Jersey Journal/1930/Westward Bound, Part II

Westward Bound, Part II By Naida Freudenberg 9 Claremont Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey. Editor's Note. Last week, two girls started on, a Western trip. They had many interesting adventures, and this story will be continued until they return home again. Part II The driver stood up and said as they drove past, "drop in and see me when you're homeward bound:' Gettysburg loured ahead and then they entered the city square. A shrill whistle attracted their attention, and Sally, looking behind, cried, "Say dad, there's a policeman headed straight for this car, better stop. Mr. Harding did. The supposed officer reached the car, Mr. Harding was wondering what traffic rule he had not observed. "Would you like to see the battlefields, sir? I am a veteran and will show you around for fifty cents apiece." Sally and Betty went off into peals of laughter while Mrs. Harding smiled too. Her husband explained the situation to the man and be bid them a cheery though rather reluctant farewell. Mrs. Harding spied a tourists' camp and suggested they rest for the night. This idea was approved by all. Mrs. Harding went to find if there was room for them and the two girls stayed close by her sire. After finding out that there was plenty of room, she called her husband and told him. The two girls after having been shown their room, started getting ready for bed. "Sally, let's put our dresses on the radiator, so that they will be warm tomorrow when we get up," Betty suggested. "You certainly have good ideas," returned Sally. They immediately set about to follow out the plan. The next morning they awoke with a peculiar odor, that filled the room. "Say something is burning, Betty." The two girls knocked at Mrs. Harding's door, who was already dressed. "What are you two doing up! We thought we would let you sleep a little longer." After having heard what was doing. Mrs. Harding decided she had better find out for herself. "Goodness me the woman must be burning cocoa. You girls hurry and get dressed while I go down and help her." They were all dressed with the exception of their dresses, and about to put them on when Betty suddenly pointed to her dress. Sally looked in the direction indicated. Two blue eyes looked into a startled pair of brown ones. Two pair of red lips formed a small "oh." Mrs. Harding came back intending to tell them that she could not discover what was wrong. She found them in this queer position. "What is the matter?" "Oh, mother!" "Oh, Mrs. Harding :" Mrs. Harding then found out what bad happened. The chocolate candy in their pockets had melted and was gradually spreading over their entire dresses. Mrs. Harding quickly took the dresses from the radiator. "My, neither of you can wear these dresses any more, on the trip. Leave them in your bags and I'll wash them when we stop tonight. The girls were glad that they had not been scolded. Mrs. Harding kissed them both." Be careful next time." They promised this, and completed dressing. In a half hour they were once again on their way. "Gee, Betty this looks like a regular 'blue' Monday. I don't mean the skies are blue. I mean the day is going to be a rainy one. The skies are as black as the ace of spades." While in the front seat Mr. Harding was making this announcement, "I'll have to go a little faster. That wagon yesterday made me lose half an hour's time." "I'll have to make it up." "Don't be foolish John. "Haste makes waste." The two girls made wry faces at each other at the suggestion of a faster speed. Then it started to rain. Gathering speed the machine fairly flew over the brick paved road. which was already very slippery. "John do be careful," said his wife, fighting for breath. Nearing a curve, which did not look as sharp as it really was, Mr. Harding shouted above the wind, "hold your hats." Betty and Sally did not wear any hats but they were wise. They clung to the side of the car. The machine swerved from side to side Mr. Harding jammed on the brakes. An act which did more harm than good. The car again went from one side of the road to the other, like a ship tossed by the sea, hit a fence and slid to a halt. Mrs. Harding looked to see how the girls had fared. Their eyes were fairly popping out of their sockets. They were not hurt but a trifle shaken up. When she saw that the girls had not been harmed. Mrs. Harding scolded her husband. She did not say "don't to this, don't do that, instead, "John you might have killed us all." Her husband's solemn, "I'm sorry,' relieved the situation, and a few moments later they were all laughing. It was only a Summer shower and the rain soon subsided leaving four hungry, wet people seated in the machine. "Time for lunch." Mrs. Harding said after a time, and they all climbed out of the car. After having eaten and resting, they continued their trip. Ohio was a beautiful state, everlasting farms and streams which made a magnificent sight. Then they traveled along the Ohio River. The sun was shining on the shimmering water and they all sat in silent admiration as they rode along the banks. Eating supper and as usual sleeping in a farmhouse, but nothing more exciting happened that night. The following day they went through the state of Indiana. ... (To be concluded.)