Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-09-12


quentially, and he listened with genu-
Inc interest in his handsome eyes. Per-
haps this artless revelation of girls
heart was novel to a man who found
the sex remarkable In all its phases,
perhaps with beauty like Ellen's cp-
posite him, and delicious breakfast
under way, he would have found any
thing she said equally absorbing.
Warmed and contented, they went
out to the car again, and again Ellen
was wrapped in snugly, and disguised
by the big dark glasses.
"Half-past two" said Gibbs, again
at the wheel "That means that we
will run into the city just about four
1clock."
The car moved smoothly away over
the snow. Ellen was beginning to love
the steady, gliding motion. She secret
ly wished that there was longer
journey ahead.
The snow was surely coming; dark
little cottOny clouds were gathering
ahead, and pressing low over the silent
earth. There was no sunshine now,
and the air seemed heavier and cold
err The roads were almost deserted
"Never you mind. we'll beat itl"
Gibbs said with great enjoyment.
''Look out for signpost, and tell me
where we are"
columbus Circle twelve miles,
Ellen announced, after few minutes.
Twelve miles-well, we must look
out for the Sunday speed cops nowl"
He slackened his pace. They were
running through well-settled region.
Ellen began to realize that the trip
was almost over. The day had run
away; day always to be wonderful
and treasured memory.
Afterward, she tried to remember
tust how she was shaken from her
inusings. Like all accidents, the thing
was simplicity itself. They were run
ming parallel to a trolley track, on
the wide street under the beginning Of
the elevated trains. There was car
on the track few hundred feet ahead,
and next to the car man driving an
RuOTLuOuS Team VI nOIoc5 anu I'LL
empty truck. Both truck and trolley
were travelling in the same direction
as the automobile.
The street was so wide that there
was no question, even In Ellens mind,
of the propriety of passing the car and
truck, especially as the stretch Of
street beyond was absolutely empty.
Gibbs turned his wheel toward the
left, and was running unconcernedly
by, when the motorman suddenly
sounded an ear-piercing whistle-a ter
rife, prolonged blast of the siren with
which trolley cars are sometimes
equipped In the country. The horses,
with a wild plunge of terror, flung
themselves straight across the path of
the motorcar coming up behind them,
almost unseating their driver, and
tangling themselves In reins and har-
ness.
Gibbs jerked his car violently to the
left, instinctively avoiding the plung-
ing hoofs: there was a moment of hor-
rible sLsdding and grinding in the
snow that edged the ditch, then the
roadster turned abruptly on it's side,
and Ellen was spilled out, with Gibbs
on top of her.
The girl has hardly time for a mo-
ment of hidaeus apprehension and
panic before nhe was on her feet
again, with hA arm about her, laugh
ing with the Nevulsion and the shock.
The skid had saved them, for the car
was turned at an exact angle, and so
had slipped with her lights firmly
wedged against the further side of the
ditch, and had no opportunity to turn
turtle, as she must otherwise have
done.
For a few confused moments Ellen
hid her dazed face in the fur of the
mans shoulder; no, she really wasn't
hurt, she had landed on her shoulder,
honestly she was not hurt, 1t just hurt
her for a moment, that was all And
It had scared her
Gibbs, treasured, began to nurse a
wrenched wrist of his own, and to dis
cuss the accident with the two carmen
and the truck driver with the usual
anger and threats. What was the
sense Of blowing whistle right into
the horses ears
You was passing too close to the
edge of the road anyway" shouted
the motorman furiously. Upon Gibbs
taking his number, he blew his whistle
again, and banged triumphantly down
she line. The truck driver. little
frightened, standing at the horses
heads, Expressed his satisfaction that