The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-12
Eoening Story
The Girl in the Car.
BY KATE EDMONDS.

building, found his car in the GUS
tomary spot, disconr ected the locking
device with his key, and in a moment
was threading his way among the
fnorthbound vehicles; out on the Bark
tway he speeded, for the night was cold
ana clear, and the tang of early au-
tumn was in the air.
| In Winchester, a coy bachelor din
ner awaited him, then an easy chair,
a pipe and book by the log fire. Why
marry? he asked himself doubtfully, as
ne swung around curve into lonely
stretch of road.
Something cold and hard. touched
his right ear. He did not move his
head. He knew that some enc was
| holding a gun. What do you want p"
he called back.
] 'Stop!" 1t was a soft feminine
voice, but very firm.
| THE female of the -species!" he
calculated, bringing the car to an
abrupt stop.
'"Turn around and drive back to Ego
Broadway" commanded the voice.
ION The way!" called Harkins cheer
] lily. Anything else, ma'am?"
| No answer, but the something cold
and hard still irritated his ear. He
hoped she knew what she was about
he didn't, but he obediently swung the
car about and headed for his office.
He had a great respect for firearms;
how short tempered a gun could be,
At Columbus Circle he stopped.
| I'm going to look around,"' he an
inounced.
The gun left his ear, but when he
stiffly turned his aching neck he found
the rear of the car in shadow and only
the CLEAN of the still menaeing
1 weapon.
Miss Holdup, put down that gun or
1 shall call a policeman" he threat
tened.
you? Call an officer?'' She was
contemptuous. ''Drive on, please, be-
fore 1 turn you over to the police for
stealing my car"
your care" he blurted. but the po-
ilicemans whistle ordered them to
move with the traffic. your carp" he
repeated over his shoulder.
Certainly, or my fathers car. You
are very daring-but please go back
Ito 22O Broadway"
| In amazed silence he did drive back
Ito the office building, but it was dark
| "What shall I do now?" he asked
patiently.
There was a silence, then in a wav-
Eering voice she answered helplessly.
81 don't know! I never arrested a man
beforer'
| Neither have l." he confessed, "but
perhaps this officer on the corner can
straighten things out.
| Patrolman Ditty listened to their
tales. The girl spoke in low, culti-
waited voice, saying that she had driven
| the car downtown that afternoon to
her fathers office, had locked it with
the safety device and taken the eleva-
Itor to his private office. Finding him
in conference with a client she had
gone back to the car, settled herself in
the tonneau and in the gloom of the
raised top had mapped little. 81
woke up out on the Parkway" she
Tended, land so I CROPPED and found the
place where my father keeps his pistol
land I made the thief turn and drive
back here"
"See your license, miss growled
the officer.
She produced it and also repeated
the car number. e.
The officer poked around the ma
chine with a searchlight. Wrong
dope on that. miss" he came back to
report. This is the same make but
a different number Now, young fell
Her." ne growled at Harkins.
Something funny about this" he
decided presently. "Think I'll lock
you up, young man" He took the
girls name and address, put her in a
itaxicab and then commanded Harkins
to drive to the police station.
"Why did you let the girl go?-
asked Harkins. peevishly. "She had
my car
| u.
she's all right"
| Harkins slid down in his seat and
smiled feebly. t'Shew me how to get to
Mulberry street, he said humbly. At
the station house he was permitted TO
use a telephone.
sNervy guy" muttered Patrolman
tDitty, as he went back to his beat,
after making his report.
| Harkins had called J. B. Porter's
New Jersey home. but the LAWYER was
not theres zone of the family will
do" he said. but he was advised to
call later. This he did and clear,
sweet voice responded: ST am sorry,
but my father is not at home. Any
MESA ge4'
"This is Harkins. Mr.. Porter's legal
associate am in the Tombs."
1.-The Tombs." she gasped. II am
SO sorry
.Thank you" he grinned into the
transmitter. my automobile was
stolen-or taken by mistake and here
I ami
ooh! How strange-yeu were ar
rested because some one stole your
"well-she said my car was her car
and with the evidence all against
4 "Got away " came the faint echo.
Because she mentioned her fathers
name-and-theyNw won't let me talk
any more-say I'm talking too much"
Coming right over" he heard be-
fore an officer elbowed him away from
the instrument.
'Who do you think you are? A
guest of the eity-walking into jail as
if you owned the whole shooting
matcht" growled the policeman.
| Must own some of it-taxpayer-
guest of the city, rather like that"
chuekled Harkins. "Can stay down
here-somebedy coming along to bail
me out"
l. Then came ]. B. Porter, shaking
with laughter. and a lovely girl who
chung to her father and begged Har-
kins's forgiveness for her blunder J.
B. Porter bailed his future son-in-Iaw
(none of them knew the fact Just
them out of jail. and all went happily
thereafter.
Harkins says the pleasantest hours