Ike halted.

These were portentous words. The Dale car was not often used on the seventh day. Ike himself was opposed to the Sunday riding habit.

a.s.suming a confidential att.i.tude towards his employer as if imparting a secret of moment, he intimated, "Ah ain' got no confidence in dat lef' han' hin' tiah, Misto Dale, a tall."

Obadiah glared at the tasty garb of his minion with disgust, and flew into a rage. "I pay you to put confidence in that tire," he bleated.

"Yas'r, yas'r," Ike surrendered hurriedly. "Ah gwine pump er li'l aiah in dat tiah. Dat fix 'im."

When Ike, shorn of his finery, returned with the car, Virginia, in obedience to an abrupt invitation from her father, was prepared to join him for the ride.

Obadiah's conscience did not usually trouble him; but today, as the machine started and he settled himself by his daughter, it struck him that she seemed unusually pale. He could not well overlook, either, the note of sadness which had played about the girl's mouth and eyes since his remarks to her. These things made Obadiah uncomfortable. His explosion at Ike had acted as a counter-irritant to his indigestion, and he felt relieved.

They pa.s.sed a woman driving a pretty runabout. In times of great good feeling Obadiah had avowed his intention of purchasing Virginia a light car which she could drive herself. However, it took direct affirmative action to persuade the mill owner to open his check book even for his own family; and, as Virginia had been contented with the big car and Ike to drive it, nothing had ever come of the intention.

"Did you notice that runabout?" Obadiah inquired. "How would one of that type suit you?" If he could get Virginia to chatter along as usual, he could enjoy his evening.

"Oh, I'd like it," she exclaimed. The girl was thinking rapidly. Not for nothing was she Obadiah's daughter when it was necessary to take advantage of a situation. "I thought that you had given up the idea of getting me a car, Daddy."

"No, indeed. It seemed to me that you were not particularly interested in one." He shrewdly placed the responsibility for delay upon her.

"I am _now_. More so than ever," Virginia declared. "I wasn't sure before what kind of a car I wanted. Now I know."

"Well?" Obadiah's enthusiasm in the proposed purchase had cooled as hers increased.

She squeezed his arm up against her and announced breathlessly, "I want a truck, Daddy."

"A truck!" Obadiah viewed his daughter as if he deemed the immediate attentions of an alienist essential in her case. "What on earth would you do with a truck?"

"I need it to take those colored orphans out for a ride each week," she explained, full of the plan. "I am going to have benches made to fit on each side of the truck so that it will take them all comfortably. Isn't it a fine idea?"

Obadiah, dumfounded for the moment, regained speech and sought information as one who had not heard aright. "Do you mean to say that you want me to buy a truck to haul those negro children around town?"

"Yah--yah--yah." Upon the front seat, Ike so far forgot the proprieties of his station that he gave vent to noisy merriment at the domestic perplexities of gentlefolk.

"Keep your mind on your business," Obadiah commanded, glaring at his chauffeur's neck.

Virginia, disregarding the _faux pas_ of the chauffeur and its condign reproof, proceeded to explain her plans. "We have decided, Daddy, that those orphans must be taken for a ride every week."

"Who has decided that?"

"Hennie and I have worked it all out."

"What has that woman got to do with it?" he snapped. "Does she expect me to buy trucks to haul all the negro children in town on pleasure trips?"

Violent paroxysms beset Ike and bent him as a sapling in a gale.

Obadiah's eyes glared at the black neck as if, discharging X-rays, they might expose the chauffeur's malady.

Heedless of disturbing influences, Virginia went on, "Hennie thought that this car was too small. She felt that it would be better to get a truck which would carry all the orphans than to use this."

"Indeed!" interjected Obadiah.

"I suggested to her that I would get you to loan us a truck from the mill; but Hennie said that she was sure that you wouldn't let us have it."

"Ahem--ahem," choked the mill owner, getting red in the face.

"I told her that I knew you would be glad to let us have it because you did so love to help people," explained Virginia with great pride.

Obadiah shifted uneasily in his seat. "What did she say?"

"Hennie said that she wished me success."

Obadiah relaxed as one relieved from strain.

Sensing the change in him, Virginia cuddled up to her father full of happiness and contentment as if the purchase of the truck was settled.

"Isn't it sweet, Daddy dear," she murmured gently, "within an hour after I talked to Hennie you offer to buy me a car? Of course, you don't care, so long as I am satisfied, whether I choose a runabout or a truck." She took his hand and held it in her own, pressing it.

Obadiah appeared greatly interested in something upon the skyline.

"A truck," Virginia continued thoughtfully, "especially a fine large one such as we would need--" Obadiah flinched--"would be in the way.

Our garage wouldn't hold it and Serena would object to it being left in the yard." She arrived at a sudden determination. "Choose, Daddy, whether you will buy me a truck or loan me one from the mill."

Obadiah's response was not delayed. "You had better use a mill truck,"

he agreed with a sigh which might have been of relief.

"Thank you, Daddy. I can hardly wait to tell Hennie," she exclaimed, highly delighted at the outcome of her efforts.

Obadiah leaned towards his chauffeur. "Ike," he ordered, "you get the new truck down at the mill, the first thing in the morning. Run it out to Mrs. Henderson's house. Make all the row around her place you wish.

Tell her," Obadiah continued, "that it is there by my instructions, to take those negro orphans riding." He paused. "Ike," he resumed more forcibly, "don't you forget the noise."

"Yas'r," promised Ike with happy smiles of antic.i.p.ation.

"That will be a dandy joke on Hennie," giggled Virginia. "Go very early, Ike."

They were following a boulevard which now brought them to the Soldiers'

Home. Its fine buildings and large acreage were matters of great pride to South Ridgefield. As they approached the central group of edifices, they heard music.

"Let's stop for the band concert," suggested Virginia.

Obadiah, much relieved physically and mentally from recent disquietude, was unusually complaisant. "Drive in, Ike," he directed.

They turned into a broad, paved road which followed the sides of a square about which were located the princ.i.p.al buildings of the inst.i.tution.

It bounded a tree shaded park with a band-stand in the center. Walks radiating to the sides and corners of the square were lined with benches occupied by veterans in campaign hats and blue uniforms, smoking, chatting, and enjoying the music.

The inner edge of the roadway was lined with automobiles full of visitors. Ike stopped upon the opposite side, in front of the quarters of the Commanding Officer.

Hardly had they paused when a tall, fine looking man of a distinctly military bearing, despite his white hair, hurried out to meet them.