The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1931-07-09

where! Gaylord could protect
her then and he would want to do
1t for his own sake.
Irene did not think all this out
logically. There was no time for
that. The urge for self-preservation
was instructive and instinctively
she followed it.
Just as the officer drew near
enough to see what was going on
Ireen started Deery's car with a
jerk which almost sent her over
the wheel. The machine would have
roared down the road if the motor
hadn't been so cold.
The officers attention was CEN
tered on the men whose fight was
still raging fiercely regardless of
his arrival.
He had come to stop them and
not to be too gentle about 1t either
for he was in a fighting mood him
self.
Fifteen minutes earlier he'd been
gas station and hoping all drivers
would have sense enough not to
speed on a day when the roads were
like ice. Then Gaylord's car had
flashed past at a speed that was not
only a direct violation of the
traffic laws but also of cold and
hungry officers feelings.
When Gaylord discovered the off,
Ger in his wake he put on more
speed and if ever there was a mad
man this officer could qualify.
Bang! The officer was in a snow
| bank. He wasn't hurt nor was his
motorcycle but he was angrier than
ever and badly shaken up. 1t took
| him several minutes to get himself
together, and then, taking it for
granted that the speder had got
away from him, he proceeded at a
safer rate.
He headed for the park on the
lookout for necking parties.
There'd been other things in the
officers line of duty besides captur-
ing neckers-a few holdups and hi
lacking parties. When he came
upon trouble now he did not jump
to frivolous conclusions.
Two men fighting in a park, one
of them a traffic violator, and girl
parked in car could mean any,
thing.
He went at the men in earnest
While his back was turned Irene
got the motor of Derrys car
| warmed up sufficiently to make a
getaway. She tried it but the Off
GER whirled, yelling to her to stop
| Irene did not heed him and he
was determined enough to act
with purpose. The officer yelled
again, but Irene kept on going.
| Her attempt to escape was in it.
self an implication of wrongdoing
The officer could have gone after
Irene and brought her back in d
minute or two but then she might
be foolish enough to refuse to halt
thereby endangering mis- life as
we'll as her own. He'd had enough
of that for one day. Besides he
wasn't going to lose his man Sec
ond time.
So he yelled at Irene third time
warning her that he'd fire, and still
she did not stop. OF course he die
not fire to injure her but she was
hurt just the same.
| The bullet tore into a rear wheel
sending the car careening across
the road. The open door, swinging
wildly, brought up again a tele
phone pole and the car came to {
stop.
| Gaylord and Derry, who had pait
|
fired, stopped fighting abruptly a!
the guns report brought them to
consciousness of what was going on
! They started running toward the
car as it slid over the slippery road
in peril of topping over and they
reached it just as Irene lost con-
| seriousness.
The men who had fought over
her, both battered and CORY, lifted
her tenderly from the motor car
and got her into Gaylord's roadster
1t made Derry sick to look at her
and so it was Gaylord who an
swered the officers questions.
Nevertheless 1t was Derry who
| held Irene in his arms while Gay
lord drove them to Oakdale and to
the hospital He held her but he
did not look at her.
Some Of her clothing, which the
officer dug from her suitcase. pill
lowed Irene's head and Derry saw
to it that her face was covered
as closely as it could be without
| smothering her.
Hospital attendants took her
from him when they arrived there
and put her on a stretcher, carrying
her away.
do you think she Will ole ne
| asked Gaylord.
"You might wait and find out. -"
GAYLORD told him, but / think
you'd better fade out of the picture,
Meade"
Derry nodded SO only Gaylord
and Tommy were left in Irene
life.
ITO he Continued)