The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-05

watch.
Lets get out of this. It's after
midnight" he said.
The mood for dreamy dawdling
gone, Smedley stepped on the gas.
Less than a mile below the Green
Mill the car flashed around curve.
Smedley applied the brakes and
came to sudden stop just in time
| to avert a collision with q notion
less car facing him Squarely in the
center of the road. In the shallow
ditch to the right was another car,
upright and apparently unchanged
save for a crushed front fender
janmed against fence post.
Milling around the ditched car
were four men, two of whom were
engaged, in a rough-and- tumble
fight. The others were dancing
about the combatants and shouting
at them. A girl in a white dress
was making futile little dashes into
the melee. but each time she was
pushed back by one of the noncom-
| batantS.
Smedley drove slowly around the
car in the road. AS he drew abreast
of the fighters. Sheila exclaimed;
My heavens, Joe. that's Andy
again. Oh, stop them!"
Smedley leaped from the car and
strobe into the mixup. He thrust
himself between the flying fists and
pushed the fighters apart. The two
onlookers had been taken by sur
prise and did not interfere.
Say, you big bum, what are you
buttin' in for!" shouted Andy's
opponent. This guy tried to crowd
me off the road and he's gettin'
his'n."
Mercy ran up He didn't any
such thing!" she cried hotly. They
were in the middle of the road and
wouldn't give an inch. Andy grazed
their tenders and ran in the ditch"
Smedley tried pacification. He
took the battling driver by the arm
and led him toward his car, fol-
/ lowed by the other men.
Your car wasn't damaged so far
as 1 can see" he said. thrusting his
hand in his pocket. This ought to
more than fix that dent in thu front
fender He held out a $40 bill.
/ Grumbling. the man too. the
money and climbed into his car, still
muttering threats. His companions
took their seats in the rear.
II 1STEN." said Smedley, leaning
Il through the car door, you've
heard of Ike Sellers. former middle
weight champion2 Well. he taught
that fellow back there to box and if
hadn't interfered he'd have
cleaned up on all three of you. That
boy can fight, drunk or sober.
! You'd better forget it and move on"
They moved on, and Smedly re-
turned to the scene of the fight.
Andy was seated on the running
board of his car and Mercy was
dabbing at a bruiSe on his cheek
with a wiSp of lace handkerchief.
Smedley frowned down at them a
moment and then touched Mercy on
the shoulder.
Miss. er. Miss. -
Miss Riverton," she supplied the
name and he bowed courteously.
I'm Joe Smedley," he said. IT
know Mr.. Masters well, and / want
to help in this unfortunate affair.
Wih>you please come over to my car
a minnte?"
In mingled amazement and
curiosity, Mercy preceded him to
the car. where Sheila had remained
quietly.
Miss WILDER, this is Miss River
ton. friend of Andy'S," he said.
addressing Sheila. You can drive
my car. Sheila. I wish you would
take Miss Riverton into town. I'll
drive Andy's car. fear he can't
very well manage it now. AS soon
as back it out the ditch you go
on ahead and We will follow right
behind"
Mercedes demurred and Andy,
coming out of his daze, objected
rather incoherently. but it was so
arranged. A two-car procession
headed for the city.
The mercurial Mercy recovered
her lost poiSe very quickly. She
stole furtive glances at the beau
tiful, golden-haired girl at the wheel
who seemed lost in her thoughts.
Mercy broke the silence.
II really ought to know you." she
said. you're Andy's cousin, aren't
you?"
Sheila nodded assent Mercy
chuckled. and lapsed from her so
ciety" manner.
Amt he the candy kid" she ex-
claimed glowingly. he certainly
does know how to handle his mittS.
Why. If Mr.. Smedley hadn't stopped