Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1911-03-30
DAMAGES
$4,000

Dand and fond father. When MS
nineteen-year-old daughter, Clara, first
got the idea into her head she figured
that she would only have to ask papa
and the thing was as good as done.
When the asking took place she met
with a surprise party
Buy you a runabout7" he an
swered. Certainly not! You cannot
be trusted with such a thing. In
month should have three or four
suits for damages, and the house would
be turned into a hospital to boot"
you know grandpa put $500 In your
bank for me- That will buy the run
about and pay for any damages
may do. II run over anybody II won't
hurt them more than $50 worth. Do
give your consent. Think OF three
other girls riding about In their own
machines and sticking up their noses
at mel"
But you must settle all damage
SUITS" he said at last.
The runabout was purchased and
arrived. Percy Markham also ar
rived. He had an aunt In the village,
and he arrived to see her. II was
said OF him that he was well-to-do
financially, about twenty-five years
old, reasonably good.loohng, and
that he had some great trouble on his
mind. When he walked abroad he
held his head down. That is always
sign in a young man that he has
trouble gnawing at his heart. In
an old man 1t simply signifies that he
is looking 10 find a quarter in the
road.
Miss Clara Denison had been run
ming that runabout exactly a week,
when she turned bend in the village
street one afternoon at a gait of twen-
ty-fve miles an hour. Her instructor
had cautioned her that 1t was easier
to dodge things at that gait than It
was standing still. AS the machine
turned from one direction Mr.. Mark
ham turned from the other. Miss
Clara was looking at a hat in a shop
were on the ground at his feet. Some
one yelled. Then some one screamed.
Then there was bump, and some one
went into the ditch and there were
more things for the downcast Mr..
Markham to think about.
The victim of the head-on collision
was conveyed to the house Of his
aunt, and a doctor attended his con-
tusions. At the bank. Mr.. Denison
heard that there would $1,000 suit
for damages.
In eight days Mr.. Markham limped
out. He was crossing the street to
get to the post Office. and his eyes
were on the gravel, when that run.
about turned in from another street.
None of the spectators OF what oc-
cured computed the gait at more than
twenty-three miles an hour. Some
said 1t was only 221a. Whatever 1t
was in miles. rods, feet and inches,
however. 1t was enough for Mr..
Markham. He went down under the
impact and was borne away by the
sympathlzing public.
When he finally emerged It was to
visit the drug store for more arnica.
AS he was on tn. sidewalk, he prob
ably felt that he had legal right to
look down. AS Clara Denison was in
the middle Of the street with her run
about she probably felt that she had
legal right to hit up the speed a
little to pass q carriage. But Fate
was there. The machine took the bits
in its mouth and ran up on the walk,
and Mr. Markham was sent to his
aunt's on a stretcher for the third
time. A third suit for damages
; What are you going to do about
these suits?" asked the father when
he heard of the latest You remem-
Der told you that It would be at your
own risk. Nice mess you have got
into!"
There was no reply. and the girl
didn't seem to be worried She con.
tinued TO use the machine. but Mr..
Markham had had his innings and
was run down no more. So far as the
banker knew. the young man had left
the town. AS to the suits. he won
dered why they were not called. but
refused to be worried. When the time
came of course he would back his
daughter.
Weeks passed, and then one day he
was rather startled by the announce
ment:
Papa, have been financiering
again in the interests OF your bank.
saw could never pay the amount
OF Mr. Markham's three suits, and
$3.50"
so what7"
"He has called here quite a number
Of times, and l guess he wants to
speak to you this evening. guess he
does"
? II shant pay him a cent TO settle
the cases" was the reply
"oh. It isn't that. That's no imam
ciering. It's about my running over
him and making him fall in love with
mel"