Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-09-07
AN ACCIDENT
BY ROSE {. sIMKo !
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20 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicats.l

Jerry experience NREiueu lntS, IOE luc,
incident was truly accidental, with re-
suits emphatlcally miraculous.
Jerry would never have agreed to
make up the foursome had he known
that Dave Hallor was included. 1t
would not be very courteous to with
draw at the last minute, so he greeted
Dave on the first tee with slight nod
and casual remark about the.
weather.
Jerry Mahle did not approve Of Hal
lor, for various reasons, but chiefly be-
cause Martha Dale was classed as rea-
son No. !. Jerry had aspirations OF
building bungalow for Martha and
paying her hat bills for life, until Dave
Hallor interfered. 1t did not take
half an eye for Jerry to understand it
was growing painfully evident that
Martha appreciated Dawes company
and enjoyed his chocolates to a dis
concerning degree.
Teeing up this moment0us after
noon, Jerry considered all these events
1t was only natural that he should alb
sent mindedly have gone out of his
turn, or perhaps it was whim Of
fate, and Dave and lie drove off the
first tee almost at the same time.
There was a resounding whack, fol-
lowed by the crashing of glass! The
golfers looked at each other, aghast.
One ball had broken through the wind
shield of an idle automobile, parked
in the road adjoining the fairway.
Whose bali was responsible? No
one had seen which way the individual
balls went, as both had been badly
sliced.
4 guess it's yours, jerry" one mem
Der Of the foursome ventured. Il
wasn't really looking, but thought
Dawes went into the bushes"
Jerry promptly dashed away to offer
his apologies and make reparation for
the damages. Breathlessly he reached
the car. To his amazement he found
girl in a swoOn. One cheek was
bleeding from a slight scratch occa-
stoned by flying bit of glass.
'Martha!" he gasped. He looked
about helplessly. What should he do?
In another second he stepped into the
car, gently showed Martha aside, and
seating himself behind the wheel,
started the motor.
"Where are you golngT Dave
shouted.
ITO the hospital! She's hurt ="
Jerry called back, his face very white.
He drove down the green roadway
and was thrilled to have her head rest
ing on his shoulder. Martha was
snuggled against him! Martha's hair
ribbons were flying about and against
his face!
Presently she stirred uneasily!
ooh, what has happened? she
asked in alarm.
"Stay quiet Your hurt! I'm TAX.
ing you to the hospitalw
Jerry Mahle, you stop right here !
l refuse to be taken to any hospital I
I was more frightened than hurt!s
The surprised youth brought the car
to halt. His heart thumped with
the knowledge that Martha still
seemed to enjoy the comfort Of his
shoulder. With a handkerchief he
mopped the blood from her smooth
cheek.
The proximity was dangerous. It
fred Jerry with astounding courage.
Perhaps he was unaccountable for his
words, but Martha believed he was
sincere about it.
Martha, love you! I'm just wild
about you! Please tell me you care
for mep
And without waiting Jerry bent his
head to kiss her. Then the miracle
happened, She held up her lips to
meet his! The world at once became
full of flowers and birds and beautiful
things.
When they came back to the world,
Jerry was first TO speak.
"But-but Martha, what about
Dave? Oh, I'm cadl should not
have compromised you like this !"
"You dead old goose!'' she said, ca.
ressing her cheek to his. didn't you
know 1t was you all the time? FL
merely let Dave rush me just to wake
you up and, see If you really wanted
mel" a-,;yt ,sssssssss s!9s ~
There followed another interval of
bliss, while no one looked.
Martht's toe kicked some round OBJ
ject, She bent down to pick up d
bright, new golf ball, the one that had
crashed through the windshield.
Jerry, here's you ball. We ought
to put 1t away as a remembrance of
our 3, enS ansSt szss.ss cs,-,-.-
"My balll" Jerry exclaimed "Why,
this isn't my BALL See, there's an H
painted on it. That's what Dave does
to all hts golf balls!"
anE-