Rain spelled skid chains to Bud. He looked in the tool box, found a set,

and put them on. Then, because he was not going to take any chances, he

put another set, that he found hanging up, on the front wheels. After

that he turned out the light, took down the robe and wrapped himself in

it, and laid himself down on the rear seat to wait for ten-thirty.

He dozed, and the next he knew there was a fumbling at the door in

front, and the muttering of a voice. Bud slid noiselessly out of the

car and under it, head to the rear where he could crawl out quickly. The

voice sounded like a man, and presently the door opened and Bud was sure

of it. He caught a querulous sentence or two.

"Door left unlocked--the ignorant hound--Good thing I don't trust

him too far--" Some one came fumbling in and switched on the light.

"Careless hound--told him to be careful--never even put the robe on the

rail where it belongs--and then they howl about the way they're treated!

Want more wages--don't earn what they do get--"

Bud, twisting his head, saw a pair of slippered feet beside the running

board. The owner of the slippers was folding the robe and laying it over

the rail, and grumbling to himself all the while. "Have to come out in

the rain--daren't trust him an inch--just like him to go off and leave

the door unlocked--" With a last grunt or two the mumbling ceased. The

light was switched off, and Bud heard the doors pulled shut, and the

rattle of the padlock and chain. He waited another minute and crawled

out.

"Might have told me there was a father-in-law in the outfit," he

grumbled to himself. "Big a butt-in as Marie's mother, at that. Huh.

Never saw my suit case, never noticed the different numbers, never got

next to the chains--huh! Regular old he-hen, and I sure don't blame

Foster for wanting to tie a can to the bunch."

Very cautiously he turned his flashlight on the face of the automobile

clock. The hour hand stood a little past ten, and Bud decided he had

better go. He would have to fill the gas tank, and get more oil, and he

wanted to test the air in his tires. No stops after they started, said

Foster; Bud had set his heart on showing Foster something in the way of

getting a car over the road.

Father-in-law would holler if he heard the car, but Bud did not intend

that father-in-law should hear it. He would much rather run the gauntlet

of that driveway then wait in the dark any longer. He remembered

the slope down to the street, and grinned contentedly. He would give

father-in-law a chance to throw a fit, next morning.




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