Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-09-19
HAVE A HEART, BILL
BY n. LOUIS RAYBOLD
nVOU'LL break your precious neck
" . - On - ~ - - - r ~ ~ - 90 ~ - q. I" " m m !
20 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)

on two wheels, land then where1l l
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 a 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 a
| tiance. The trouble with Sylvia, ac-
cording to Bill, was that she had been
ION her own" too long and was in dire
| need of the advice of at least a 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 Sylvias precious and also
slim and stately neck served as a 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 party to be given by
a mutual friead.
9TH send you word if l change my
mind" she TOLD him across the init
mate little tea table, adding unfeelinS
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. night of rain, q drop
ping thermometer, the streets Il tare
of ice Billy, detained by unavoidable
business long after his usual hour OF
departure from the office, telephoned
Sylvia in desperation.
"Sylyia. | don't see how | can make
that party tonight and, anyhow, you
refused my escort. But-surely you're
not going yourself, At least you won't
be 80 foolhardy rs to drive your carr
BiIly's nervous choice of words was
unfortunate.
Nothing could keep me homer
Sylvia cheerfully informed him. II
promised Alice to bring Nout some ia
vOrs, anyway BesideS-no man dareS
me to drive the car without my calling
his bluff,
"Oh, Sylvia, you know l 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
mex, day and Billy was free for what
was left of the evening.
Hastily, without stopping for any
supper he drove 70 the little apart
ment which Sylvia called home. There
he learned from the girl who made up
the other half of the bachelor menage,
that Sylvia had left some time ago.
BILLY climbed back into his car, I'M
decided whether to go home and to
bed Of on t. 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 a bit faster where
the roads sh1ne white and glistening
with smooth, icy surfaces. Billy con
tinually saw Hylvia's car as it must
have flashed along under her dare
devil hand, bouncing, swaying-oh,
Lord, he hoped not-skidding Well,
Sylvia was tlways lucky.
Wait. What was that dark object
ahead? Yes--at that group of trees.
Why. an automobile upended and EN-
bracing Il huge elm like a mammoth
bear in the darkness. Near by seemed
10 be a huddle Of robes.
l:ily's car had stopped with sick
en.Gg skid. Right at the first he had
hnu,n the car was Sylvla's. Although
his legs seemed suddenly inert Billy
somehow made the distance from his
car to the hudGle Of robes In the
! glare of his own headlights Sylvias
! white face looked up at him, and with
| recognition came queer little twisted
mile that turned the mans heart to
water within him.
"Vm not hurt, liilly, not really. i
came ont easy on the snow But my
ankle is Wgyn"hed or something. Any
how knew it was more sensible to
lyag tie yo@cs about ME and wait
untN some one happened along than
,ry to walk
Enly's glance seemed to wander to
number of objects strewn on the
| 4ncw shout her. Why they We're big
red hearts. oh, yes undoubtedly the
favors she had spoken OF which had
/ been thrown about IN the spill. Sylvia,