The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-23
THE EVENING STORY
Her Best Friend.
~ Anne olive Martin. J

She was such a lost little figure,
standing at the jammed Fourteenth
street crossing. Barty saw her before
he made the curve, but there was no
time except to give the brakes
racking twist.
So Barty threw himself half out OF
the storm window and seized the
girls shoulder, hauling her up des-
perateiy from the fender.
That's all right" Barty remarked
a minute later to the hysterical wom-
en- passengers who crowded around
him. He had the limp girl still on
his arm, somehow. She was con-
scious and the way she chung to
Barty gave him a warm, pleased sem
sation around his solar picks. She's
either, are your"
My foot hurts" said the girl.
Don't let them send me to a hos
pital."
Where do you nve?" asked Barty.
philadelphia"
This is Fourteenth street, New
| York. Better go to the hospital and
let the company put up for you. And
when they asks who's your best
friend here, just tell them Barty
Lewis, the fel1ew that run you down.
I'll be up tSmsrrow."
All that day Barty did not whistle
while he ran his Broadway and Co
lum bus avenue trolley from one end
of town to the other. He could see
that slim figure in the shabby dark
green suit, trimmed in some kind of
imitation fur, see her upturned APP
pealing face when she saw the car
pounding down on her. She had blue
eyes, he knew, and a lot of chestnut
hair. Her cap fell off, and those
chestnut braids that bound her head
had rested on his shoulder some time,
while the ambulance hustled over
from the hospital He heard her give
her name, too, Elsie Russell.
The next day at visiting hours
Barty found himself asking for Miss
Russell at the hospital. He had
changed routes with one of the night
men so as to be there on time. And
it rather pleased him that sheJhad
no other visitors.
Like emf" grinned Barty- happily.
as she buried her face in the pink
carnations he had bought for her.
''How's your foot?''
1.-THE ankle is broken. they say, but
I'm all right
heIplessIy, I'm awfulIy sorry. see
you ahead just when we swung
around from Fourteenth, and
couldn't stop her in time"
But you saved my life" She
turned her head on the pillow and
smiled at him shyly. They say I'd
have been killed surely If you had
not caught me from the fender
We'll, that's something. And you
can stay here as long as you like
straight. why didn't you run when
you see the car coming? 1t looked
as if you got stage fright and stood
right there, and you were looking up
at the sky, too"
The answer was slow in coming.
Barty had to lean his head over to
get it.
81 hoped you might run me down"
Then Barty gave a low whistle.
Some girl on the next cot was sobbing
soothing her. Elsie had her face hid
den in the mass of pink bloom she
held. After minute Barty got up
courage again.
What for?"
Because I couldn't get any work.
II needed money very much, not for
myself, but for nay mother. She is
sick at home. Perhaps she's even
dead by now, and she sent for me to
come to her. Now you See
You Just didn't know the ropes"
Barty said soethingly. There's lots
would have been glad to help you
out. Tell me where the old lady
lives, and tn look her up and let you
knew tomorrow"
Are you eeming again tomorrow?
That's kind of YOU.
Yes. amt it?" smiled Barty
When I almost ground you into
AiAnCcInedl. IL come every day II you
say so.''
IT do say so. please" she said
thankfully, giving him her hand. II
wondered when 1 heard ysu tell the
ambulance surgeon yeu were my best
friend in New York, BUT I guess you |
are. l have no friends here"
Barty must have given strong evil !
dence to the comDany's claim agent. !
A broken ankle is worth something. /
as he teld E7sie, and she held the |
check folded in her hands and laid |
on her breast, her eyes shining. He |
had brought Eeod news, besides the |
brought an answer. Fer mother was /
better, and the turn of the fever had |
passed in safety.
Now. think If you'd really done it., |
said Barty reproachfully. "It would !
be a nice how-dO-you-do for her to |
find you being tagged and planted |
somewhere over on Hart's Island,
wouldn't ftp
where's that?" asked Elsie.
the ether way now. Why don't you
call me Barty?"
We've emily known each other
three days"
'I'H sign fer life, now" says Barty,
swiftly He leaned forward and let
his hat fall en- the floor as he took
her hand In his. Say, listen, little
woman, it isn't as Grassy as it sounds.
I'm steady and straight I've get
about three hundred planted over in
a Jersey bank and there's coed sized
five per month for two years. We
could build a house on that. and you
could bring the old LADY down from
philadelphia Row about It?