The Connecticut labor press., 1919-04-19

doesn't rear up and feel insulted at everything. At first you gave me a couple of how-dare-you's, but they don't count. And if you do hate me a little more, why, so much the better. When thought you had broken with Wimburn I said to myself. She's the one girl in the world for me. I'm go- ing to ask her to marry me- But l 1 was afraid to, for I was afraid of mar riage. And then-I- Well, I'd better not Yes, will. I said, She be lieves that men and women are equal and have equal rights, and she's go- ing to get out and hustle for herself like little man. Maybe she could learn to love me well enough to go into a partnership of hearts, That's what I said to myself. You mustn't think it's because I don't want to cleave to one woman; it's because I do.. But I hate handcuffs. Do you see? And now you know what was dreaming of. What do you think of l lit?"
 The answer to his long oration was complete silence. Duane waited for his answer, and, not getting it, laughed harshly: Well, that's that. The next number on our program will be bal lad entitled I Never Dream but l Bump My Head Go on! Marry Clay Wimburn on nothing year and live miserabIy ever after" ,l
 She said nothing to this, either. Duane was in wretched state of baf- f1ement. He put the car to it's paces, and it ripped through space at fifty miles an hour. Daphne had a new terror added to the load of her nerves.
 The car went bounding up a steep tincline toward the swerve of a head land cut in rigid silhouette by the far reaching searchlight of a car ap- preaching from the other direction. Duane kept we'll to the outside of the road, but just as he met the other motor and winced in the dazzle of its lamps, third car trying to pass it on the curve hurled into the narrow space with blaze like lightning scar ing the eyes. There was q yelling and hooting of horns and a sense of dis aSter. E Daphne bent her head and prayed for life, but without faith. Duane, half-blinded. swung his front wheels 1 off the road and grazed a wall. The rear wheels were not quick enough. The other car smote them. c-umpling i the mudguard and sficing of the rear lamp.
 | Daphne was thrown this way and I,that, and it seemed that her spine i must have snapped in as dozen places. When she opened her eyes again the car was standing still. Duane turned to her with terrified questions. and his hands visited her face and her arms and shoulders. He held her hands fast and peered into her eyes l while she promised him that she was not dead. -.-.. 1 The car that had bested his did not return, but the other did. offering help from a safe distance till its identity was established. In the light of its lamp Duane got down and examined his own car. Besides the damages in the rear, it had sustained a complete l fracture of the front axle, a twisted fender, and shattered headlight.
 The driver of the other car came up and joined the coroner's inquest. He stared at Duane, and cried in the tone of an English aristocrat. "Geb- bless my soul, ain't you Tom Duane ?" Duane, blinking in the light, peered at him and said: "Yop! I can't see you. but the voice would be Weth- erel1's." --
 'Right-o; it's me. Oh, pardon me- you're not alone. Nobody hurt, I hope and pray
 ''No. but we're pretty far from home and country" '
 "I see! Hum-m Pity couldn't get the number of the swine that hit you. rather fancy I'll have to give you a lift-what? I was out on a kangaroo hunt, but that will wait-if you don't mind trusting yourself to bad com pany."
 Duane lowered his voice anxiously. ''Is it very bad?'
 1 Wetherell put the mute on his voice. "As good as yours. I'll wager. But let's not go into family history. Come along and we'll take you to the next neutral port. That would be" 1 "Yonkers."
 "Oh, yes. I fancy those were the Yonkers we came through few miles 1 DacK. well, come along.
 l Duane was embarrassed, but he could do nothing except take Weth- erell to his car and introduce him to Daphne. Miss Kip" he said,, "rve got to present MT. Wetherell. He wants us to ride with him as far as Yonkers. We'll get another car there.'
 l Wetherell came close and said : Did he say Mrs. Kip? can't see you, but hope you are the fascinat- ing Mrs. Kip met at Newport. Have you forgotten me so soon?'
 "I am Miss Kip" said Daphne.
 "Oh, so sorry! I don't mean that, either. But my Mrs. Kip was a siren Leila was her first name. I called her De-leila, you see. And she called me Samson. She was a."
 ''She is my brothers. wife," said Daphne.
 ''Oh, you don't tell mel" Wetherell gulped, and his abrupt silence was full of startling implications that alarmed Daphne, angered Duane, and threw 1 Wetherell into confusion.
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