San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-04
EDISON MARSHALL
J eW sH1Tsk1islS 0l,rls BROWN eohpAkH ,q.,

:, instant from the void, was alread,
done. Tragedy had been averted; j
was merely one of the thousands o
unimportant smash-ups that occur il
a great city every year. Some o
the spectators were already movinl
!, on. In just moment, before hal
dozen more words could be said
other cars were swinging by, and /:
| policeman was on the scene asking
questions and jotting down licens,
numbers. Just for moment he PAUSED
at Ned's elbow.
"Your mme' and address, please?'
he asked coldly.
| Ned whirled, turning his eyes from
the girls face for the first time, "NeG
| Cornet," he answered. And he gave
his fathers address on Queen Anne
Hill.
"Show up before Judge Rossmar
in the morning" he ordered. "Tht
jitney there will send their bills to
you. I'd advise you to pay EN-"
"Tll pay EN-" Ned agreed. "I'h
throw in an extra twenty to pay for
their loss of time.
"This young lady says she amt
hurt" the policeman went on. 1T
certainly is no credit to you that she
amt. There is plenty of witnesses
here if she wants to make suit"
I'll give this young lady complete
satisfaction" Ned promised. He
turned to her in easy friendliness. a
queer little. crooked smile. winning
and astonishingly juvenile, appear
ing at his mouth. Now let's get
In my car. Ill take you home
and we can talk this over,
She directed him out Madison, into
district of humble, modest. hut
respectable residences. "It's lucky
you came along-I don't often get a
ride clear to my door,"
Lucky. l want to say if it wasn't
for all the luck in the world you'd be
going to the hospital instead. I'm
taking all the blame for that smash
back there - ] got off mighty lucky.
Now let's settle about the dress
and few other things. First
you're sure you re not hurt?"
He was little surprised at the
gay. >girlish smile about her lips. "Not
a . particle. 1t would be nice if |
could go to the hospital two weeks or
30. just TO rest-but / haven't the
conscience to do it. I'm not even
scratched-iust pushed over in the
street. And I'm afraid / can't even
charge you for the dress. I've always
had too much conscience. Mr.. Cornet."
of course I'm going to pay"
The dress cost oply about twenty
dollars-at a sale. And it doesn't seem
to be even damaged. OF course it will
have to be cleaned To save you the
embarrassment / see growing in your
face. I'll gladly send the bill to you if
you like"
In the bright street light he looked
up. studying her face. Her skin had
healthy freshness, pink like the
marvellous pink of certain spring wild
flowers. and she had delicate girlish
features that wholly suited his ap-
praising eye. This girl in his car was
in her early twenties-over. rather
than under-of medium height, with
the slender strength of an expert
swimmer, yet her beauty was that of
child.
He couldn't tell. at first, in Just
what her beauty lay. Other girls had
fresh skins. bright eyes, smiling lips
and masses of dark lustrous hair-and
some of them even had the simplicity
of good Manners Ned had quick.
sure mind. and for a moment he unused
over his wheel as he tried to puzzle it
out.
But soon after this Ned Cornet
caught himself with a whicpered oath.
He was positively maudlin! The ex-
element, the near approach of
tragedy. the Influence of the liquor
manifesting itself once more in his
veins were making him stare and think
like a silly fool. The girl was a par
ticularly attractive shopgirl or fac
tory worker. strong and athletic for all
her appealing slenderness, doubtless
pretty enough to waken considerable
interest in certain of his friends who
went in for that sort of thing. but he.
Ned Cornet. had other interests. The
gaze he bent upon her was suddenly in
different.
They were almost at their destina-
ton now, and he did not see tie sud