The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-02
THE EVENING STORY
The Runabout Girl.
IBy Louise Merrifield. ]


It's death and destruction to the world
the minute. you put one at a. WHEEL
"She's driven a car abroad"
Where the roads are SmoOthed
paths of dalliance for cars of joy. A
one-eyed Chink with a cork arm could
! drive car abroad"
"Was she hurt?'' asked Forbes. He
sat up, with 2 Tightening Of his mus
Giles at the sudden grip of pain from
his wrenched shoulder and racked ribs.
Hurt? No. A bit rumpleu and ex-
cited. When she saw you were alive,
she passed over a delicate handful of
regrets and rode on
He dragged himself out, pushed back
his cap from a soiled perspiring face,
and reached down after his pipe. Over
head in a rock maple family of rob-
ms sounded a melodious concert of
protest against the invasion of the soil
tude by these roadsters. Below the
road swept the river between great
hills. 1t was June, June in New Eng
land, with the mountain laurel clinging
in great clusters of pink bloom to ev-
cry craggy foothold it could find in
the granite cheek of the hills, and a
haze of tender beauty flushing the
whole land.
whereabouts are we?'' asked Forbes
about Is miles east of Hartford.
Need a hospital Jack?"
the map. I'm coming back
1t was a grim joke. Also, it was his
last for awhile. Austin just missed
catching him as he kneeled heaving
over, face down in the grass. And
even while he knelt there, trying to
force drink between the set teeth.
there came the clear, wavering sweet
ness of her horn around the bend OF
the road. Austin knew it instantly.
Had he not heard it not 20 minutes
before, just as they crashed together?
Looking down at the deathlike face of
his friend aad pal, he cursed it now,
and its owner.
She drew up close to the big red
car. Austin's eyes must have showed
their frank disapproval of her and of
her trim gray and black runabout.
She threw back her. VEIL and knelt
beside Forbes, disregarding him.
II was afraid he was hurt more than
he realized, so I rode on to telephone
for a DOCTOR she said steadily. IF
you will lift him into my car. 1 will
take him home with him, and when you
are ready you may join him.
I'D better make straight run into
Hartford and land him at the hospi-
tall began Austin, surlily. but she shook
her head.
81 won't allow you to. 1t was my
fault. Do as I tell you. live about
a mile from here, and the doctor will
when you lift him, now
Say said Austin, cant you see
that we're twin brothers? I'd give my
left ear fried in butter any old time he
needed it,
She smiled up at him for the first
time, and Austin was doomed from
that instant Even while he lifted
Forbes into the car, into her car at
that, the thoughts raced through his
head dizzily. He stood and watched
Ia iCI n fa6 Of n u
road thereafter. Surely the day was
playing strange tricks with him. They
had started for Boston, escaped all
terrors from New York on, and mad
been knocked out clearly and neatly
by this same natty little French run
about and it's driver.
1T was he who did it," muttered
Austin. "He saw her coming, and
graph pole did the rest. But she's
some kid, all right. I wish it was me-"
The runabout sped along the high
way for mile, and turned in a
driveway under huge elms. Once or
twice the girl turned to take a quick
searching look at the face that. lay
back on the cushion beside her. She
frowned, and raised the car up to
third speed. When the house came in
view, the first sigh of relief came from
her own lips. She sounded the horn
several times in a troubled, nervous
call for help that quavered on the still
noon air vibrantly.
Not dead, L hope" called a CHEEKY
voice from the shaded veranda, and
she lifted her face to it eagerly An
other car stood at the side entrance,
and she knew it was the doctor.
With the help of the gardener,
Forbes was lifted into the house, and
laid on a couch in the quiet, old
fashioned sitting room. Ruth stood
by during the examination, ready with
anything the doctor should need. The
coat and shirt had to be cut away from
the dislocated shoulder.
NOW, then, Well just slip this
back where it belongs, and it's mighty
good for him he won't feel it. Hold
Just balance it on your shoulder, will
your"
Which made striking picture to
Bart Austin, just entering. He hest
tated on the threshold, watching with
lowered chin, catching that strange
little click as the bone slipped into it's
place, catching, too, the agonized
groan from Forbes's lips, as he was
hauled back to consciousness by the
pain. But most of all, in the picture,
there stood the slim kneeling form of
the girl, holding Forbes's head on her
own arm, and soothing him with low,
swift words of womanly sympathy
couple of broken ribs. and a Grip
pied wrist. Better stay here and be
nursed up a Bit" said the doctor, Ia
ter
Mother insists that he stay. as it
was all my fault said Ruth, gently.
Austin stood over Forbes at the
couch by the open window.
I'll take you up to Hartford to the
hospital. If you say the word. old