Evening star., 1914-01-06

years work, and he don't care the price
of a shine whether l bust up my mental
cogwheels as long as | do IT. Oh, well,
Ill be a sport. if I only last minute"
Billy finished at o'clock Wednesday
afternoon. He folded the heavy papers
into blue envelope and thrust it into
his coat.
I'm going out and take a walk" he
said to Craig. Il may not return this
afternoon. but the job is done. 1t won
take twenty minutes to transcribe to the
books, and I'd like to make final ex-
animation of everything before doing so.
If / don't get back this afternoon, I'll be
in early in the morning. What time does
TINS board meeting occur
Noon replied Craig. You know
what it means unless everything is love-
ly BY that time.
Billy grinned
4 know, all right. And right after
Mr.. Muscheim is reelected president of
this whited sepucher. I'm going to stick
in a small bid for more salary
You'll get it. if my word goes, said
Craig, and | think it goes
At dinner Billy acted oddly. At he
climbed UP four flights and laid himself
upon the bed. Forthwith he began the
serious business of examining the inside
OF his head. and the next morning found
hlm in Madison Square Park under the
suspicious eye of the newsy
He walked north 9Th avenue. The
steady surge all around him soothed his
Jinslins nerves. People glanced at hilp
half pityingly. He clenched his jaws to-
sether and tried to stave off the recur
ring attacks Of shakes. At 2sth street
he saw an opening in the line of We
hicles, and it occurred to him that the
opposite side of the avenue possessed
many advantages. He stepped from the
sidewalk. lodged a hustlng taxicab,
crossed the open space in the center and
leaped for the west curb. a liveried
chauffeur yelled, the traffic policeman
bawled at him hoarselv. The radiator of
big touring car came suddenly before
his dizzy eyes and struck him in the
chest. Billy Nawn crumpled up like wet
ted paper and dropped to the asphalt.
When he opened his eyes he was sit
ting on the curbing with his back against
a lamp pole. The traffic policeman was
holding his hand. and somebody with a
pointed beard was pouring scorching
drink down his throat. The car that had
struck him was purring softly before him.
In the tonneau was -jowled in
dividual and a pretty young woman.
How is he?" the policeman inquired.
Shaken up a Bit replied the man with
the pointed beard. NO bones broken, as
far as l can see Narrow rub for you.
young man..
Billy smiled feebly The usual New
York crowd gathered in a circle and
shouldered each other roughly 10 get a
view of the victim.
THE wheels missed him." said the po-
lceman as Billy closed his eyes. These
d-n buns get tanked up and naturally
stand in front of motor cars.
He isn't drunk. said the physician dis
interestedly. Hell be all right
The heavy man in the car was stand |
ing with the side door half orened. The
girl was leaning forward. her face a trf1e
pale. Billy opened his eyes again and |
smiled at the world.
What he needs now is a dash of fresh |
air. continued the physician He turned |
tn hn T1lg in he tr- n lowe
take him in the machine and spin him |
up through the park? In twenty min |
utes he'll he good as new
The big man slammed the door briskly |
and sat down
My time is valuable he said shortly. |
I'm sorry. but L couldn't do it today for |
my own brother. Besides, it was his own |
fault and the police will take perfectly |
good care of him.
Billy listened to the brief speech snfl- |
ingly. When the ambulance arrived he |
was able to walk to it unsteadily On |
the way to Roosevelt Hospital he inquired |
with interest whether the ambulance sur
seon found his work monotonous.
In the accident ward he lay on white |
cot and reflected. His body ached. but his |
mind was clear. A pussy-footed nurse
brought him a glass of water and smiled /
at his cheerfulness.
I'm going to get cheated by this hotel
Billy said. mo matter what you charge.
I'm going to rest here for about twenty |
more minutes ana inerf nj gong DOWN |
town and do little business There's /
some tinanciers waiting for me. although |
you might not believe il to look at me. |
and if | don't show up there'll be loud |
explosion down in the linen district. :.
You'd better rest said the nurse
I'm not broken anywhere Billy ar
gned. so I'm going I want a collar
and necktle and a small drink of brandy.
The nurse left him and returned later.
She brought in hand a pony of
brandy and in the other q noon edition
of an exceedingly hasty newspaper.
Would you like to see your name in
big print?'' she asked sIniiingiy. Billy
reached for the paper.
They're pretty fast amt they?" he
laughed Across the top of the sheet |
was the headline and the rest of the
story was printed at the bottom of the |
page in red ink. 1t announced that Mau-
rice Muscheim, the millionaire linen
merchant. had unfortunately run down
and fatally injured a young man, who
had given his name as William Nawn
and his address as 637 West 3Oth street.
The victim was evidently a park 1oafer
and at the hospital it was thought that
he would not recover. Mr.. Muscheim
expressed himself as being distressed by |
the accident, but explained that the
tramp had deliberately stepped in front |
of the car.
Billy sat up in bed and held the paper
before him with shaking hands.
Il don't remember giving my name to
murmured. We'll. what do you know
about that? So that was Mr.. Mus
cheiIn. Gimme the brandy. so I can
drink toast. He tossed the paper to
the floor and swallowed the drink. Then
he turned TO his coat, which hung from
hook at his head and placed his hand
in the inside pocket. The bulging blue
envelope was still there. Billy smiled
peacefully
white-clad inferno hurried down the
lane between the cots and stopped be-