e kind of heart attacks, and had come to the Old Home for rest.

"Him and the Cap'n had great arguments about the sins of automobilin'.
Jonadab was sot on the idee that nine folks out of ten hadn't machine
sense enough to run a car. Bradbury, he declared that that was a fact
with the majority of autos, but not with his. 'Why, a child could run
it,' says he. 'Look here, Cap'n: To start it you just do this. To stop
it you do so and so. To make her go slow you haul back on this lever. To
make her go faster you shove down this one. And as for steerin'--well,
a man that's handled the wheels of as many catboats as you have would
simply have a picnic. I'm in entire sympathy with your feelin's against
speeders and such--I'd be a constable if I was in your shoes--but this
is a gentleman's car and runs like one.'

"All Jonadab said was 'Bosh!' and 'Humph!' but he couldn't help actin'
interested, particular as Mrs. Bassett kept him alongside of the machine
and was so turrible interested herself. And when, this partic'lar
afternoon, Henry G. invites us all to go out with him for a little 'roll
around,' the widow was so tickled and insisted so that he just HAD to
go; he didn't dast say no.

"Somehow or 'nother--I ain't just sure yet how it happened--the seatin'
arrangements was made like this: Jonadab and Bradbury on the front seat,
and me and Henrietta in the stuffed cockpit astern. We rolled out and
purred along the road, smooth as a cat trottin' to dinner. No speedin',
no joltin', no nothin'. 'TWAS a 'gentleman's car'; there wa'n't no doubt
about that.

"We went 'way over to Bayport and Orham and beyond. And all the time
Bradbury kept p'intin' out the diff'rent levers to Jonadab and tellin'
him how to work 'em. Finally, after we'd headed back, he asked Jonadab
to take the wheel and steer her a spell. Said his heart was feelin' sort
of mean and 'twould do him good to rest.

"Jonadab said no, emphatic and more'n average ugly, but Henry G. kept
beggin' and pleadin', and pretty soon the widow put in her oar. He must
do it, to please her. He had SAID he could do it--had told her so--and
now he must make good. Why, when Mr. Loveland--

"'All right,' snarls Jonadab. 'I'll try. But if ever--'

"'Hold on!' says I. 'Here's where I get out.'

"However, they wouldn't let me, and the Cap'n took the wheel. His jaw
was set and his hands shakin', but he done it. Hettie had give her
orders and she was skipper.

"For a consider'ble spell