneven meadow. I glanced round, and saw that the policeman was in hot pursuit, followed by a gesticu lating crowd.

over

"For the love of Mike," I yelled to Joe, "keep her veins. The crowd is after us" He smiled weakly. "Can't. River in front. Tread on everything at once." We did. With a sickening thud, the "Ploddit" stopped dead, while the engine raced like a demoniac mangle. "Now, sir," panted the perspiring bobby, who could not repress smile, "what's your name?"

↓

a

Ten minutes later, with the cons- table between us, we were being ted slowly across the field to large hall in the distant village, while the crowd expressed its up- proval in no uncertain manner. What would Marjorie think of it all? Curse cara, anyway. The room was full, when we ushered in, and with a sinking heart I saw a be-wigged judge hurry to his chair on the platform. The constable handed up his note book, and the judge carefully noted the contents.

were

Before the Beak. " "Your name is John Wren, and you live at Rockford?" I could only nod. "That, thater car is yours?" I stuttered that unfor tunately it was. "Have you n Apecial licence to drive such vehicle?" A burst of laughter! came from the ushers. When 1 answered that I must plead guility. the judge solemnly conferred with. his associates.

↑

"Mr. Wren, I hope you realise the gravity of the situation. Here are you, doubtless a well-meaning mem-: ber of the community, driving, er causing to be driven, at a reckless speed, a vehicle bearing the out- ward semblance of a car. Moreover, on your own admission, yon, do not possess a special licence." The crowd roared again.

Ho cleared his throat in a Horri blu manner, whilst I gripped the edge of the dock tightly. "The.. sentence of this Court of justice is that you, John Wren, of the parish of Rockford, be awarded the first prize, value fifteen pounds sterling, for the most orginal turn-out seen in the history of Muddleton village carnival. Mr. Wren, I congratulate you.".

I made a short speech of thanks, and, amid the cheers of the com- i

:

1

Pa

California law provides a scale

within a certain distance. "At ID : When I told Marjorie of my luck miles an hour a car must stap in she said I had only to put another 9.8 feet; at 16, 20.8 feet: at 20. 87 twenty pounds as the first deposit feet; at 25, 58 feet; and at 30, 83.8 on a Morria Minor."

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