San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-05
Begin Here To-day.

Ned Cornet, son of wealthy Cod
frov Cornet. celebrates with his
friend. Rodney Coburn. the return of
tha latter from Canada. Ned leaves
the Totem Club in happy frame OF
mind and drives homeward in the
drizzling rain.
Ncds car goes into n perilous skid,
knocking down Bess Gilbert. shop
rirl. on her way home. \ policeman
fclls Cornet to report to Judge Ross
man in the morning and advises Ned
TO settle for damage done to a pass
ing jitncy.
Ned is allowed to continue on his
wov when the girl is found to be I'M
injured. He asks her 10 ride TO her
home in his ear. Ned returns home
10 tell his father of the accident.
Now 90 on with the story.
Godfrey had fought upward from
utter poverty to the presidency and
ownership Of one of the greatest fur
houses of his country, partly through
the exercise of the principle of abso-
lutte business integrity, mostly
through the sheer dynamic force of
the man. His competitors knew him
as a fair but remorseless fighter; but
his fame carried far beyond the con-
fines of his resident city. Bearded
trappers. running their lines through
the des0late wastes of the north,
were used TO seeing him come ven
turing up their gray rivers in the
spring. fur-clad and wind-tanned-
finding his relaxation and keeping
fit by personally attending TO the
buying of some OF his furs. Thus it
was hard for a soft mn to feel easy
in his presence.
Ned Cornet was somewhat down
cast and sullcn as he entered the
choerfully lighted hallway of his
fathers house.
In the soft light it was immediate
~ evident that he was. his father $
son. yet there were certain marked
differences between them. Warrior
blood had some way failed to come
down TO Ned. For all his stalwart
body. he gave no particular image OF
strength.
He took his place at the stately
table so gravely and quietly that his
parents interest was at once wax
ened. His father smiled quietly at
him across the board.
"Well. Ned" he asked at last.
what is it today?"
Nothing very much. A very close
call, though. to real tragedy. y might
as well tell you about it, as likely
enough it'll be in the papers tOmor-
row. | went into bad skid at
Fourth and Madison, hit jitney, and
before we got quite stopped managed
10 knock n girl over on the pave
ment. Didn't hurt her a particle.
But there's hundred dollars dam
age to the jit-and pretty severe
scare for your young son."
As he talked. his eyes met those OF
his father. almost as if he were afraid
to look away. The older man made
little comment. He went on with
his dessert, and soon the talk veered
to other matters.
The older man finished his coffee,
slowly lighted long, sleek cigar,
and for n moment rested with elbows
on the table.
"NTell, Ned, I suppose I might as
we'll get this off my chest" he began
at last. "Now is as suspicious a time
as any. You say you got a good
scare today. I'm hoping that it put
you in mood so tina ut least you
can give me a good hearing
The man spoke rather humbly
The air was electric when he paused
Ned leaned forward.
AYou've been very attentive
son" Godfrey Cornet paused again
The trouble, I'm afraid. is that
haven't been very attentive father
I've attended to my busineSs-anc
little else-and now I'm paying thC
piper.
please bear with me. 1t was only
little accident. as you say. The
trouble of it is that it points the way
that things are going. 1t could very
easily have been n terrible accident
a. dead girl under your speeding
wheels. a charge of manslaughter in
stead of the good joke of being ar
rested for speeding, a term in thu