The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-03-30
HAVE A HEART, BILL
BY II. LOUIS RAYBoLD
- - . - .
10 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.9

wards as the car made turn almost
on two wheels, land then where'u
be?
Giving some other charming girl an
ill-tempered calldown," returned Syl-
via sweetly. and pressed trinity shod
toe on the accelerator.
No further words passed between
them as the obedient machine shot for
ward, fairly flew along the level
stretch of concrete and drew up in
front of the little tea shop where Bill
and Sylvia frequently came for sand
witch, chat, and, all too frequently Of
late, bit of quarrel.
The trouble with Bill, according TO
Sylvia. was that he was taking want
ing to be engaged to be the same as
being engaged and presumed on that
notion to hand out the advice Of
fiance The trouble with Sylvia, &C
cording TO Bill, was that she had been
"on her own" too long and. was in dire
need of the advice OF at least parent
at best, husband.
This matter of driving her roadster,
for example Running an ambulance
in France had apparently had for no
good reason imbued Sylvia with an
utter disregard of speed laws, traffic
regulations or grades and curves OF
the road
And today his gloomy prophecy
concerning Sylvia's precious and also
slim and stately neck served as pre-
liminary TO as serious disagreement
as the two had ever had. So that at
the end Sylvia refused to allow him TO
escort her to a party to be given by
/ a mutual friend.
"Tu send you word if l change my
mind" she told him across the init
mate little tea table, adding unfeeling-
/ ly. land you know how seldom that
isl
Billy, sitting silently beside her on
the way home, wondered why the
deuce he couldn't let Sylvia go her
own gait and forget her.
The day of the party dawned in
auspiciously. A night Of rain, drop
ping thermometer, the streets glare
of ice. Billy, detained by unavoidable
business long after his usual hour OF
departure from the office, telephoned
Sylvia in desperation.
sylvia, / don't see how 1 can make
that party tonight and, anyhow, you
refused my escort. But-surely you're
! not going yourself, AT least you won't
be SO foolhardy as TO drive your car :!
| Billy's nervous choice Of words was
unfortunate.
Nothing could keep me home J!
Sylvia cheerfully informed him. i
promised Alice to bring out some IA
yors. anyway. Besides-no man dares
me to drive the car without my calling
his bluff"
"Oh, Sylvia, you know / didn't
mean" began Billy miserably, but a
click at the other end told him he was
talking without an audience. A few
minutes later an unexpected hitch
POSTPONED further business until the
next day and Billy was free for what
was left of the evening.
Hastily, without stopping for any
supper, he drove TO the little apart.
ment which Sylvia called home. There
he learned from the girl who made W
the other half Of the bachelor menage
that Sylvia had left some time ago
Billy climbed back into his car un
decided whether TO go home and tc
bed or on to the party. Then be
fore his eyes danced the vision Of Syl
via. On TO the party, TO be sure.
And on to the party it was-at first
creeping cautiously through sleety city
streets. then going bit faster where
the roads shone white and glisteninE
with smooth, icy surfaces. Billy con
tinually saw Sylvia's car as it must
have flashed along under her dare
devil hand, bouncing, swaying-oh
Lord. he hoped not-skidding Well
Sylvia war always lucky.
Wait. Waat was that dark objec'
ahead? Yes-at that group of trees
Why, an automobile upended and EN-
bracing a huge elm like mammoth
bear in ths darkness. Near by seemed
to be a hu36ie Of robes.
Billy's car had stopped with sick
ening skid. Right at the first ne nae
known the ear was Sylvia's. Although
his legs ,e.smed suddenly inert Bill!
somehow made the distance from hi'
car to the huddle of robes. In th'
glare of his own headlights Sylvia
white face cooked up at him, and witt
recognition came a queer little twisted
smile thas turned the mans heart II
water within him.
"Pm MT hurt, Billy, not really.
came our easy on the snow. But M
ankle is Trenched or something. Any
how | krew it was more sensible e
; drag the robes about me and wal
until son,e one happened along thai
try to wslk."
Billy's glance seemed TO wander L
q number of objects strewn on thu
, snow abaut her Why. they were bi:
red hears! oh, yes undoubtedly th'
, fayors sae had spoken of which hat
been thrown about in the spill. Sylvia
catching his look, picked one up an'
held it cut.
"Havr a heart, Bill" she said witt
. q Whimsical laugh. and into that bi
of trite slang Bill read Sylvia's pie;
for forg Teness.
, KneelAg he took her in his arms
sIf it's your heart, my darling, giveI
! into my keeping forever and ever"
"Foreser and ever" nodded Sylvia
Cara. +o DispIace PARSONAGE.