He soon adjusted the broken bolt of the mud guard, and announced that it was now as good as new.

“But why won’t you go in the Whirlwind?” demanded the girl.  “I am only out on a little pleasure spin, and I would be very glad indeed to take you to New City.  Besides, I’d like to race with the train,” she went on with sparkling eyes.  “I know I could beat it.”

Paul looked interested.

“I guess you could,” he said.  “It would be a good chance, anyhow.”

“Come on, then!  Don’t waste a moment.  Let’s try it.”

Paul called his assistant, a young lad, and gave him instructions about some cars, and what to do if certain customers came in.  It was not a busy part of the day, and he could leave without causing any complications.  Then he slipped into his long, linen coat and stepped into Cora’s car.

“I’m afraid this is an imposition,” he declared, taking the steering wheel, a sort of unconscious habit he had.  Then he bethought himself.  “Oh, but I suppose you’ll drive,” he added quickly, shifting over, rather abashed at having taken his place in the driver’s seat without being asked.  “You see, I’m so accustomed to being here.”

“I believe I will drive,” answered Cora.  “I have great faith in the obedience of my machine.  It knows my hand.”

“I shouldn’t wonder,” agreed the young, man.  “I do believe that motor-cars can almost be made to think—­under the guidance of very gentle but sure hands.”

Paul looked very handsome, Cora thought.  He was the type she always admired—­a youth with a bronze complexion—­a straight, athletic figure, almost classic, Cora decided.  He cranked up for her, re-entered the car, and they rolled from the garage.  Once out on the country road Cora threw in the high gear and fed the gasolene with a judicious hand, controlling the spark admirably.

“A fine machine!” exclaimed Paul, noting how perfect was the rhythm of action as it thrilled out beneath them.

“There are friends of mine,” said Cora suddenly as a runabout, containing two young then, came into sight.  Ed Foster and Walter Pennington raised their caps as they dashed by, but they did not go so quickly but that Cora noticed an expression of surprise on their faces.

“Oh, yes, I know them also,” remarked Paul.  “I’ve had that machine in the garage.”

“I wonder where they are going?” went on Cora.  She also found herself wondering if Walter and Ed were surprised to see her out alone with a professional chauffeur.  It was the first time her conduct in taking Paul with her came forcibly to her mind.  Then, with an independence of spirit that characterized her, she decided she had no apology or explanation to make.

“It’s hard to say where any person in an auto is going,” replied Paul pleasantly, “and sometimes almost as hard to say when they’ll get there.”

“That young man on the right is the one who recently lost twenty thousand dollars,” observed the girl as she changed to second speed to take a troublesome little hill.