Evening star., 1920-01-11
A Story by Fannie Hurst

Keep your eye on the steering
wheel. Phonzie. and remember, ten
miles is speed limit on the bridge.
One, two. three! Gawd. IL my friend
from Carson City could only see me
now,"
Out on the drying sidewalk they
leaned to each other, and the duet of
their merriment ran ahead of them
down the meager street and found out
its dark corners.
Honest. Phonzie. won't the girls
just bust when they hear of this?"
"And Mil. poor old girl, she's right
weak and full of nerves now, but
she'll laugh loudest of all when she
knows why I went with Slews."
Yes. She can laugh londest of
ALL"
WHAT
"Come on. or we won't get home
until morning"
And on the crest Of her insouciance
she thrust out her arm. giving the
shining white perambulator a run
ming push from the rear, SO that II
went rolling lightly from her. and
with a perfect gear action down the
slight incline of sidewalk. They were
after 1t at a bound. light -heeled and
full OF laughter.
"Whoops. my DEAR"
whoa"
lights Of the bridge flashed suddenly
upon them. swung in high festoons
across an inhnitude of night. Above,
few majestic stars. new coined,
CLEANED In clear sky.
What do you bet that with me at
the wheel ne can clear the bridge in
thirty minutes. Phonzie?"
Sure. we can; but here, let me
shove"
She elbowed him aside. the banter
gone suddenly from her voice.
mo. let me-"
She fell to pushing 1t silently along.
Stars came out in her eyes. He ad-
vanced to her pace. making his stride
to hers. fancies like colored beads
slipping along the slender thread Of
his thoughts.
Swell sight, amt II. Cert. the har-
Dor lights so bright and the sky so
deep?"
Silence.
Seeing 10 much sky all at once re-
minds me. Cert. You know about that
midnight blue satin Hertz had the
brass to dump back on us because
the skirt was too tight. Huh?"
Her eyes were far and away.
Huh, whatta you know about that.
GertT
Her hands. gripped around the han
bars. were full of nerves: she
could feel them jumping in her palm.
Huh. Gert?"
what you say, Phonzie?"
"Ail right. don't answer. Moon all
you like for my part" And he fell to
whistling as he strode beside her. his
eyes on the light-spangled outline Of
the city.
At IL o'clock the lights in the lower
hall OF the uptown apartment house
had been extinguished. All but one,
which burned like a tired eye beneath
the ornate staircase. The misty quiet
OF midnight, which is as heavy as a
veil. hung in the corridors. Miss Ger
tie Bobriner entered frst. and hold
ing wide the door between them. AL
phonse Nicholson at the front wheels,
they tilted the white carriage up the
narrow staircase. their whispers float
ing through tho gloom.
Easy there. Phonztew
There"
''Watch out"
''Whew. that was a close shavew
Here. let me unlock the door.
Sh-h-h." '' rs
Don't go. Cert. Come on. in and
after the big show I'll send you home
in a cab" 80
"Nix! After q three hour walk,
street car viii lppk good enough 70
me-" l
'Weil. then. come on In, Just min
ute, Cert. I want you to see the fun.
What you bet she's asleep in the front
room. sore as thunder. too. Wen
sneak back ana dump tho kid In and
wheel him In on her.
Jaw. no. II got to go now, Phon-
1ie."
Come on. Cert don't be, quitter
Don't you want to see her face when
she knows that Slews has been all q