Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-03


girl.
She reached past him and tried to-
open the door but his arm shot oft
and caught her back. For mo
ment she lay trembling like d wild
thing against him, and iii that
moment John Steele had an ompres-
sion of a mass of short curling hair,
and small heart-shaped face out
Of which blazed eyes half mac with
fear. The terror was out Of all Pro.
! portion to what had happened and
he released her instantly. lis voice
when he spoke was short with
anger.
Il suppose you would have
thanked me if l had let you -olrA4it
suicide. l don't want to kiGnap you.
and I'm quite ready TO put you
down wherever you say"
AS he spoke he leaned forward
and gave directions to the driver,
and a moment later the car can't
10 a stop at the curb.
CHAPTER Ill
The Rescue
He had shrunk back in cor
- ner Of the car and the light
~ from a street lamp shone fulS
on her. John Steele could see that
she was making tremendous ell
fort to control the trembling that
shook her slight body, but 1t puz-
zled him that she should fear him
so much. He felt irritated, almost
angry, and his voice was icy as ne
said conventionally: you're quite
free to go. I'm sorry that my at
temnt to be considerate fell so far
short of the mark"
She smiled then, and the smile
lit up her features surprisingly. She
looked like an elf with her short
curling hair, and she had little
trick of crinkling her eyelids that
was strangely alluring.
Again John Steele felt that little
stir of interest, that vague desire not
to let her go out of his life.
"Who are you?" he asked sudden
ly. forgetful for the moment of the
way she had shrunk away from him.
She laughed outright, little CUR
Cling laugh like that of child. ION,
I'm no one in particular"
"You look like a pixie" he said,
his eyes on her face. But as he
looked at her he saw the happiness
and lightness fade out of her eyes
and the look of fear return. She
seemed such child to wear a look
like that on her face. Why, she
couldn't be more than seventeen or
eighteen, and evidently life had not
treated her any too kindly.
"Good-by," she said quickly; "and
-and-thank you, for everything.
"You won't let me see you safely
homer"
She shook her head and, without
another word, John Steele found
himself helping her out of the car.
She had pulled her wet hat down
over her curls, and without another
look in his direction set off like a
little shadow down the street. He
stood by the car watching her a mo-
ment, and then, acting on sudden
impulse, he decided to follow her.
In all his life John Steele had
never before done anything without
seriously considering it. Everything
he did was carefully analysed.
thought out beforehand, but tonight
a breathless energy urged him on
and, hurriedly paying the taxi driver,
he strobe down the street after the
slim, flying figure.
She did not look behind her, but
as he came closer he saw that her
footsteps were tagging. Once she
stopped and leaned against a railing
as though she were exhausted. And
then suddenly she dropped like a
crumpled butterfly. When he reach
ed her he saw that she had tainted.
In an instant he had lifted her in
his arms and hailed a passing taxi
The driver looked at him closely, but
when Steele gave the address Of
his own house on East Seventy
eighth street the driver evidently
thought the neighborhood conserva-
tive enough and the whole affair
none of his business, anyway, and
promptly drove off.
Inside the taxi, Steele sat upright,
with the girls curly head against
his shoulder. She seemed incredi-
bly, small and slight. Her weight
when he had lifted her had seemed
nothing at all. and now she lay
against him utterly unconscious
while the taxi hummed quickly
along. Steele had no idea why he
was taking her home W tn him The
sensible thing to do would be to
drive to the nearest hospital, but
somehow he did not want to do that,
and for the life of him he could not
have told why. A half smile crossed
his face as he thought of the I'M