The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-22
Gems Of Peril q y: =. e.

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Cell backward, striking the pave
ment at Bowen's feet.
DOWEN, white and sobbing with
ID shock and fury, saw the car
take the corenr on a wide swing and
shoot away, its number obscured in
cloud of smoke.
The boy tried to regain his feet
and was rocking drunkenly on his
hands and feet. Bowen looked down
and saw him slump to the ground
and go limp.
There was an instant hue-and-
cry. A policeman came running
there was no traffic officer on the
corner-and some one comman-
deered a passing cab and took after
the vanished car. "Hit-and-run
driver!" The city streets know no
more savage rallying cry.
But Bowen, who had seen what he
had seen, knew better. To him the
meaning of the seeming accident
was damnably clear. Not careless,
but devilishly careful, driving had
dealt that death stroke. Some one
didn't want Eddie Hardness to get
away.
Traffic damned around them.
Mary Hardness, lifting the still body
in her arms, lifted stricken eyes that
looked about for help.
Ambulance be here in a minute,
lady," some ore told her. Bowen
was aware that he had been bleat-
ing, "He's all right, he's all right"
into her ear, in an effort to reas-
sure her.
But as he watched lace of the po-
hceman who had his ear against
Eddie's chest, he knew that it was
not all right with the boy and
never would be, in this world, again.
r
MARY was aware that an arm
1VA went about her and lifted her
up. She did not look around. Eddie
was all she could think of, lying
so still there, looking oddly white
through his tan.
She had not kept him with her
as she should have done and he had
come to this. He was dead, and it
was her fault. She never should
have let him go it alone in spite
Of his protestations.
Self-accuSation redOubled in her,
reduced her to the pit of despair.
Looking around dazedly, as she
found seat in the ambulance, she
saw that the man with her was
Bowen, the reporter.
What did it matter? Everything
would come out now. Nothing mat
tered-Eddie was dead.
AS the ambulance changed through
magically clearing streets, the siren
sounding its hideous wall, Mary
wondered if they had caught the
car yet, and what would be done
with the driver.
Surely it had been caught by this
time. Surely God wouldn't let it
get away. She prayed, grinding tense
palms together. Catch him! Catch
him!"
She slipped her hands out of
Bowen's grasp as the boy on the
Stretcher moved restlessly and
mumbled. Dropping to her knees,
she put her ear close to his lips.
mo use, lady, the attendant
warned her. "He's out. Whatever
he says, won't make any sense"
"He mustn't die, without telling
me-" she insisted.
Again the lips moved, the boys
body arched on the stretcher. MAKE
him give me my coat!" His voice
died away weakly.
Mary looked at Bowen, but there
was only pity in his eyes.
"He doesn't know what he's say
ing" he told her gently. Mary's
eyes filled and she clutched him
frantically. "Oh, Eddie-boy, dear,
don't die!"
The attendant picked her up and
Bowen drew her to the seat beside
him. The two men looked at each
other over her bent head. Eddie's
fate was written plainly in their
eyes.
The boys lips continued their
humble and the inferno, with a
half grin at Bowen, tapped his hand
back and forth as if brushing a fly.
Gall right, son." he told the boy
indulgently. There's no fly here.
Funny how it takes them some
times"
Where's he got it?" Bowen asked
softly
Head" said the other. The boy
moved restlessly and again he
waved his hand. "He thinks there's
fly bothering around"
Queer. Nerve reaction, probably"
Bowen answered thoughtfully
queer he should think Of fly"
ITO Be Continued