A Knight on Wheels

entures were to be conducted under such a kindly sun as this he would have little to complain of. But at pre

an early morning train into the country; and having travelled as far as one-and-ninepence would carry him, had also covered a considerable distance upon two sturdy legs. But he was uneasily

hing Pegs and Mrs. Falconer would have been dragged into the fray, which would have been a most unnecessary complication; for apparently their choleric but obtuse protector had not scented their presence in the pl

us of the existence of an excellent digestion clamouring for employment. He tramped resolutely along the wide country ro

cluded life, he had spent it almost entirely with grown-up people, and was accustomed to marshall

and re-read some twenty of Shakespeare's plays. He knew long passages of Milton and Tennyson by heart, and was well up in the history of ancient chivalry. His favourite book was Sir Thomas Malory's "Morte d'Arthur"; next in order ranked a string of well-thumb

ge with more than average skill. But he knew nothing of cricket and football; and the ordinar

large and varied, if unusual, circle of acquaintance, and he possessed a knowledge of

can tell the make of another woman-by the cut of its bonnet. Number plates attracted him especially, for they stimulated his imagination. When a mud-splashed car displaying the letters "S.B." stole silently past him in the gathering darkness, he realised with a thrill the bigness of the world; for this weary giant, now slipping into the roaring heart of London, had come all the way from the fastnesses of Argyllshire. He paid a penny a week for a small but highly technical journal which dealt with the latest mode in such things as sleeve-valves and detachable rims. He even executed designs of his own, inventing tyres which never punctured and carbure

arly a quarter of a mile on his right, and evidently sheltering some venerable house and g

ORI

rive slo

ll. It

idden

where the wall ended, came ano

NK

this pretty device

self, "if you didn't drive slowly and then fo

unctiliously with the request upon the first board and so earn the right to read the second. He added a r

of seven or eight. This proceeding exposed to view the front of an ancient and ivy-clad house. Exactly opposite to the front door stood a motorcar of antique design and dilapidated appearance. From beneath the car projected a pair of human feet, a

she crawled bodily under the car. Here she encountered the head of the mechanic, who was lying on his back, engaged apparently in the task of remov

dy?" enquired a husky but i

hanic. "Splendid thing for th

shall be havin' a glass of milk soon. But I w

solemnly at the mud-encrusted vault above her, while her harassed p

tones which were intended not so much to convey information as to remin

eplied Mr. Mablethorp

a litt

ear and see if you can find a nut, there's a good girl. I rather fancy I heard it dr

gan to screw it tight with the spanner. The recumbe

ever, Daddy

miles to-Dash and confound the rotten thing! Run your finger round the inside of m

he car on the gravel drive, and then, rising to his legs, politely dragged his daughter out by the heels, and having first stood her

le with Mother, Dumpling

t the front door opened, an

surprised at anything you may do; but I think"-her voice quavered tearfully-"that you might have had the sense to prevent that child

(one soon picked up the habit of speaking soothingly to Mrs. M

fant detached a stocking from its moo

he said tr

nterprise, hurriedly reiterated her

ot one,"

water," said Mr. Mablethorpe. "What she is covered with is chiefly

put her hand to h

argument, Julius," she s

ll go upstairs and wash in hot water. Then we shall have black hands and faces

r caressing his hypochondriacal spouse, set to work to start up his engine. After three back-fires this feat was accomplished, and the car, with much burring of gear-wheels and slipping of the clutc

ering-wheel,-turned sharp to the right and proceeded northward. Presently he came to four cross-roads. At the f

raffic the boy rose to his feet, and rang

leaned over as

e din. "If I stop this engine to listen to

ishable word was "Coventry." The amiable Mr. Mablethorpe accordingly swit

ear all about

me the way to Coven

een sent there?" Mr. Mab

y own accord," said

thorpe. He surveyed Philip's bewildered face with interest. "Perhaps you don't

n to school, sir,

t to resume. Coventry must be a good eight

es

pedestrian curiously. "

" admitte

I will refrain from comment. I don't know where Coventry is, but I should think you would not go far wro

is surprise and gratification the engine had come to

have thought of it. He has a longish journey before him-that is, if Papa doesn't

e of the car and surve

omptly mounted the footpath and charged a hedge. Fortunately it was climbing a hi

mishaps of this kind, stopped his engine, a

le blown and obviously taken by surprise-standing in

r. Mablethorpe geni

lip. "I thought I

d Mr. Mablethorpe. "But first of all w

ho

Boanerges-my superb, four-seated, two-cylind

ip Me

(At least, Boanerges knows you: you don't know Bo

him back into the roadway, and then obediently took his seat. He was trembling with pure ecs

with a piston-rod protruding from the top, and a glass gauge at one side to show the level of the oil. Last of all, suspended from its tail by a drawing pin, came a clockwork mouse, which had originally been the property of the Dumpling and w

have one more go, and if that fails we will run him backward

gneto or accumulator,

ing-handle and came thoughtful

ither," he remarked. "My mistake

ed to his labours. The immediate result was a st

art. The first is a protest; the second means 'Drop it, or there will be trouble!' and the

, although the accumulator had been reinforced by the magneto. Mr. Mablethorpe accordingly took his seat at the wheel and, releasing the

n foremost into a bank at the other side of the highway, with a bump which nearly sent

escended once more into the road, and after dispassionately kicking Boanerges three times in th

pinning his tormentor beneath his off-front wheel, and proceeded smartly up the hill once more, Mr. Mable

wobbly steering-wheel over from Philip. "I left the gears in the first speed instead of

with the result that Boanerges, emitting dense fumes of black smoke from

blethorpe, as they reached the top of the hill an

r been in a car before, but I think I understa

pe surveyed h

textbooks! They simply prostrate me. I dare say," he added enviously, "that you kno

about them in a book," e

was invented-in the dark ages-in the days of the Black Art. Look at those two switches, marked 'M' and 'A.' They stand for 'Mephistopheles and Apollyon'-the name of

, or put on the brake, sir,"

waved his hand

ything else with his feet. So he started by abolishing gear-handles and side-brakes, and applied all his ingenuity to the pedals. Look at this one,-the left. If I push it half-down the car stops. If I push it two thirds down, the car starts again-in the opposite direction-and the engine plays I wish I was an Ange

fidential conviction; and Philip, who had never previously encountered any one

it three times. The first time the whole of the back axle dropped off into the road. The second time Boanerges turned right round and ran over a duck which was asleep on a cottage doorstep behind us. The third time a policeman with a notebook shot straight up out of the roadway in front of

gan to like this strange gentleman. But he made no attempt to maintain a conversation with him. After the dictatorial austerity of Uncle Jos

having had no arms. He may have required them-one of them, at any rate-for other purposes. For

said P

A

into a fresh train of thought, an

nion of the femal

ion on this subject clearly and concisely. No

," he said, "but Un

thorpe might not be int

ntleman appeared to be

Uncle Joseph thi

lip, "used to wonder why

d and regarded his sm

h used to wonder

e familiar phrases came back to him, "that there is no pa

lethorpe approvingly. "I should

honest and ingenuous features, "that Providence should handicap its own beautifully designed human engin

he oil-pump, to the noisome satisfaction of

g a lot of bar-magnets round a compass. And he said they w

ethorpe inte

ake it," he said,

e, even to wash,-at least, he never did until the other day, when the Beautiful La

but interesting. Proceed, my infant misogynist.

ever-was ever-allowed into our house, because-because of what Uncle Joseph th

uired the accusing vo

sir," replied Phi

sed to hear it," said Mr. Mab

e, and told me she had lost her little girl. Then Uncle Joseph cam

itched off his engine and slowe

. This is a real live Romance. Continue. How well did Uncl

ltered Philip, wi

imself,-there were some who said that he h

pened after t

way," sa

hy

o need me any more,"

re. He appeared to be thinking deeply about something. Prese

essing hurry to

ught not,

ay with me for a bit?" su