Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-12-12
INCIDENT
TO THE BUSY
TRAFFIC

By HELEN C. BENNETT


ON NitlN Jih
n Halloran's uplifted arm ruled
as far as the eye could reach,
the maroon limousine in which size
rode always passed without waiting.
1t was two months since she had first
come. block in the traffic, and jim,
strldlng from his central post had
found himself just outside her door.
The door window was open; faint
odor of violets came to him. He looked
in and encountered her eyes-dark, and
infinitely sad-and then caught his
breath at the sheer loneliness of her
proud head, the golden hair cleaning
beneath the small hat, the skin soft
and deadly white under two hectic
spots Of rouge, the dash Of crimson
Of her mouth, the fine nose, the softly
nodded chin. But 1t was her eyes that
held him. Jim Halloran saw in quick
succession, somber woods with menace
In their blackness; the night fog,
fitting mlasma on a lonely pOol-the
face of man whom he had once
walked beside-on the way to execu-
mass about him. Moving at his direction
the machines fell into order going on.
AS he passed the maroon car a second
time he found her intent gaze still upon
him. His white gloved hand went to
his cap in salute. She smiled family.
Under the paint the curves of her lips
were delicious.
After that he watched for her, and
she knew. At first she came alone.
Then one day a red-faced, pudgy man
sat beside her, large nosed, with highly
cOlored clothes, whose fat hand, held
outside the window, clasped a cigar,
half smoked, with band on. Jim
knew his kind and wondered. After
ten years on the police force Jim Hal
loran reverenced good" women. Her
eyes sought his; his hand flew to
salute; she smiled family. The man
stared.
But nearly always she came at the
same hour, and alone. Each day her
eyes sought his, questioning, recelv-
ing in return the answer he sent her as
best he could. Passing quite close one
afternoon in late spring, Jim, looking
in at the open window, started. I'm
der layer of powder, half concealed,
but certain, one Of her lovely eyes was
blackened. Seeing as he saw, she
shivered. Jlm's blood boiled. He
nursed his wrath until the next day
when the red-faced man sat at her
side. When they had passed Jim In
advertently signaled a stoppage in both
directions. His thought seethed. That
for herl
She did not come the next day nor
the next. The third day as the maroon
car came in sight Jim abruptly halted
traffic on the cross street, suspendlng
a long line of cars that had just begun
to move, to the just indignation Of a
dozen drivers who hastily TANNED their
brakes. The maroon car came on and
stopped by him. A gloved hand
beckOned.
Jim put his head within the open
window. Her eyes had grown larger.
They were great pools of sadness. Her
cheeks still held their hectic dabs of
rouge, but the red lips were bitten
white She leaned towards Jim and
spoke In little breathy gasps
"Oficer, could yOu-would you" she
extended bit of pasteboard Jim took
1t from the shaking hand. He read the
FIVE words at glance and nodded.
She was gone.
"Wlll you come this evening"" Eve
nings were long. He was Off at seven.
II would take him half an hour to get
to the address on the card, apartment
49," not even her name. He would
just freshen up bit. 1t was eight
when he walked up the two flights Of
steps to her door Cautiously he had
avoided the elevator. What were two
fights2
He waited in patience while he rang
the bell at 38 three times In patience
until an odor assailed his nostris-a
thin sweetIsh trickle. AZ he cOughed
he awoke With an oath he put his
shoulder to the door marked 49, At
the third heave the wrenched hinges
gave; from out the open doorway
surged great pillows Of that suffocatlng
yapor. Mufillng his head in his coat,
Jim fought to window and flung 1t
open. Gasping he leaned out over the
sill. The outside air brought him back
to perception Of things about him His
hand, fumbllng along the wall touched
switch. She lay just beside him, her
head barred the golden glory Of her hair
cleaning in the sudden light. He stood
full minute beside her; drinking in
the beauty Of the pallid face with its
closed eyes. a Voices sounded In the
corridor. Jim stepped into the next
room, found the cock and closed H.
The elevator boy and the red-faced
man had entered. The boy with one
glance at the still figure, turned and
fed, but the man walked to the bed
and looked at her. A culver shook his
bulk; he raised himself erect and
stared at Jim.
"You," he wondered. How did you
find herT'
81 have a friend who IS a Janltor
somewhere about here" lied Jim
steadily. 81 thought he was here. l
came along the hall and smelled the
gas"
Queer" commented the other man.
He said no more The elevator boy,
shrill-volced, was bringing In people,
n doctor, vOluble Janitor. jim Hal
lOran took his part as an officer The