The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-31
EOening Story
Dicks Daredevil.
BY KETURAH VAN TYLE.

d L
Dick Rice paused on the threshold
of Cations book shop, from which
he had just emerged, long enough to
light a cigarette, and then looked to-
ward the curb expecting to see his
new, gray roadster waiting invitingly
for him. But there was no roadster,
gray or otherwise, in SIGHT, and Dick
Immediately berated himself soundly
for leaving his engine running, even
for the few moments necessary to par
chase a much wanted book.
Some old woman, I ami! he unused;
II make myself think of old Aunt
Sally, who used to leave the gas burn
ing to save matches"
His first and foremost idea, of
course, was to run down the thief who
had dared run away with his pet car in
broad daylight He hAstened to the
curb and looked up and down the
thoroughfare for signs of a fleeing
villain, but there was nothing to war
rant more than passing glance, saTe
perhaps a crowd gathered in the street
two blocks south.
Ordinarily, Dick would have rushed
to the spot to ascertain the cause OF
the disturbance, but just now he had
disturbance in plenty of his own; and
still keen on capture, he hurried to
the police station, a block north.
IN give a nice tidy reward to the
fellow that rounds up that daredevil
he exclaimed to the chief. Why, 1
wasn't in that shop five minutes!"
Speaks well for your starter,
doesn't it? Your daredevil had pretty
good judgment. I'll say. Don't worry
we'll run him to cover all right.
We're going to make these buzz-buggy
snatchers sit up and take notice"
With this assurance Dick was
obliged to be content, and after leav-
ing his license number, telephone and
street address he started back toward
Caxton's athrill with the vague hope
that the thief, relenting, might have
decided to return his stolen property.
Instead, he saw a luxurious limousine
where his own car had stood scarcely
a half hour before. His married sis
ter Kit was about to enter it and,
Fastening his gait. he poured the story
of his loss into her sympathetic ears.
'Tll tell you what, Dicky dear" she
offered, I've an errand around the
corner which will take me over an
hour. I'll walk over and you have
Brompton drive you thru the park
you might run down clew."
Dick jumped in and Brompton
started south toward the park, but
when they were startled by a loud
report They left the limousine to see
what was the matter and saw a sinis-
ter-looking hospital ambulance drawn
up to the curb.
whats up?" asked Dick, pushing
his way thru.
Top rail of our chassis broke and
our steering gears on the blink said
the driver. Pretty tough, TOO, seems
we've got a patient aboard that's been
ordered to the hospital instanter."
Put him in our car and we'll finish
~ {,-iv ALI nd ;
Dick. his own trouble fading into moth
ingness with his concern for others.
"'Taint a him, but I s'pose you
amt kiclzin' on takin' a lady
They placed the young girl tenderly,
carefully among the cushions in the
Limousine and Dick and the hospital
inferno took turns supporting her. If
Dick insisted he was the stronger, who
shall blame him? There was an ugly
clot of blood matted into the girls
fair hair, and her long black lashes
lay upon her waxen cheeks as tho
they had been glued there.
Once she moaned, muttering broken
ly, Ned. oh, oh, Ned!' and Dick
forthwith registered a violent dislike
for all men named Ned. =
At the hospital he learned that she
was Aline whitley and that she stood
very fair chance for speedy recov-
cry. After ordering Brompton back to
call for Kit, he went home and tried TO
compose himself enough to map out
some plan of action which might help
in tracing his stolen car. But his
thoughts Travelled ever and anon back
to the girl he had so lately held in
his arms.
"By jove, she's a sumner" he
unused. wonder if I dare wander
over there tomorrow"
The ringing of the telephone cut
short his musing, and when he an
RI
drawled:
"say, the chief says to tell you
they've got your car. and the dare
devil that stole it got beat up in an &C
cident. The thiefs in the Alexian
Hospital and your cars in Morey's
But Dick waited for no more. Alex
ian Hospital That was where they
had taken Aline Whitley and the
thiefs presence there would give him
an excuse to go over 1t would be
only courteous to ask after her-per-
haps he might even get glimpse of
her.
Not much sleep for Dick that night.
He tried 70 imagine how severe he
was going to be with the thief. but
ibis whole attitude seemed softened by
thoughts of the girl in the limousine,
and when he did sleep his dreams
were a curious tumble of tender words
and threats.
A call at the garage next morning
uncovered the fact that little damage
had been done the roadster and, leav-
ing orders to have it repaired Dick.
hurried to the hospital. AS he was
running blithely up the steps. it sud
denly occurred to him that he had not
given the police officer time to report
the name of the offender against him
and the law. so he went first to the
office to investigate.
Won rive me the of q
patient brought here yesterday be-
cause of an automobile accident" he
asked.
"Only one auto case registered yes
terday--Aline lWhitley-room $40
elevator at the left explained the
obliging attendent.
This surely is fate" chuckled Dick.
..rI-I,a he ..a Landed thief