The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-13
BY NJ. y. PHILLIPS.


Jimmie bennett knew something
would happen If he took out the
limousine on so beautiful an early
summer day. Bnt there WAS nothing
else for II. James Bennett, senior,
had the touring ear and the chauf-
feur; the runabout was out of the
question. and the electric had a
broken spring.
There was shopping to do--his
mother and sister both said so, trag-
ieails. out came the limousine and
with Jimmie. feeling like a taxieah
driver. at the wheel, they sped off
downtown bright ana early In the
morning.
Jimmie was lolling on tho cushions
opposite a famous hat shop which is
near the union station. lie amused
himself by watching the rout OF mo-
tors and people up and down the
busy street.
lie also kept patronizing eye on
the suburban trains that shuttled
back and forth behind the iron
fence. And he nodded commentator
when the Cosmopolitan limited
hreezed majesticaliy into the great
station.
The Cosmopolitan, with pouderous
eXhausts was on its way again when
n whirlwind OF dainty skirts projected
itself across the stone threshold OF
the station and headed for Jimmie.
lie Strengthened to attention when "a
pretty, pleading face was upturned to
him.
Il must catch that train said the
girl hurriedly. My aunts on IT,
with my ticket. I stepped of 10 get
a book at the station. Doesn't It stop
again Iii pay You double"
Jump in here. beside me- COM
maaded Jimmie.
Ills mother and sister were for
gotten as the car hitrhed around in
the crowded ghoraughtare and began
10 hum up Division street. Jimmie
remembered that the big train al
Ways stopped at a junction quite
across the city. There was no time
to explain to his passenger that he
WIS not running q taxi, even II he
wanted to do SO Snpn an explasa~
ton was far from hrs desires. For
the passenger was the most charm
ing girl he had seen tn many n day.
She vas 6areheadcd and the air
RULED her bright. crinky hair as ii
streamsd past. The cook she mad
lest the train to buy was clasped in
both hands Excitement and rapid
motion had whipped a wild rose tint
into her cheeks. Jimmie could not
decide from his hurried glances
whether her eyes were blue or gray;
but he knew they we're large and
eloquntly expressive.
She leaned towards him There's
another station. isn't there W!Il We
reach il in time e.
II don't know" returned Jimmie,
whether we can make II or not
He pressed down his foot hard, for
there "a the EAT
there. A motorcycle policeman,
chugging toward them slowly, raised
a warning hand. Jimmie smiled, and
pressed down again. The officer cir
cled smartiy and started In pursuit.
The Limousine did nobiy. 1T at
tanned speed Of which Jimmie did
not believe I, capable. He kept the
,horn gong constantly. 49, u:
Hors. drawn vehicles turned into
eide streets, while other motors made
way. hastily. Pedestrians crossing
the street sought the walk with sur
prising agility.
1t was the horn which nearly
caused Jimmies undoing. Another
motorcycle officer looked back over
his shoulder when he heard 1t. He
saw the iunEing car, and behind 1t
the wildly waving white gloved hand
of his pursuing colleague. He stopped,
across the pavement.
He had chosen his stand we'll. To
the left were the car tracks. and a
fine of approaching cars. To the
right was the curb. The motorcycle,
breadside on. seemed to block the
path esfectually.
Jifnmfe's foot almost gave over its
pressure. Then his eyes cleaned
hnd his jaws snapped.
Hang on" he commanded tersely
The girl dropped tho book in her
lap without question and gripped
convenient projections. Jimmie
sounded the horn insistently. The
policeman refused to bulge. He still
kept the commanding arm rightly In
hhe air
Ten yards from the officer Jimmie
swerved to the right. The big car
rose for moment on two wheels.
Then II hit the curb drunkenly.
spurned the walk for q few feet and
dropped back into the roadway with
crashing OF Rlasa.
The rear hub brushed the motor
cycle tire as the car shot, past. The
second outraged motorcycles Joined