Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-01
CHAPTER XVII.

n r. CAvANAUGH, despite his
age and his position on the
steps, several feet farther
A-./ away from the curb, was the
first to reach Barbara's side.
Peter, In fact, was rigid with astonish-
ment, his face blank mask of amaze
ment. Only the sight of Cavanaugh's
dark figure bending low. obscuring
Peters vision of the little heap Of rose
and white on the running board,
brought his feet into tardy action.
DR.. Cavanaugh turned his head as
Peter reached his side.
IF your reaction time Is always as
slow as that" he observed, you'll be
at disadvantage in a number of Sit
uations."
What do you think" Peter stam-
mered namely.
Its nothing to be upset about" DR..
Cavanaugh assured him. He did not
add that the degree CT Peters concern
was rather excessive. The sight of a
faint could hardly be in itself alarm
ing to an experienced newspaper re-
porter TOO much tennis before
breakfast. I've warned her before that
she played too hard" he continued, ex-
tracing small bottle from his pocket.
He Withdrew the cork and waved the
phial under Barbara's nose she II
be all right in few minutes"
Peter abstractedly picked up the ten
mis- racquet from the sidewalk and
stood turning 1t In his fingers.
But can't lido something" he
asked tniserably,
Barbara's eyes opened YEARLY and
| closed again. In another moment she
had struggled unsteadily to her feet.
Ha ia kttr TY1 Ma
! naugh advised. You've gone at things
a little too hard and you paid the pen
atty In q fainting attack, Natures way
Of enforcing withdrawal from the scene
OF activity. A days rest in bed will
set you up finely"
"Mayn't I carry her IMP" Peter had
never in his life felt so incompetent.
There was hint of humor In DR..
| Cavanaugh's glance.
mo such romantic measures are
necessary, young man." he said. my
arm will be quite ufflcient-thoug1
less spectacular I'm not saying this
| to hurry you, but wasn't there some
thing about your trying to get story
to your ONCE ahead of tinie?"
suffering cats" Peter exclaimed. -
| forgot ell about it. You're right, I've
got to beat It,"
He was half way across the street
when DR.. Cavanaugh called him back.
s"By the way" he said, YOU might
rsturr1 my daughters tennis racquet
For the second time that morning
| Peter blushed, as he looked down and
saw the racquet unconscio,tsly clutch
ed In his hand He bounded back to
the curb and tilted 1t against the side
| Of the car.
Barbara said nothing. She leaned
against her fathers encircling arm, and
as far as Peter could Judge, was OBJ
livious Of any other presence.
"1f you're sure there's nothing can
do" Peter said hesitantly. 1t seemed
somehow heartless to leave her like
that 1t did not occur to him that. he
had left bodies strewn by the road
side after wreck in order to rush &c
the nearest telephone with his story
without similar qualm. He wanted
Barbara to. look at him. He wanted to
know whether her eyes would be those
of Alice In Wonderland grown up, or Of
the wary defensive orphan asylum girl
| or of the self-possessed young woman
who drove an expensive sport coune
II assure you there's no cause fol
anxiety" Again Peter had to submit
to the uoctor's grave scrutiny, with ia
undertone OF amusement. ....
| Feeling very much like small boy
who has made laundering nuisance
Of himself, he once again crossed tho
street and jerked "BoSsy' into gear. Il
was only with the familiar hare
sfnoothness of the wheel Under hi.
hand that his mind lurohed into
clarity. 1t was clarity so disturbins
that he fought 1t OF with an almosl
physical sense Of struggle. But il
was no use.
Peters brain, temporarily numbed
was once again functioning alertly
His emotional biaS--and he admitted
wryly that only an emotional earth.
quake could make him forget tina
Jimmie at the city desk was waiting
for his report--was powerless against
the relentless chug-chug with which
the events Of the morning fell into
place,
Barbara did not look like the kind
OF girl who would faint easily Size
had not seemed in the least exhausted
when he talked with her. She ad-
nlitted that she had not read the pa
perS recently-therefore she probably
knew nothing of the body found In the
marsh. His memory raced back over
the words of their conversation. He
had mentioned q big story" but had
not said what the story was. OF coursl
there were plenty of people who paid
little attention to the papers. On the
other hand. might she have deliberately
kept away from them through fear OF
what she might rpadl Tt Was a futile