Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-06-20
Finding the
Hit-Skipper
Cy ARTHUR A. PETERSON


(Copyright)
CTAI,D, whose mind at the moment
~ was focused on the very grave mat
ter of the Stendahl financing, dimly
sensed rift in the driving torrent
of the boulevard taffic, and went over
the curb without another thought.
1t was stout arm sleeved in blue
that snatched him from the path OF
flight of the waspish yellow roadster
with the maroon license plates.
The arm and the big, square hand
at the end of 1t busted themselves
with pencil and notebook. Stard, hor-
ribly white and shaken, watched the
entry take form. 1t was a name, his
own, and a number-that, Stard I'M
derstood, on the maroon license plates.
"a narrow squeak, Mr.. Stard." The
patrolman snapped the notebook shut
and thrust 1t into his blouse. MY
name is Zamm, in case you want to
press a charge Of reckless driving"
The faint color that had crept back
into Stard's face drained again.
"Your name is Zamm? Not Patrol
man Zamm of U Precinct?"
Zamm grinned.
"The same, sir. l guess maybe
gave you a start, knowing that, Mr.
Stard. Us Zamms was never fixed so
we could run next door and borrow
a cup of sugar from Stard."
Nor have the Stards enjoyed the
privilege of knowing the Zamms until
now" Stard smiled. He had regained
his self-control.
81 knew you from your picture In
the Trib when you headed up the
campaign for the crippled Chicago
kids" said Zamm. He did not see the
spasm that threatened the firm line
of Stard's lips. "That was a great
job, that crippled kids drive" Zamm
said impulsively. His face clouded.
"You see," he explained, II got one
myself. Eight years old. Some of the
needles say she's twisted for life. A
hit-skipper did it. A yellow bird like
the guy that near to finished you. So
know" he finished more gently, show
big a job that crippled kids drive was
I'm glad had the chance to do this
Mr.. Stard."
"My part was small, In all consci.
ence," Stard said. "Zamm. I want to
do something for you"
There amt nothing more you can
do for me-" Zamm said firmly. you
done it already when you fixed those
crippled kids"
"Wait," said Stard. "a moment ago
you said that some doctors had
passed your little girls case as hope
less. Am free to take 1t there Is still
an unexplored chance that another
surgeon might take more cheerful
view?"
"Cordova at San Francisco" Zamm
said wistfully. "Cordova's a wonder
with spine cases. l know he could dc
something. Sometimes | just about
go nuts trying to figure ways to get
to Cordova with the kid. But couldn't
never in this world afford it."
"Then my gratitude shall be Cor
doya and greater men than Cordova in
Europe If Cordova falls" Stard said
simply. His sombre eyes were look
ing far beyond the incredulous Hamm.
"You don't mean"
81 mean that | am buying this
chance fc" your little girl. The rest
of the debt l cannot hope to dis
charge"
God bless you, SIR"
Stard looked away.
"The glrl-how long ago was she
hurt?" he said.
Fourth of March 1t was, sir. Day
Hoover went in. There was a story In
the Trib about 1t. Maybe you saw It.
the street to listen to the radio on the
Washington dolngs? Funny thing
that. Afterwards strong face
twlsted-"afterward we found the
doll. This guy knocked 1t galley west
into a snow drift out of her arms
see, and there wasn't a scratch on It
But the wig was gone. natural hair
wig, Il was. We never found It. II
got caught on a bumper or something
guess"
"The driver failed to stOp?
Say, that yellow breed never
stops"
"And no one ever saw hlmi"
Nav; lie tore out of our street like
Barney Oldfeld with De Palma be.
hind"
Stard offered his hand.
You'll let me know how the girl
comes Uuti"
Let you known Zamm shook the
sudden tears from his trimming eyes
my heart"
Stard was standing at the fireplace
with thin hands knOtted behind his
back when one Of the clerks. his face
strained with fear, burst into the
office
Are you all right, slr2"
what do you fear?" Stard said
without turning. His foot drew back
from smear Of pOwdery ashes on the
cold hearth.
I'VE thought we smeled something
burning. SIR" The clerk hesitated
'Llke--sort OF like burning hair"
Stard laughed softly.
Hair? But why should be burn
ing hair, TrayneT'
ave we're just n little worried the
clerk mumbled.