Evening star., 1927-11-18
THE EVENING STORY

middle OF the block a car was stand
ing with its top crashed In by a fallen
tree. The curtains, which had been
up. were torn to ribbons. Gus caught
sight OF the car and In spite Of his per
turbed state OF mind over Cora's safe
ty he slowed down and looked closer
with narrow scrutinizing eyes at the
license number.
1t was Demons and no mistake
What was the bus dispatcher's car
doing in this neighborhood? Gus
stopped his bus and said to the two
men passengers: Seems TO he
pretty little smashup on the othe,
side of the street. Think Ill go over
and take look at it,"
The two men followed him, pulling
up their coat collars as the rain was
still coming down in Il deiuge that
dimmed even the radiance Of the
street lights at corners and made tn.
center Of the block as dark as black
night. The basement shops had their
doors closed against the storm ana
the pavements were practically de-
serted. The lights were out on the
damaged car and only the reflection
from the bus lights on the opposite
sids ot the street helped the men and
Gus to make nut the wreckage. They
removed the fallen tree with a good
deal of Juggling and felt inside Of the
car To ascertain II there might he
any one In there hurt. Gus hand IN
passing over the rear seat, discovered
that it was not a regularly uphol-
stored one Just a built-in box with
a thin cushion over it. He struck
match and shielding the pickering
light with his big hand. then bade one
Of the men pull OF the cushion and
/ ,ieA ii -
resented a reir snat.
"Ill be jiggered a regular bo"t-
Logging car--and loaded. too. to it's
capacity" Gus Strengthened up with
a long. low whistle. well, the old
saying is that It's an i'll wind that
| doesn't blow somebody good He
| then asked IL either OF the men who
had hepeld him pull off the tree could
| drive. Both shook their heads. and
/ he told them he would pay them to- sit
| in his bus for him until he could come
or send hack for it. They hesitated.
| hut when assured that a policeman
| couldn't get them for doing that. they
agreed.
"If there IL no damage to this en-.
CINE. III be back i'm an hour or less"
| said Gus. jumping to the front ut the
| damaged car and beginning to crank
| 1t. The engine began to hum and Gus
made for the wheel. but as he threw
| it into gear, a streak of fame came
through one or the darkened windows
| and n bullet entered his left shoulder.
| The two passengers dived across the
street and into the bus. but Gus was
| halted only for one moment by the
| stinging. painful surprise. He gripDed
| the wheel with his right hand and
| guided the car around corners speed
! is1sS for ~. n ot N .
every traffic law. and would have en-
dangered life had there ieen any in
| the rain-drenched streets to endanyer.
! One glance at the glass box Office
| when he came in sight of 1t showed
| him that no harm had come To Cora
! from the storm. and with mighty
grinding OF breaks and stripping OF
gears the busted flivver came to-
stop before her window. Gus Tell ior-
ward over the wheel. unconscious.
| Cora's cry brought Policeman Finn
running from the corner and the two
OF them lifted the bleeding man TO
the station floor. Cora raced to tele-
| phone for the hospital ambulance, and
| the license number and whisky in the
/ false back seat of the wrecked car had
| to serve for explanation until suff1e
| hours :ater. Then as Cora sat beside
| n hospital he'd holding the hand Of
| weak, nale-faced Gus, the first woids
| ne whspered were:
| you'll get the 500 to pay on bum
! 2alow soon now. honey. Think ct IL
bHirc Donnon all the time bootiesginE
| to the garage men and Finn and that
detective not getting the dope on
him.
"Yes; isn't it wonderful? But I'd
rather not hud any $500 than for you
| to take such "A chance" Cora returned
with tenderness.
"That amt half the chance I'd take
! for YOU. honey Sirl-Abssides the storm
made it possible for me. know the
old saying. IT'S an III wind that
doesn't blow somebody good.
| THE. END.
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