Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-05-21

Moral support and-and all that. Do
you know, my first conscious thought
after the wreck was OF relief that
you had not been hurt?"
She was sitting beside me where a
big chestnut tree shaded the road. and
1 surprised a look OF misery on her
face that certainly my words had not
been meant 70 produce.
And my first thought" she said
slowly, was regret that that I
hadn't been obliterated. blown out like
a candle. Please don't look like that!
am--only talking"
But her lips were trembling. and be
| cause the little shams OF society are
! forgotten at times like this. I leaned
over and patted her hand lightly.
where IL rested on the grass beside
me
You must not say those things" I
expostulated. Perhaps. after all. your
| friends"
Il bad no friends on the train. %
Her voice was hard again. her tone
| final She drew her hand from under
mine, not quickly. but decisively. A
/ car was IN sight. coming toward rs
The steel finger OF civilization. OF pro
priety. OF visiting cards and formal in
reductions was beckOning us in. Miss
West put on her shoe.
We said little on the car The few
| passengers stared at us frankly. and
discussed the wreck. emphasizing its
horrors. The girl did not seem TO
hear. Once she turned 20 me with
/ the quick, unexpected movement that
was one OF her charms.
II do not wish my mother to know
/ was I'm the accident" she said. "Wiu
you please not tell Richey about hav-
/ Ing met me2"
| 7 gave my promise. OF course. Again
when we Were almost into Baltimore
she asked 20 examine the gun-metal
cigarette case. and sat silent with il
IN her hands while I told Of the early
mornings events on the Ontario
So you see.' 7 finished. this grip.
everything 7 have on. belongs TO n fell
low named sullivan. He probably left
the train before the wreck-Dcrbaps
| just after the murder"
And so-you think he committed
the-the crime2' Her eyes were on
the cigarette case
Naturally ] said "A man doesn't
jump on a Pullman car In the middle
OF the night Zoo another mans clothes.
unless he is trying 90 get away from
something Besides The dirk. there
were the stains that you saw. WHY.
/ have The murdered mans pocket
book in this valise at my feet What
does that look Uke2"
] colored when I saw the ghost OF
a smile lowering around tho corners
OF her mouth. THAT is" I finished.
u you care Co believe that I am in
nocent"
The sustaining chain OF her small
gold bag gave way Just then. She did
not notice it I picked 70 up and slid
the rinket into my pocket for safe
keeping. where 7 promptly forgot it
Afterwards 7 wished 7 had let IL lie I'M
noticed on the floor OF that dirty little
suburban car and even now. when 7
see woman c2rolessly dangling
similar feminine trinkct. I shudder I'm
voluntarily. there comes back TO me
The memory of a girls puzzled ewes
under the brim OF Topping hat. the
haunting suspicion OF the slcepless
nights that followed.
Just then I was determined that
my companion should not stray back
20 the wreck and 20 that end I was
determinedly faceJous
DO YOU know that IL is sunday"
she asked suddenly. and that We are
actually ragged?2'
Never mind that" retorted All
Baltimore is divided on Sunday into
three parts. those who rise and 10 10
church, those who rise up and read
the newspapers. and those who don't
rise up. The first are somewhere be-
tween the creed and the sermon. and
We need not worry about the others. "
You treat me like a child" she said
almost pettishly- Don't try so hard
TO be cheerful lit Is almost gnast-
~"
After that ! subsidized like "a pricked
balloon, and the remainder OF the ride
was made In silence. The Information
that she would 90 20 friends in the
city was shock; Il meant an earlier
separation than ] had planned for.
But my arm was beginning again. In
putting her into a cab / struck IL and
D--NN~N -+-1 tNNNAA WIN tue pam. IL
was probably for that reason that I
forgot the gold bag
She leaned forward and held out
her hand. Il may not have another
chance TO thank you" she said. and
think ! would better not try. any.
how. I canpot tell you how grateful
/ am" I muttered -Jmething about
the gratitude be.Ss mine. Owing to
the knock ! was seeing two cabs. and
two girls were holding out two hands
Remember" they were both saw.
ing. you have never met me. Mr..
Blakeley And-if you ever hear any
thing about me-thst Is not-pleasant.
l want you TO think the best you can
OF me. VIII you2"
The two girls were one now. with
little flashes of white light playing all
around. Tin afraid that / shall
think too well for my own good" I
said unsteadily. And the cab drove
on.
CHAPTER XII