New Britain herald., 1926-07-03
HER MAN s: s:: ;::::;;: ;:::'' ;;;; Illustrated York chg)
-s zz-N

snatched his hand. Come along Peter! You're going to drive me t' Hillsboro-where Ranny is, aren' you?" she asked him.
 She knew he would before sh' spoke to him.
 She sat beside him. silent as | ghost, for the first five miles.
 Fatally injured! Fatally in jured!" was all she thought, as th' miles flashed by. The words saic themselves over and over in hel brain, with a maddening rhythm.
 Fatally injured! Fatally in' jured!"
 CHAPTER LXIV
 Halfway to Hillsboro Peter spoke for the first time since they had left Aunt Agony's bouse.
 The car was passing 8 "barbecue" restaurant. It's steam-covered win dows were bright gold against the night, and a burst of music came from it's LOOT as someone stepped out into the darkness.
 Want to stop for 6 cup of cof- fee?" Peter asked shortly and began to slow down on his speed.
 Sylvia shook her head. "No-just let's keep going" she answered.
 They kept on going. They went like the wind down between the walls of darkness that edged the road. They ate up the miles.
 But, fast as they went, every mile sened like ten to Sylvia.
 It semed to her that she never would reach Fanny. Her fear for him made every moment torment.
 When the twinkling lights of the little town came into sight at last, she gave long half-sobbing breath of relief. Only few minutes now only a few minutes.
 As the car jolted into the main street she turned 10 the man beside her and laid her gloyed fingers on his arm for just the tiniest second.
 Peter, l haven't any money with me" she began. But she didn't need to finish her sentence, for almost instantly sine felt Peters leather bill fold in her hands.
 There's not much in It." he said. gruffly, staring straight ahead Of him at the dark street, but l guess they'll cash check for me at the hospital. Don't worry. I'll fix every thing up. Let's see, the paper said the injured had been taken to Hope hospital. didn't 1t? 1 think it's down this street."
 He spoke in an ordinary tone It frightened Sylvia up. just to hear the sound of his voice. It seemed inn possible that Ranny should die while Peter was so matter-of-fact about him.
 "They've done everything possible for Fanny, l know" he went on, Tn his deep, comforting voice. But I'm sure you'll feel better about him II old pr. Buzzard has look at him, won't you?"
 Sylvia nodded silently. She thought there was no doctor in the world to compare with the old doc tor who had taken care of the Starr family for two generations.
 "An right I'll telephone for him while you're at the hospital said Peter. And I'll take a room for you at some hotel or other, up here. l suppose you'll want to stay here all night. won't you?"
  wouId induce her to leave the little town until it was settled whether Ranny was going to live or dle' ana Peter knew it.
 How good Peter was, she thought He was so good that you got used 10 the idea of his goodness and dldh pay much attention to him until you were in trouble. That was when Peter scored-when he could be use full to someone in need of help. People rather forgot his existence at other times.
 His eyes were like the faithful brown eyes of St. Bernard dog, as he helped her out of the car min ute later. and held open the hospital door for her to enter.
 For an instant there flashed across her mind the memory of his face a few nights before-or was It last night? She couldn't remember clearly when it was. Centuries seem- ed to have passed in the last few hours.
 But she remembered Peters face, as he stood before the fire in Aunt Agony's parlor and told her that he loved her. He loved her so unself- .shly that now he was taking her to Ranny. She wondered if he saw the irony of it.
 She stole swift look at him and his face showed nothing but con- cern now. There was nothing lover like about him now. He had gone back into the niche where he be- longed. He was simply q good friend again.
 He took her arm and they went up the steps into the receiving room at the hospital.
 A white-capped nurse sat at a desk and looked at them graVely as they came mp to her
 It was Peter who told her what they had come for.
 In a sort of daze, Sylvia listened to him. and heard the nurse answer him. She didn't know what either of them said. Absurdly she noticed how the green-shaded lamp on the desk threw green shadows on the nurses face.
 Nothing had ever seemed so un' real to her in her life as her walk down the corridor of the hospital toward the ward at the end. She seemed to be walking through a dream.
 Two white-clad internes came along, showing stretcher. She look ed at them as she might have look ed at shadows thrown on the screen in moving picture theater. They weren't real. Nothing was real Nothing but the fear and agony in her own heart
 She went through a door into a long shadOWV room with many