San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-04

The manifold powers of circum
stance were in conspiracy against Ned
Cornet this late August afternoon. No
detail was important in itself. 1t had
been drizzling slowly and mOurnfully
| but driZzle is not uncommon in Seat.
tie, Ned Cornet had passing the
time pleasantly in the Totem Club
on Fourth street, doing nothing in
particular, nothing exceedingly bad
or good or even unusually diverting
| but such was quite customary prac-
tice with him. Finally, Comets spe-
cal friend, Rodney Coburn, had just
| returned from one of his hundred So
journs in far places--this time from
an especially attractive salmon stream
| in. Canada.
Coburns room at the Totem Club,
and the steward had gone thither
with tall glasses and ice. Coburn
had not returned empty handed from
Canada. Partly in celebration of his
return, and partly because of the
superior quality of the goods that
had accompanied him, his friend Ned
raised his afternoon limit from two
powerful pre-dinner cocktails to no
less than four richly amber whiskies-
and-sodas. Thus their meeting was
auspicious, and on leaving the club,
about seven, it came about that Ned
Cornet met the rain.
1t was not enough to bother him.
He didn't even think about it. 1t
was only lazy. SmoAy drizzle that
deepned the shadows of falling twi
light and blurred the lights in the
street. Ned Cornet had fire within
that more or less occupied his
thoughts.
In a space of time so short that it
rescmbled some half-glimpsed Incl
dent in a dream, Ned found himself,
still at his wheel, the car crosswise
in the street and the front wheels
almost touching the curb, terrible
and CHASTITY sobriety upon him.
Something had happened. He had
gone into perilous skid at the COR
ner of Fourth and Madison, the ear
had slid sickeningly out of his cou-
troll, and at the wrong instant a dark
shape, all too plainly another auto
mobile, had lurched out of the murk
of the rain.
Ned Cornet had had automobiles at
his command long before it was safe
for him to have his hands on them.
When cold sober he drove rather too
fast, none too carefully. but had an
almost incredible mastery over his
car. He knew how to pick his wheel
traces over bunny roads. and he
knew the exact curve that Il car
could take with safety in rounding a
corner. Even now. in the crisis that
had Just been-he had handled his
ear like the veteran he was. The
wonder was not that he had hit the
other car. but rather. considering the
speed with which he had come. that
il should continue to remain before
his sight, but little damaged. instead
of being shattered into kindling and
dust. Nevertheless it was not yet
time TO receive congratulations from
spectators. There had been serious
consequences enough. He was sud-
denly face to face with the fact that
in his haste TO get home for dinner
he had very likely obliterated hui
man life.
There was a curious, huddled heap
on the dim pavement. just beyond
the small car he had struck. 1t was
Il girl; she lay very still. and the
face half covered by the arm seemed
very white and lifeless. And blasted
by terror such as was never known
in all his wasted years Ned leaped,
raced, and fell TO his knees at her
side.
The car he had struck was one OF
the thousands of "jitneys" of which
he had so often spoke with contempt.
The girl was n shopgirl or factory
worker. on her wav home. Shaken
with horror. but still swift and strong
from the stimulous Of the crisis. he
lifted her head and shoulders in his
arms.
Then the girl smiled in his face.
I'm not hurt" he heard her saws.
seemingly in answer to some sense
less query of his. She shook her
head at the same time. and she
smiled as she did it. II know what
I'm saying. "she went on. I'm not
hurt-one-bit."
The little drama. as il hurled in an